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1997 Chevy Blazer Shuddering/Shifting
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gmc0351
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Mar 18, 2010, 5:09 PM
Post #1 of 6
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1997 Chevy Blazer Shuddering/Shifting
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I'm really not sure exactly where the problem is (torque converter, transmission, engine...) so I wrote this in the general forum.
I drive a 1997 Chevy Blazer, 4.3 liter Vortec V-6.
About 3 weeks ago I accidentally ran out of gas on the road (idiot...) because the fuel gauge just sits at full when the tank is really close to empty. I had to get to work so I called my step dad and he used a gas tank in the garage to fill it up a little, and then took it to the gas station while I took his car. Now I'm not sure if this somehow could have caused the real problem I'm about to describe, but it only started happening a little while after this.
Okay at first I could faintly feel the car shuddering slightly when I'm accelerating at lower speeds. At higher RPMs it was completely unnoticeable. Then it got worse and worse, shuddering more and then hesitating before it shifts into 2nd and 3rd gear kind of hard. Now it's very bad and I stopped driving it. It now takes a long time to start and my remote starter can't start it (it will work it then stop after a few seconds). The car shudders and shakes really bad when it finally starts and when I even gently push on the gas. The SES light is on now too.
Oh and after I ran out of gas I noticed when I start it, the RPMs don't "rev" at all; it just immediately idles. Before it used to rev up to around 2-3k RPMs for a few seconds before idling (which is normal).
Also a few months ago I took it into the shop to get the oil changed etc. and the mechanic said the ball joints are a little loose. It's like 500-1000 dollars to fix those things (the cars worth like 2250-2500). I think I'll be taking it in to get those checked in a week or two...
I don't know very much about cars besides the very basics (though I'd like to learn a lot more). I have a lot of guesses what it could be: a spark plug went bad, maybe the transmission fluid is bad (haven't checked it...I don't even know where that is), the torque converter is getting screwed...I have no idea.
Any help appreciated.
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steve01832
Veteran
Mar 18, 2010, 5:15 PM
Post #2 of 6
(2094 views)
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Re: 1997 Chevy Blazer Shuddering/Shifting
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If all this happened right after you ran out of fuel you may want to change the fuel filter. If you sucked up debris from the bottom of the tank you simply may have a clogged filter. If after changing it doesn't help, you will need to hook a fuel pressure guage up and check the pump pressure. Try this and let us know what happens.
Steve
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gmc0351
New User
Mar 18, 2010, 5:36 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: 1997 Chevy Blazer Shuddering/Shifting
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That sounds like it's it, actually. Let's just hope that's the only problem.
Also, even before all of this, my car has been hesitating for a second when I accelerate. Sounds like a bad fuel filter to me too.
Thanks for the reply!!
(This post was edited by gmc0351 on Mar 18, 2010, 5:37 PM)
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steve01832
Veteran
Mar 18, 2010, 5:41 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: 1997 Chevy Blazer Shuddering/Shifting
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The hesitation could be a filter problem. A few other GM notorious problems are TP sensor or MAF sensor. I would start with the filter and a fuel pressure test and go from there. If you need more help, please be sure to post the fuel pressure on the forum so we can compare it to the specs. to see if the pump has a problem. Good luck.
Steve
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gmc0351
New User
Mar 20, 2010, 5:57 PM
Post #5 of 6
(2072 views)
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Re: 1997 Chevy Blazer Shuddering/Shifting
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Okay my step dad just took it into the shop while I was at work and they replaced the fuel filter and did a whole "tuneup" which means they replaced the spark plugs and some wires or something. They said blazers need a "tuneup" every 100,000 miles, and mine is at 121k. It works fine now..
Also they said my axel is bent...wow. I've never hit a curb or anything...I guess it's from going up my driveway too fast or something. Whatever. I was just gonna fix the engine problem and sell it but I guess I'm stuck with it since they fixed everything imaginable.
Thanks for the help anyway, though. I was just going to do it all myself tomorrow.
(This post was edited by gmc0351 on Mar 20, 2010, 5:58 PM)
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steve01832
Veteran
Mar 21, 2010, 5:03 AM
Post #6 of 6
(2069 views)
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Re: 1997 Chevy Blazer Shuddering/Shifting
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Thanks for the update. Glad it's fixed.
Steve
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