i would buy one i like the looks of it and power it has would you ?

I wouldn´t because General Motors is recalling 78,004 GMC Envoy and Chevrolet Trailblazer models built between January and August, 2001 to recalibrate the transfer case control module. On models equipped with 4-wheel drive, the calibration of the transfer case control module could cause insufficient high-speed gear engagement. If the gear is not engaged, the vehicle can roll when the transmission is in "Park. So as you can see problems are starting to appear. Looks are good though.

.. But that's the case with almost every new design, from every manufacturer.
Not so long ago here Toyota had to recall diesel Landcruisers due to broken crankshafts - hardly a minor problem ..

TrailBlazer is certainly a competitive design in both looks and performance - there's talk of them being offered locally - but it's a pity, in a market segment that depends so much on image, or should I say perceived image that they haven't beefed that image up with some true off-road capability.
Can you get it with diff-locks?
Why isn't it offered with a factory twin-battery option?
Where is the long-range tank(s)?
Here, the lack of the above automatically dooms most 4WD's to being an illusion, and once the reality sets in, so eventually does public perception, and interest ..
Here, only Landcruiser, the tough Nissan Patrol (over 40 US gallon capacity) and Land Rover Defender offer these features. Even Jeep doesn't bother, so like verything else, is virtually relegated to soccer mom duty.

Imagine for a minute one local road tester's horror when he took a new Mercedes-Benz 'ML' 4WD up the tough and very remote Canning Stock Route ... only to get the inevitable flat tyre and belatedly discover that this whiz-bang unit comes equipped with a SPACESAVER spare! What a joke!

anyway, that's my rave on this subject :)

Originally posted by Thunda Downunda
....should I say perceived image that they haven't beefed that image up with some true off-road capability.
Can you get it with diff-locks?
Why isn't it offered with a factory twin-battery option?
Where is the long-range tank(s)?
........Here, only Landcruiser, the tough Nissan Patrol (over 40 US gallon capacity) and Land Rover Defender offer these features. Even Jeep doesn't bother, so like verything else, is virtually relegated to soccer mom duty.....Imagine for a minute one local road tester's horror when he took a new Mercedes-Benz 'ML' 4WD up the tough and very remote Canning Stock Route ... only to get the inevitable flat tyre and belatedly discover that this whiz-bang unit comes equipped with a SPACESAVER spare! What a joke!

The TB is very capable of off road use. Only downside is lift kits aren't possible.

Yes, they do have Diff Locks. I have it on mine. Many you see probably don't as they aren't of any benefit in the 98% of the populations daily travels on-road or in worst case....snow. In fact, Lockers can be dangerous if driven by an inexperience driver who is not skilled at 4wd...especially in winter. That's why so many end up upside down in roll overs.

The twin battery....very, very minimal demand. Not good business sense if the demand is low. Not needed for most folks. I'll agree with you on the tanks though. 18.7gals is a bit small.

Don't crack on the MB ML's though. They, like Jeeps do very, very well offroad. Those that do go off road will never use the dummy spare anyway, so that's not an issue. Doubt the ML's ability....then come run the rubicon with me. My TB did Awesome and my buddy's ML did great too. Check out http://4x4abc.com/ML320/ for his site.



The other comments on

Picked one up this week for my wife, she liked the looks and color. I liked the mechanical stuff underneath.

Let me tell you this vehicle rides and handles most excellently! Every time we drive it we rave about this area. The Vortec engine is also worth raving about, 270 horses riding on hydraulic engine mounts. Smooth, linear power, this engine pulls like a large electric motor. You don’t feel the torque associated with a V design. Its all constructed using lost foam casing and it’s a mechanical beauty. It holds seven quarts of oil and the filter is straight up so you won’t make a mess if you change it yourself. The transmission is the same automatic used in the Corvette and other large GM trucks so it should be bulletproof in the Trailblazer. The brakes are excellent four-wheel discs with dual piston calipers up front. To me they look like Harley Davidson pistons would fit in their bores. They work to haul this fairly large heavy truck from 60 to 0 in 131 feet, that sports car territory. GM uses an new hydro forming process to make the chassis. This means they use water under very high pressure to make the intricate bends and shapes. It’s very precise and allows strength and rigidity to be built in. The tires are very meaty BF Goodrich models with a 400 treadwear rating. I found replacements at Tirerack.com for $67, this will help reduce overall maintenance costs considerably. The spare is full sized with an aluminum wheel which matches the other four.

The interior is very luxurious and spacious. It will seat five adults with plenty of room. The seats are comfortable and feature plenty of adjustments even though they are manual ones. My only complaint with the seat is that since the Trailblazer likes to be thrown in to corners it almost needs sports car seats.
I spent five dollars last night for a can of Scotch Guard which was used to treat the seats and carpeting. The carpeted areas are several shades darker which should help hide spills and messes quite nicely.
The AC/Heating system features dual zone controls with a controllable system for back seat passengers. The stereo is plenty powerful AM/FM & CD player with lots of easy adjustments. A cassette player adds more audio versatility for $124 for those want it. The optional tinting on the rear windows is very nice and helps keep the interior cool in the hot sun. Both the front windows feature express power down and the rears also retract fully into the doors. The rear seats are kind of a split design, which fold forward with minimal effort.

I got a 2002 Trailblazer LTZ, Yes it has it all from DVD to heated leather seats. The one bad thing is I only get about 16-17 MPG. Im looking for ways to get better MPG.

I've heard the milage improves quite abit after 5,000 miles. I've got 4500 and I see the numbers coming up.

Thanks but I got over 12,000 Now. so I order a tornado in hopes that my MPG will get better.

about the Tornado device. The engine is really quite powerful and it doesn't seem to be really worked during normal driving so I wonder what drives the milage down.

Yes I will buy one soon. I am waiting for the v8 version to see how this new engine will hold up before I decide on the one I want.

Available with extended versions. The new Buick version will have V8 standard.

Yes, I know that but not to keen on design of engine. They didnt get the inline 6 right, Lord knows I've replaced plenty, so I will wait awhile on the 8.

Buick's version of the TrailBlazer?

Yes it's called a Rainier.http://buick.com/rainier/

Oh yea, I've seen that. Not really a fan of it, though. Buick is failing to drop their Old-person car image. And anyway, that just looks like a Rendezvous with some minor changes...

