S-10CREWCAB.NET

I'm having problems with a 2002 Blazer 4wd that took over maintenance on but it isn't mine. Last winter we had to crank on it a long time to start when it was below 10 or so... below zero, it wouldn't start at all. I though it was water in the tank so I ran several tanks through with heat in it and it got better and then it got warmer. This fall at 100K I did Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter and some other basic maintenance stuff. We just got our first extended cold snap and sure enough. Hard starting and no starting. Heat in the gas tank makes no difference and the vehicle has moved 200 miles so its not bad gas from the local gas station. No SES light, nothing pending. Just cranking on it will sometimes get it to start... Sometimes you can give up and leave it along for 30 mins and it will start normally.. sometimes not.

I don't think its getting fuel. You never smell gas at the tail pipe.

Any quick ideas?

Isnt there the needle under the hood that if you press it in gas will come out? Looks like a bike tire vavle stem? I wanna say schreader valve, but im not sure? maybe someone else can chime in. Do you hear the fuel pump buzz when it deos the no start?

Clogged fuel filter? valve sticking?

Maybe a stronger battery.. CCA=Cold Cranking Amps are probably on the low side.

fuel pump is my guess

Never heard a fuel pump do that.. it either works or it doesn't.

Mine did it, so did my brother's.

Just because it was cold outside?

Did the fuel filter with the tune up. Fuel pump is suspect. Unfortunately the car is now 200 miles away from me in Madison WI. I've been trying to save her some money but I think its time to make a dealer appointment...

My moms car would do that when she used crap fuel from older stations. I found she had water in the fuel causing freeze up. It would fire if you sprayed starter fluid in it but nothing with out. I got her to start buying better fuels and using dry gas and the problem went away. Just a thought.

This turned out to be a bad ignition switch. When it was cold it wasn't supplying power to the necessary systems (computer, fuel pump ect) Only to the starter relay. The spring loaded contact was gummy so when it got very cold it wouldn't pop up and make contact.

This is my second weird problem on the s-10's that was solved with the ignition switch. My 97 would 'cough' every once in a while while driving. I it would sputter, and all the gauges would reset and then it would continue on like nothing had happened. That too was a bad contact in the ignition switch.

maybe you oughta start parking it in the garage on cold nights

I've had similar experences on full size crews. A lot of heater problems were tracedback to the ignition switch.