All that good stuff I hear about the TrailBlazer, I know it's a great truck and all, my sister has one, BUT......can you disable the Daytime Running Lamps and Automatic Head Lamps on a TB? If not, I won't buy one. That crap's annoying.

Heck yeah! We recently bought an '02, slightly used, LTZ, 2-tone
Looked for several months before finding the right stuff. It has all the bells & whistles, and don't forget the power.
As far as disabling day-lights, you can apply parking brake one notch, or run just parking lights as we do.
Look forward to traveling in style!:bandit:

I'm gonna have to agree with mjdart on this one....I have a 2002 Trailblazer LS and I have nothing but praise for it. The overall performance is outstanding. I live near quite a few railroad tracks and the tracks are hardly felt, even when going over them at faster than a crawl speeds. As I didn't buy it new, I had no say in the options included, so the only things I will do it will be to add remote keyless entry and eventually cruise control. Other than those two, I'm thoroughly pleased with it.

I just joined this forum. This past Thursday I traded an '01 Xterra in for an'03 Trailblazer. What a difference. I am thoroughly pleased with the Trailblazer. It's the light pewter LT model w/4WD.

Brad

Just bought a 03 LTZ. Love the engine's torque and smoothness. Spent the last 6 years in a Grand Cherokee so the TB absolutely floats down the road. It will be interesting to see how long the all the whizbangs and gadgets last. Since I have an aversion to computers (they do not like me) I am waiting for the seat to run me all the way into the steering wheel, air bag deploys, a/c turns off, windows up and Bose switches to a wide open Rap station.

Just sold my 02 TrailBlazer lask week, thank god!!!! What a piece of crap! I have always had chevrolet vehicles, and I just purchased another chevy truck, but that TrailBlazer was JUNK!
I bought it new and in my 2 years of ownership, I had the 4wd module replaced 5 times, had both low beam headlights burnout 2 times, the stitching in the rear seat came completely apart, the center console squeaked and rattled since day one, had to have the exhaust system removed and "tweaked" because it banged on the floor everytime I hit a bump, ran out of gas several times because the gauge would stick on a quarter tank, and then about a month and a half ago, with only 49,900 miles on it, the engine went and had to be replaced.
I actually bought an old beater car so I would have something to drive everytime that truck was in the shop.

Bah, i thought the Randemoize thingy was ugly and jsut plan stupid looking!, i bought a TrailBlazer LTZ to pull my boat and i love i have has no problems so far, i think it`s a great car!

With all the problems I got with my TrailBlazer LS I would get another one as easy as that. I've had lots of problems but all were easy to fix so I don't think those would make me ignore a good car like the TrailBlazer.

Problems I had:-
- When I got it the tyres were dry so the car was vibrating and curving to the right.
- The A/C switch broke up and I had to replace it with the warranty.
- Front and rear lights had some problems so I had to change the cable (There wasn't anything wrong with the lights themsleves. Just wires and stuff..) also with my warranty.

I got a 2002 Trailblazer LTZ, Yes it has it all from DVD to heated leather seats. The one bad thing is I only get about 16-17 MPG. Im looking for ways to get better MPG.

I have the 02 Olds Bravada with the 4.2L engine. Actually I find the engine a real treat compared with the 4.7 V8 in my old Grand Cherokee. I think because the power comes on so smoothly it is deceptive, but when I punch it on the highway it goes like a bat out of...well you get the idea. As for Gas mileage, I would advise to switch to a quality synthetic oil and add an additive such as Prolong. K&N also has a direct replacement cone filter which will increase the airflow to the engine. I have over 7000 miles on mine now and I noticed since making the changes that my mileage went up to 21.5 mpg hwy (I'm out west so I drive 85 on the interstate) and I am getting between 18/19 city. Stop and go traffic will kill any gas mileage because of constant decel/accel, so I try to avoid areas of constant congestion and I also found that using the cruise control keeps my mileage up. Hope this helps.

All that good stuff I hear about the TrailBlazer, I know it's a great truck and all, my sister has one, BUT......can you disable the Daytime Running Lamps and Automatic Head Lamps on a TB? If not, I won't buy one. That crap's annoying.

This information should be in your owners manual. I own a 2002 Bravada but the layout should be the same. On your rearview mirror is a small button with a circle and dot. If you push and hold it in for a few seconds the yellow indicator to the left of it will go off turning off the mirrors. Unfortunately I have not figured out how to permanently disable it because as soon as you turn the ign off it resets. The default is ON.

I have stated this elsewhere, but the leather seats in my 03 LTZ are as hard as a park bench. I like my truck but anything this expensive should have more comfortable seats. Chevy sent me a survey and I told them what I thoght but I doubt I will hear anything back from it.

This is a perfect vehicle to lease. When the thing starts falling apart, ignore it until the lease is up and throw the keys on the desk - run.

I've heard the milage improves quite abit after 5,000 miles. I've got 4500 and I see the numbers coming up.

Yes, mine is at 4600 and the numbers are starting to go up. Why is that anyway?

All that good stuff I hear about the TrailBlazer, I know it's a great truck and all, my sister has one, BUT......can you disable the Daytime Running Lamps and Automatic Head Lamps on a TB? If not, I won't buy one. That crap's annoying.

Yes, you can disable both.

Well, maybe it's not a real truck...but it's the closest thing to a truck I've ever owned. I bought my 04 LT model from a friend. His wife had rolled it with 900 miles and he paid cash and only had liability insurance. He rebuilt the body in several areas and we've replaced some supension parts. It needs a paint job....

Even with all that, I LOVE this truck. The performance is amazing. I did not know V6 could perform this well in a vehicle this big. Gas mileage is acceptable to me (16/21), as I do a lot of highway driving and I just came from a 1995 turbo Eclipse...gas mileage was not much better in it. The ride is incredible...smooth as glass. Mine has the 17" aluminum wheels, and it gives it a great feel of being in control of the road. It also has Onstar, a great stereo (I love the steering wheel controls), automatic temparature controls and auto rearview. I love the auto headlights and perimeter lighting. Interior is VERY roomy..and the engine is a breeze to work on.

I bought this vehicle because my finances are in bad shape, but I feel blessed, as this truck ROCKS. :)

Why would you buy the Tornado when the Vortec does the same thing? They both cause the air to swirl and one is included in your vehicles design, the other is a $50 decoration for this application. :evillol:

I am still waiting for some convincing facts as to why buy a TB.

Very competitive market. Bottom line I'd say the TB gives you a top machine for the money, as is the case with most GM vehicles. Only downside is spotty quality and service/repair that is not customer driven. Note that GM is not making money on car/truck sales. Padding the bottom line with their credit dept., GMAC, and draining money from their pension plans, and most important for customers, drawing down their warranty reserves. This is money set aside for each vehicle to do warranty repairs. So instead of fixing a problem right, they half a$$ it or just give you the runaround. (Sure speaking from experience there.)
So, again, bottom line. Probably a fine vehicle for the money, if you get a good one. How has your dealer stacked up over the years?

tom3
What a great summary of GM. I am leaning towards the Nissan Pathfinder. I can not afford wasting my time and money just to find out I lost the GM lottery and got the bad one.

I have one, 2003 TB LS. So far so good. But it has so many problems that won't cost you much rather than bother you much.

I bought a new 2004 TB 4wd LT in late September...I saved a ton of $$$ with the right financing and the coming of the '05's....The odometer just turned 1500 miles...No problems as of yet...I may or may not be a "build-quality lottery winner", it's a wee bit too early to tell, but, so far-so good....I am extremely happy with it so far, and I have received many nice compliments on her...I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but why did GM ditch the beautiful(in my own opinion)Indigo Blue Metallic color(which my truck is,obviously!)and replace the 2005 blue (Superior Blue) with it????? I assume that it has something to do with a marketing study(sales numbers of the particular color) or something associated similarly...Anyways, I can't wait for the big lake-effect snows here in Central New York state(north of Utica) to give my T'blazer a good run....No snowmobile necessary for me this winter,I'll be plenty happy cruising in my new Chevy!!!! In closing, I wish all Trailblazer owners satisfaction with their product, and to all of the"snakebitten" ones,I hope that your dealership is fixing things right the first time!!!The answer is "YES!", I would buy another one, but please -let me put at least a hundred thousand on this baby first!!!!

I did like the way it handled, it was GREAT in bad weather, and the third bench was spacious.

Too bad the dealership I got it from tanked. I don't have it anymore, but, if I found a good dealership in another county and it gets better gas mileage in the future, I'd consider another one

i would buy one i like the looks of it and power it has would you ?

I would never, ever buy another Chevrolet Trailblazer! I saved for over a year to put down a large downpayment on my first new car. I would have been better off just going to the coast and throwing the money in the ocean! I like the looks, handling, and room the TB has to offer, but all those little things that keep breaking, such as the transmission, have become annoying! In the 18 months I have owned this thing, it has had over 20 items repaired/replaced. Some of them multiple times. The service department has lied to me about problems with it and told me things that I feel are broken or in need of repair are actually normal. The ac was fixed twice, the transmission was fixed 3 times and still not acting right. It should not get stuck in park 2-3 times a week, right? Oh yeah, thats normal! If you can get the doors to shut correctly, you can't always get them back open. The transmission idles down almost to a stall when I stop the thing, but thats normal! I think you get the point. I should have kept the 1989 Honda Civic DX hatchback I traded in for this thing. It has 300,000 miles on it, but atleast it only went to the shop 3 times a year mostly for maintenance. Luckly, Chevrolet is not going to make a dime on this car by the time I trade it in for something I can rely on, because I intend to take it back every time something else breaks. I think they have over 5,000 bucks in it for repairs and labor. Only $25,000 to go!

I'm glad i didn't have many problems with mine. and, the person who owns it now loves it. i know some others here who own trailblazers and have no problems.

maybe you should check into the lemon law in your state

I'm in the early stages of dealing with the Better Business Bureau filing a complaint about this TB. Hopefully within a year I'll get the thing bought back, however the dealer of course insists there is nothing really wrong with it. I've known people who never have any problems with them, but I've known more with issues than not.

I have an 03 tb and on the highway, I get 22 - 23 mpg. Now in town, that is a different story. My wife gets about 14 - 15 mpg.

what is the tornado device?

Not if I had to do it over again! '04 TB owner

2002 LTZ Four wheel drive with all options. Would buy another tomorrow. 59,000 miles and going strong.

I also just picked up a 02 LTZ. I love it. Primarily bought it to haul my showcar around this summer and also use it as a winter vehicle. Ive been wrenching on vehicles my whole life doing alot of custom bodywork but in my case Im pretty sure if something goes wrong I can get under there and fix it. Aside from all the useless electronic BS carmakers like to put on vehicles these days. I looked at Expeditions and Explorers and also Suburbans before deciding on the TB.

Only thing I didnt like was the dealership, after getting the trunk home and looking under it you can tell it was in a minor accident. The rear bumper is misaligned, the front bumper was repainted(very shittily, I might add), fender liner clips were never replaced, the shroud that goes above the firewall is missing. Sux buying a vehicle in winter, cuz it gets dark so early and you cant really see everything at night.

Up next for my TB are some whitefaced guages, a DJM drop kit, and some 22s.

The ONLY reason besides my wife demanding more room.....was the fact that I had my GM Card giving me bonus dollars & GM offering a good rebate. With what I was able to get off of the window sticker & with all the other discounts, I saved over $9000 off of my 2003 EXT 4X4 NorthFace Edition with every available option...minus the DVD for a MoonRoof & the engine block heater.

Otherwise, I had my heart set on the Infiniti FX 35. Now that is a vehicle that I think everyone should drive. Handles great, rides great & the fit & finish is awesome. The dealerships are always really nice to you & you get quality loaner cars if you need overnight service. Plus they even wash your car for you!
Try getting anything close to that for service at any GM dealership! :mad:

I like my TB, but if I had to do it all over again & if my wife didn't have her say so.....it would either have been the Infiniti or a Volkswagen Toureg with the V8.

My TB has held up o.k for the past year and a half. Except for the crappy design of the license plate rubber ALWAYS getting sucked into the body at the upper right hand corner. That has been replaced 3 times already with anticipation for more in the near future! The stupid fan clutch has been replaced twice! Taillight recall...though mine never failed....you just don't get real quality with a Chevy..period! I can say that because I have owned pretty much every one that Chevy makes & yes, that even includes the Corvettes! I just picked up a brand new C6 Convt. yesterday (finally came in after a long time of waiting) & you can still see where they cut corners in it.

All in all, it has a nice amount of room...still would like a little more, but then I would have to go into a Tahoe or a Suburban which everyone has.
I got lucky with mine since they only made my paint color for one year so mine stands out.
Chevy needs to make a 5 speed automatic to help out the fuel economy!!!!!
The TB in my opinion needs more cubby holes to put things. The cup holders under the climate control are way too close to it to put anything in there. Especially if your using the cig. outlets for a radar or powering your phone! Just the overall cheap feeling being on the car is quite a let down. for what mine listed for $43,525.00, you think you would get better quality than you do. But for the price I got mine for....I guess I shouldn't complain too much.

The rear seats I wish they would all fold flat into the floor for better use of the space. Not the way it currently is....don't care for it. I also wish they would have more room to get into the back seats....kinda cramped.
I really wish the rear seats in the TB were like what they have in the Equinox. They move forward to give you more cargo room or back to give you a huge amount of leg room! Now that is what they need to do & now!
A better speaker system is another area they need to improve upon. How about adding some speakers in the rear hatch door for the people in the back?!
The rear heat & air SUCKS! It never blows really hot or blows really cold, but yet the lousy dealers say ...oh, they all do that! Well, my 2000 Suburban 2500 4X4 with every option blows freezing cold air & really really hot heat in the back. So...3 years down the road they can't get it right in the TB?!
Too many squeeks & rattles take away from the vehicle as well.

Don't get me wrong, I still like my TB alot, it is really nice looking & it has a rare color on it that makes it stand out from the rest which makes it really appealing to me. but they really need to improve upon alot of things. Sure I will still keep buying Chevy's because I can get really great prices on them & I know alot of people in the dealership that will bend over backwards to make me happy, but the quality & the very shitty warranty that comes with their vehicles have to change! So, you only will warranty the vehicles for 3yr/36000 miles?
Other places like the Infiniti offer 4 years.
I know for a fact that after 3 years with a chevy they turn to crap. That's why I won't own them for any longer than that until they get better warranties.
My last Corvette had only 3600 miles on it when I sold it. It was out of warranty for time, not miles. So why can't GM offer us people who don't use up the miles something? It just makes me sick. Buy the extended warranty...no thanks...would rather just get rid of the car thank you!

Will I buy another TB in the future? Very hard to say. The competition is making some really nice products & unless GM ups the quality & warranty, I would have to say NO. I plan on keeping my TB for as long as I can. I did buy the extended warranty for 7 years & something like 75000 miles since I never drive many miles anyway. Will it make it to 7 years without something major messing up? Doubt it & that's the only reason why I bought the silly warranty...to save my butte down the road all of the major expenses I know that are coming. Anything after the 3 years/36000 miles.....I know I'm in for a headache :uhoh:

Yet another gripe comes to mind.......the rear window is very hard to close. It is almost like I have to slam the thing to get it to catch. I usually have to do it several times before it latches itself.


I know this seems like I really don't like my TB, but I truely do. I just don't like the shortcuts that GM does on all of their vehicles. Why can't they just spend a little more money in the interior & fit & finish? I would GLADLY pay a little extra to get that from a GM product!
Hey GM, instead of pricing your vehicles into the atmosphere, price them resonably & more sales would be headed your way. Instead of a Cavalier listing for $18 something & you guys have mega rebates on them....like $4500 or more at times.....how about you just price it at $13-14K & just say...hey, the price is what it is........no more silly rebates or dickin' around with invoice pricing......just price the cars resonably. I mean come on......$43 large for a TrailBlazer?! That's what a fully loaded Suburban should go for at the extreme. $65K list on my new Vette? Very nice vehicle, but really.....price the car more like around $50 for the Convert. & you probably wouldn't be able to keep up with demand. Heck, you had up to $10K off on the 2004's......

Price your vehicles better & up your quality & warranty & you won't need the rebates. People will be banging down your doors for your products.

Just my :2cents:

Bought an 04 extended today...

Just bought mine in June '05 with the employee discount deal. nice!!!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2034806

The I6 engine is one of the top ten engines 5 years in a row since it's debute 2002.

well then they missed the initial TSB Release extending the warranty. Trust me, I know....I had one and got the official letter from GM for the loose cylinder liners issue.

TSB Number Issue Date TSB Title

1. 03019 JUN 03 Campaign - Cylinder Liner Cracking Warranty
Extension

Maybe they addressed that issue since....I hope so, but I don't think they've addressed the Fan Clutch that zaps power in hot weather when the AC is running. I can research posts everywhere on that issue but no thanks. Loved my LTZ but was happy to sell it.


The I6 engine is one of the top ten engines 5 years in a row since it's debute 2002.

Seriously, all I see is complaints and some praise for the TB. Most of the complaints I see refer to 2004's or prior. It's now 2006 time, with 2007's peering from around the corner. Where does the TB stand NOW? I don't care about what they were like 2-3 years ago, times change and vehicles improve.

I had a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. EVERYONE commented about how the transmissions in the model year or two prior had major failures, and that my 2001 would probably have similar issues. Well, my engine just blew after 102,000+ miles. The "bearings" went out. So, I worked a trade-in with a dealer and after tomorrow I will be an owner of a new 2005 TB LS. Granted, it's not a roomy mini-van, but the TB hauls and does have some nice features like the Bose stereo, XM radio built-in, OnStar and sunroof. And I'll tell you right now, I compared the 2005 TB t a 2006 Tahoe, and the TB runs circles around the Tahoe!

So please, anyone with a 2005-2006 TB, what do YOU think??

The 05 is great! I have an 05 Ext v8. It has had some minor problems (a power window regulator failed, bad powerseat motor, 2 bad radios, etc) but I think all the problems have been cleaned up (I hope). These are just "initial quality" problems and won't be long term problems.

I agree....they likely have gotten better. The new SS is sweet and with a PCM tune, can really haul arse into the mid 13's....but hopefully they will get a redesign in place soon as the current body is a bit dated.

Seriously, all I see is complaints and some praise for the TB. Most of the complaints I see refer to 2004's or prior. It's now 2006 time, with 2007's peering from around the corner. Where does the TB stand NOW? I don't care about what they were like 2-3 years ago, times change and vehicles improve.

I own the 2002 Bravada and so far it has been a jewel. I have had the fan clutch problem which was resolved under the extended warranty. I downloaded the info sheet from this website which contained all the TB's to correct the problem. The shop used the instructions and uploaded the latest patches for the PC.
I have done some minor upgrades to the intake with the stock K&N filter and replaced the muffler with a Turbo exhaust. A little more rummble but not really noticable when cruising. Kick it in the Arse and it flies like a jet. I actually got 21+ mpg on a trip to OKC from SLC last November and I cruised 80+ all the way. I am currently towing a 3800lb trailer and the upgrades were necessary to aid in towability. Now if anyone knew how to install an aftermarket supercharger this thing would really fly.

I have an 02 TB, no major problems so far at 58K. The bodystyle will die after 2007 with the introduction of the 2008 new bodystyle TB and Envoy. All other variants will die, including the EXT and XL versions of the TB and Envoy. The SWB models will be enlarged to fit 7 people.

Unfortunately, no supercharger or turbo kits have been made for production. There are a few turbos in the works at TrailVoy.com, but other than that, nothing. Whipple prototyped a supercharger that never materialized due to "not enough market demand" for it.

And, yes, the TB SS is a sweeeeet truck!!!!:D I really want one, but cant afford to get one now!!

Well, I did it! I now own a 2005 TB LS. I went with the LS only because I still had a loan that had to be rolled into the TB loan. The one thing I hate already about the 2005 models is the lack of a DIC like what the 2006's have. Otherwise, I've got a sunroof, Bose stereo <I agree about this, the back speakers sound almost non-existant> and XM radio. So, I'm happy!
It's brand new, and only had 88 miles on it when I first started driving it. Guess we'll see how this thing goes, but so far so good!

I do plan to eventually start mod'ing it, so if anyone has suggestions or comments on their experiences, feel free to share. :-)

Thanks!
New '05 TB owner!

Well, I did it! I now own a 2005 TB LS. I went with the LS only because I still had a loan that had to be rolled into the TB loan. The one thing I hate already about the 2005 models is the lack of a DIC like what the 2006's have. Otherwise, I've got a sunroof, Bose stereo <I agree about this, the back speakers sound almost non-existant> and XM radio. So, I'm happy!
It's brand new, and only had 88 miles on it when I first started driving it. Guess we'll see how this thing goes, but so far so good!

I do plan to eventually start mod'ing it, so if anyone has suggestions or comments on their experiences, feel free to share. :-)

Thanks!
New '05 TB owner!
Congrats, but the DIC is an option that only comes with the highest LT package for all years, except for 02-04 where the LTs (as an option package); and LTZ and TNF editions had it standard.

I too have just purchased a 2005 TB EXT LS.
Almost bought a 2006 LS but got the 2005 with... Running Boards, Onstar, XM Radio, DVD Player to which the 06 didnt have and I got it for $1500 less....
plus it was blue and the 06 was white.. we wanted the blue...
our trade in was a 1996 GMC Jimmy SLT (im gonna miss my leather seats)
but it was starting to need alot.. just replaced the fuel pump ($230) just so I could get it to the Stealership... however it was in need of tires, heater core, massive oil leak and a few other minor things....
my brother has a issuzu ascender and it is pretty much the same thing...

I needed something dependable for my wife... she takes care of our 6 year old and with a bun in the oven.. I dont need any suprise break downs.....


see the oil leak the 96 left.. and that was 1 day and it was 8' long!!!! :banghead:

http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/285945/fullsize/2005TrailBlazerEXT.jpg

I'd never buy one brand-new. A year or two old with a few miles, DEFINATELY! They depreciate horribly. Love the engine & drivetrain. Interior/exterior quality is typical GM junk.

Joel

Thanks but I got over 12,000 Now. so I order a tornado in hopes that my MPG will get better.


I put one of these in my 03 Dakota and then put one in my 05 Caravan and they made no differance in mileage and in the van it actually took power away.

That is one serious truck you have beside the TB. Is that an air intake beside the passenger fender/windshield area? whoa.


I too have just purchased a 2005 TB EXT LS.
:banghead:

http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/285945/fullsize/2005TrailBlazerEXT.jpg

i voted no. I've had my TB for nearly 2 years... I voted NO.

-Nick

My Tb Is The Best Vehicle I Have Ever Purchased. 37000 Miles With Not A Problem But A Tail Light Recall. The Power And Ride Are Excellent. I Get 18.6 Mpg In Houston Traffic And About 24 On The Highway. I Spend 2 Hours A Day In My Tb And Enjoy Every Minute. Getting Ready To Take A 4000 Mile Road Trip For The Second Time. Gm Has Made Several Positive Changes From The Earlier Models.

Another thing that makes the TB stand out in my opinion is driver comfort. I was shocked the first time I rolled the drivers seat all the way back on my 2005 LS. The seat goes back so far, its a stretch for me to reach the pedals! (@ 6ft, 225lbs) In comparison, I had just driven a brand new mercury grand marquis rental car. You figure such a large car would have lots of interior room. Not the case at all. I was shocked at the lack of room behind the wheel of that big grand marquis. Otherwise it was nice car.

Joel

Had my 04 TB Ext for 2 1/2 years, over 50K no problems, going to replaced the end links and shocks on the next PA inspection, going to buy another TB, in 2 years, shorter version since GM quit making the Ext:grinyes:

Thanks but I got over 12,000 Now. so I order a tornado in hopes that my MPG will get better.
another person falls to the tornado device ,, unless the tornado is directly above your intake valve you will never notice a differance and even a dyno would have trouble seeing a differance with it right above the intake valve.

old rule for racing , always port never polish. the resonator box's hoses will destroy the vortex long before it even reaches the Intake plenum and degrades as it hits the porting steps.

but if it works let me know ill invest in one.

I love my 2004LT. It drives and looks great. 46K trouble free miles. I have driven it on two 4000 mile trips and drive daily in Houston traffic. The only down fall is the trade in value. I went to see about getting a new one and all the dealers tell me my $33000 truck is only worth $12000. Thats about a $.45 / mile loss for every mile driven. That sucks. Gm needs to add value to the products or they will continue to fail.

I love my 2004LT. It drives and looks great. 46K trouble free miles. I have driven it on two 4000 mile trips and drive daily in Houston traffic. The only down fall is the trade in value. I went to see about getting a new one and all the dealers tell me my $33000 truck is only worth $12000. Thats about a $.45 / mile loss for every mile driven. That sucks. Gm needs to add value to the products or they will continue to fail.

you know what im going to do ? take out a loan from my credit union for the value NADA use that money for a down payment on the new truck and keep both. the value of my truck is 18K so i will have about 16K to put down on the tahoe, this will make my payments about 270 a month, the 04' is already payed off so i assume 2 loans for about 270 a month making total payments 540.00 a month which is lower than most single truck payments, and i have two smokin hot chevy products.

thats assuming you want to or need to keep your truck
Joshua

I would choose NOT to buy a Trailblazer again. I've got an '03 LS with about 40k miles on it and although I haven't had any mechanical issues with it (yet), it seems to fall short in the SUV realm.

Pros are good power, good interior space, nice ride quality and reliable. Cons are poor resale value, poor off road capability, cheap and flimsy GM-style interior, and sloppy steering.

I do think it's a great road trip vehicle due to its spacious size and power for the highways, but that's the most I've got out of it so far. Think my next purchase will be either a 4runner or Tundra instead.

I bought mine in june 2001 and have been using it regularly. I had a few warranty issues but all around have to say I am still satisfied with it. I am thru with paymants and consider any repairs as payments which is considerably less and still drive in comfort. This vehicle might out live me who knows.Id buy a new one if I lost this one.

Well, lets see. My 02 now has 117k on it and is getting ready to have its third set of tires. Maintenance is an issue though, the alternator is acting funny and I am going to have to replace it. It stil has the original brake pads on all 4 corners, it has been virtually maintenance free except high speed on the blower quit working last year, it hasn't bothered me but I should get it looked at.
I am getting ready to trade it in on a new one. Yes, I am going to buy another. It only makes good sense to me...

I'm also interested in peoples opinion as I am considering a 2007 LS 2WD for just over $21000 . It has the 291 HP I6 , sun and sound package with the sun roof and bose stereo . It seems to be nice and it also comes with a built in tow package which I need to tow my 18 ft boat . Seems fairly nice inside , some of the plastic looks a little chinzy . Also can someone elaborate on the cruise control, where is the controls for the cruise , is it on the steering wheel where it is supposed to be , forgot to look when i test drove it . The daytime running lights also drive me nuts , any way to turn these off . I see a lot of gm cars with like 1 headlight out , got to believe this burns the headlights out faster . i have never replaced a headlight in any car I have ever owned .
The car seemed very quiet on the freeway during the test drive and had very good pickup . Has the motor and tranny been reliable ? The 2007's at least have the security of the 100K powertrain warranty . I basically want a car that is reliable and is not in the shop all the time . I am really looking for newer onwners opinions , say 2005-2007 to get a good idea of later years and how many problems people are having . This vehicle actually has a lot more things than i actually need in a vehicle .I need very few things to make me happy, cruise,tilt wheel, a good stereo, good legroom , air, pw/l . It does have great legroom for us tall folks . I do a fair amount of highway driving in the summer , if you are fairly conservative driver can you get the rated highway mpg of 22 with the 2WD model ? I am basically down to this and a chrysler minivan , yeah I know a big difference .
I have had good luck with chrysler products and they are comforable to travel in. Thanks for any input on the Trailblazer . The one I am looking at is a Bordeaux red metallic. One other thing how hard is it to change your own oil on these ? I like to do my own in the summer months . I am used to Chryslers minivans where i can change it without even have to put it up on ramps . Thanks for the input.

As I have stated before. My 2004 TB is the best vehicle I have ever owned. I now have 57000 on it with not a problem.
As far as the lighting goes, I have replaced both the fog lamps, that is it.
I just replaced the tires @ 55K. Continentals
I have driven from Houston to New York three times and drive it 70 miles a day in Houston traffic to go to work.
I change my own oil with Mobil 1 extended and get 10k between oil changes. I have a K&N air filter that also help me get on average 19.4 mpg city, 24 highway.
I often tow my 16 ft. bass boat without a problem.
I love the power and ride.

I'm also interested in peoples opinion as I am considering a 2007 LS 2WD for just over $21000 . It has the 291 HP I6 , sun and sound package with the sun roof and bose stereo . It seems to be nice and it also comes with a built in tow package which I need to tow my 18 ft boat . Seems fairly nice inside , some of the plastic looks a little chinzy . Also can someone elaborate on the cruise control, where is the controls for the cruise , is it on the steering wheel where it is supposed to be , forgot to look when i test drove it . The daytime running lights also drive me nuts , any way to turn these off . I see a lot of gm cars with like 1 headlight out , got to believe this burns the headlights out faster . i have never replaced a headlight in any car I have ever owned .
The car seemed very quiet on the freeway during the test drive and had very good pickup . Has the motor and tranny been reliable ? The 2007's at least have the security of the 100K powertrain warranty . I basically want a car that is reliable and is not in the shop all the time . I am really looking for newer onwners opinions , say 2005-2007 to get a good idea of later years and how many problems people are having . This vehicle actually has a lot more things than i actually need in a vehicle .I need very few things to make me happy, cruise,tilt wheel, a good stereo, good legroom , air, pw/l . It does have great legroom for us tall folks . I do a fair amount of highway driving in the summer , if you are fairly conservative driver can you get the rated highway mpg of 22 with the 2WD model ? I am basically down to this and a chrysler minivan , yeah I know a big difference .
I have had good luck with chrysler products and they are comforable to travel in. Thanks for any input on the Trailblazer . The one I am looking at is a Bordeaux red metallic. One other thing how hard is it to change your own oil on these ? I like to do my own in the summer months . I am used to Chryslers minivans where i can change it without even have to put it up on ramps . Thanks for the input.
As far as turning off the daylight running lights I believe there is a button on the light switch you push 3 times to turn them off. Personally, I believe I could afford a $4.00 bulb once in a while in trade for the safety it does provide. It takes about 10 minutes to change a bulb. Its all snap apart pieces and you do not need any tools to do it. Don't make the mistake I did when I replaced mine. I went to a O'really parts house and all they had was Chinese bulbs. I should have gone somewhere else but I bought the bulb anyway. 1 week later it was out again and when I took it out the bulb contacts burned the wiring harness at the bulb. I would have been better off finding a quality bulb instead of having to replace the harness. Thats not GMs fault, its mine for not getting the right replacement parts. Other than that mine still is going fine with 120k miles on it now.
We just put the third set of tires on it and the brake pads still have a few miles left on them although I feel I'm playing Russian roulette right now.
I will replace them when the weather warms up here...

As far as turning off the daylight running lights I believe there is a button on the light switch you push 3 times to turn them off. Personally, I believe I could afford a $4.00 bulb once in a while in trade for the safety it does provide. It takes about 10 minutes to change a bulb. Its all snap apart pieces and you do not need any tools to do it. Don't make the mistake I did when I replaced mine. I went to a O'really parts house and all they had was Chinese bulbs. I should have gone somewhere else but I bought the bulb anyway. 1 week later it was out again and when I took it out the bulb contacts burned the wiring harness at the bulb. I would have been better off finding a quality bulb instead of having to replace the harness. Thats not GMs fault, its mine for not getting the right replacement parts. Other than that mine still is going fine with 120k miles on it now.
We just put the third set of tires on it and the brake pads still have a few miles left on them although I feel I'm playing Russian roulette right now.
I will replace them when the weather warms up here...
Thanks for the input so far . Good to see some positive responses though I do realize that a lot of people who post in forums are ones who have had problems and their are probably 1000's of people who never have many problems at all that you don't hear from . Can anyone verify you can turn the daytime running lights off ? Also how is the cruise implemented , is it on the steering or is it a stalk mount one and how hard is it to operate , use to having them right on the wheel along with the cancel feature and it just makes it a lot easier if its on the wheel though I imagine it could be more problematic there due to clocksprings though I have never had a problem on the chryslers that I have owned that have them there. Any more positive responses ? I do like the 100000 mile powertrain warranty now .

I whole-heartedly recommend the Trailblazer to you. Not that mine's not had its share of problems, but it is nevertheless a tremendous vehicle. Most of the trouble I've had is with trim pieces, but I've had a few such as 2 bad seat motors in the driver's seat, I'm on my 4th radio (but that one was put in about 4 months after purchase and it's been fine since). The stock tires were bald at 23,000 miles, but most likely cause they were over inflated (damn Sears for doing so). Now the speedometer isn't working, which is a common problem on 04-06 GM trucks, but it will be replaced under extended warranty soon.

I consider these problems minor. I love the truck otherwise. Engine is fantastic - I have the V8, which I like it better than the I6. Some argue the I6 is more technically advanced, but nothing makes up for torque than a V8. Look for one of those if you want towing power and still maintain decent gas mileage. By the way, I average almost 20mpg with the V8 and that's in the EXT model, which has much worse aerodynamics and weighs like 500lbs more.

I whole-heartedly recommend the Trailblazer to you. Not that mine's not had its share of problems, but it is nevertheless a tremendous vehicle. Most of the trouble I've had is with trim pieces, but I've had a few such as 2 bad seat motors in the driver's seat, I'm on my 4th radio (but that one was put in about 4 months after purchase and it's been fine since). The stock tires were bald at 23,000 miles, but most likely cause they were over inflated (damn Sears for doing so). Now the speedometer isn't working, which is a common problem on 04-06 GM trucks, but it will be replaced under extended warranty soon.

I consider these problems minor. I love the truck otherwise. Engine is fantastic - I have the V8, which I like it better than the I6. Some argue the I6 is more technically advanced, but nothing makes up for torque than a V8. Look for one of those if you want towing power and still maintain decent gas mileage. By the way, I average almost 20mpg with the V8 and that's in the EXT model, which has much worse aerodynamics and weighs like 500lbs more.


thanks for the opinion , the one i am looking at is as simple one as you can find and it still has a lot toys on it . Has manual seats which is fine just 1 less thing to go wrong , is 2WD don't have 4X4 worries . The thing still has bose stereo , sunroof (I could do without this feature , hopefully that won't be a problem with leaks etc...) . It is a good value at $22K , hard to believe they will be getting rid of it , probably will have an Acadia type replacement which will cost at least $30000 . hopefully if I get it will be reliable , this will be my first GM , always been a Chrysler guy but most of there stuff lately has had the former cheap looking interiors that GM used to be famous for . The 100K warranty is a big factor also . Hope I won't be sorry with really bad gas mileage , i know it is not extremely frugal at 22 mpg highway .

...the one i am looking at is as simple one as you can find and it still has a lot toys on it . Has manual seats which is fine just 1 less thing to go wrong , is 2WD don't have 4X4 worries . The thing still has bose stereo , sunroof (I could do without this feature , hopefully that won't be a problem with leaks etc...) ...

Hehee.. It's hardly a base model with a sunroof and bose. GM did decontent the heck out of them over the years though to save bucks. 22MPG is achieveable at a long, steady, easy hywy speed. Your typical (suburban roads) tank full should avg you ~17mpg.

Joel

If you’ve merely done a moderate amount of Internet surfing or cracked open a newspaper lately - just about any newspaper - you’ve undoubtedly seen the news that Toyota has once again passed Ford in worldwide auto sales and may pass GM sometime this year.
But what you may not have seen is that Toyota has already passed both Ford and GM in a different category - automotive recalls.
Although we’ve barely passed mid-February, Toyota has already recalled 533,417 vehicles this year in a mix that, according to www.AutoRecalls.us, includes Tundras Sequoias and Camrys. That puts Toyota on track to recall more than the over 1.76 million autos they recalled in the U.S. and Japan in 2006, and the 2.2 million they recalled in 2005 when they recalled more cars than they built.
What’s more, the current recall related to the Turdra trucks and Sequioa SUVs is similar to the same defect in 800,000 of the same vehicles in 2005. Maybe somebody at Toyota isn’t paying attention?
Hopefully the American consumers are. Recall numbers by domestic companies (GM and Ford) so far this year are as follows: Ford, 128,163; Chevrolet, 4,829; and Pontiac, 1,602.

All in all I am satisfied. As far as comfort and performance, I don't think you can beat the TB. Yes there are issues, however like anything, preventitive maintenence pays huge dividends. Yes there are certain things I don't like, specifically the torque management. But these are designed to please the masses, not just me. I can and will tune that to my specific taste. Those who are not mechanically inclined and are at the mersy of the GM service department might, more times than not get frustrated. However, read the Ford/Dodge forums. The Explorer/Expeditions are notorius for blowing spark plugs from the heads $$$$. The Durangos have weak trannys and have intake manifold gasket sealing probs leading to huge oil consumption. As far as Japense..well the parts are outrageous and are hard as hell to work on. IMO. I think the TBs styling was ahead of it's time when introduced in 02. Some on here complain about gas mileage, I have an ext with the 25.8 gallon tank and consistantly get 22 MPG highway. That is very good given the weight of these trucks. Moral of this story.....maintenence, just like your lawn mower...LOL, just my :2cents:

I have an 02 TB LS 2WD with right at 200K miles on it. I didnt even do a brake job until it had 150K on it. Initially had problems with brake lights going out regularly, but that was minor considerring had no other issues.

I would ABSOLUTELY by another TB...I currently own a 2003 LS model and I love it. From day 1, this vehicle has been awesome. I have about 75,000 miles on it after owning it for 4.5 years, so I've put well over the average yearly mileage on it (mostly highway) and it has performed better than I could have asked for. The styling is what first got my attention, as well as seeing a lot on the road. Overall I am a fan of GM's vehicle styling, but performance/reliability are naturally key...my TB earns high marks in all categories.

The only issue I did have was about 4 months ago when the engine coil went, which resulted in a cylinder misfire. This was fixed quickly and right the first time by the dealership and I've had no issue since. I blame this more on the part than GM itself.

I live in New England, so my TB gets tested with weather and the elements and it has held up very well. My TB can certainly haul it's own tailend when it needs to, much to the surprise of other drivers, I think, who seem to assume since it's an SUV it can't get out of its own way...NOT TRUE! I've dusted a few foreign vehicles on the highway on ramp!

we have had ours for 2 years 2005 - really great to drive but its not made for economy 17mpg town and 21 hwy - not one problem at 30000 miles and counting.

I wouldn´t because General Motors is recalling 78,004 GMC Envoy and Chevrolet Trailblazer models built between January and August, 2001 to recalibrate the transfer case control module. On models equipped with 4-wheel drive, the calibration of the transfer case control module could cause insufficient high-speed gear engagement. If the gear is not engaged, the vehicle can roll when the transmission is in "Park. So as you can see problems are starting to appear. Looks are good though.

I have an 02 TB LS 2WD with right at 200K miles on it. I didnt even do a brake job until it had 150K on it. Initially had problems with brake lights going out regularly, but that was minor considerring had no other issues.

All model lines of cars and trucks have some sort of recall during the lifetime of it ... the Trailblazer is no exception. Our 2002 model year TB LS had the Wiper motor recall, rear tail light assemblies, and the 4x4 switch recall all done. Recalls are 100% free from any GM dealership, and it doesn't matter if your warrantee is up or not - they're considered a safety concern so it's good to check up and make sure that you take your truck in for any recall service that is advised.

As I said above, we owned a first-model-year 2002 Trailblazer and just got rid of it this summer with almost 90k on the clock, and we traded it in for a brand new 2007 TB LT in Indigo Blue Metallic. Not only has Chevy learned from the few 2002-2003 model year problems, but the fit and finish of the new truck is exceptional compared to the old one we had. We absolutely love our 2007 TB, and from what I hear on the GM side of things, 2009 is probably going to be the final year that they're made, before migrating the assembly plant in OH to produce a more fuel-efficient crossover design truck similar to the GMC arcadia (but smaller).

I highly recommend the trailblazer, we already have 1400 miles on our new one and are really liking it!

--zepcom

Also can someone elaborate on the cruise control, where is the controls for the cruise , is it on the steering wheel where it is supposed to be , forgot to look when i test drove it . The daytime running lights also drive me nuts , any way to turn these off . I see a lot of gm cars with like 1 headlight out , got to believe this burns the headlights out faster . i have never replaced a headlight in any car I have ever owned .

The cruise control is on the turn-signal stick like many other GM vehicles. And "No", it's not necessarily "supposed to be" on the steering wheel like the 2004+ Grand Prix or other cars, it's "supposed to be" where GM designed it to fit/function best for that design of vehicle.

As far as the DRL's, there's always discussion about this, people are either indifferent or love it, or they hate them. People do not understand how they work, thus why they think they burn out the headlights more often. DRL's run headlights at 60-70% full brightness. What kills headlights is the rapid heat change of turning them off and on, not running DRL's. Headlights can last very long with DRL's on, because they're being run at less than their maximum capacity. Your information is incorrect about DRL's causing the headlights to burn out faster, it's just plain wrong. If the headlights 'blink' when the keyfob lock-unlock button is pressed, that is causing much more strain on the lights than any DRL's. Add to that the various front-end vibrations and shocks and temperature changes that the vehicle is routinely subject to, and that is what causes lights to burn out.

Ever notice the lights in your house? When do bulbs usually burn out? When you first turn them on is when you usually see that really bright flash of light and then they're out, filament destroyed. Similarly with 3-way house bulbs, often you find that one of the modes of a 3-way bulb blew out, it happened one of the times when the bulb was first turned on. Yes, alebit rarely, bulbs left on 100% of the time have been known to burn out, but if they're on for a while, they're already up to operating temperature and are operating as designed. This is rarely when they decide to give-up-the-ghost.

If you don't like them, you can purchase different "DRL Killer" circuits that install plug-and-play that disable this safety feature. Alternatively (what I sometimes do, is) on the 2004+ Trailblazers with the 4-position headlight switch, is twist the switch counter-clockwise to disable the DRL's for that drive session. If you want a more permanent solution (i.e., every time you drive, you want them off) then as above, the DRL killer mod is the way to go. Do a google search or hop on over to forums.trailvoy.com and search for DRL killer and you'll find plenty of discussion and info on how to get one.

If you upgrade your headlights to HID lights, you would definitely need the DRL killer mod. HID lights are more similar to the tube-style fluorescent lights in businesses, they need either 0% power or 100% power, nothing in between.

Traditional 9005/9006 bulbs are incondascent, and can run at any voltage safely up to their designed voltage. Sticking with stock bulbs, and DRL's will not shorten the life of your bulbs.

--zepcom

Wow, this thread is almost 6 years old. Time to retire it before it gets resurrected again. Feel free to start a new one if the interest exists.