My wife is looking at getting a 96-99 or so blazer and I really don't know much about them and their trouble/problem history... just want your advice as to what I should look for as in trouble signs and such. I know the basics like CEL light on!!!and oil spots so spare the idiot shit please!!! lol :naughty:
She is also looking at some GMC jimmys.. what's your opinion on those?
Any help would be great!!! THANKS

Newer , the better.

First thing, grill them on the repair history and check to see if people have been tuning the truck from time to time.

Ya know, plugs, wires, cap & rotor, air filter, fuel filter....etc.....

Check the oil, if it is black as night, walk away, it is obvious no one has been taking care of it.

These are the keys to seeing if the truck will last and if it has been babied and taken care of. If has been reglected, chances are soemthing will go very soon.

Oh, BTW, check the front end for proper greasing on the ball joints, tie rods, and steering assembly.

There is 11 greas points on a 4x4.

Oh yeah I know all the basics for what to look for.... I was just wondering if there were common problems associated with them as in things that should be recalls but chevy to cheap to claim them..... Just curious to general problems.... i've looked through some of the posts on here and seen the prob's you guys have been having but they seem to be more or less the same type of problems all cars have... thanks

Ball joints, and push button 4 wheel drive issues.

Ball Joints are terrible (whole front suspension really) Idler and Pitman arms, Oil line seems to start leaking near the entrance to the radiator, transmissions are weak, usually go out at 75-100k, 5 year dexcool is crap, if any kind of moisture or air mixes with that stuff, it sludges and causes a mess, speaking of which, the heater core usually gets gummed up b/c of the dexcool. the plastic inside does seem to make lots of little rattling noises after time, the door pin on the driver side usually wears out after 100k, the inside buzzer goes off when you lean on the door b/c of a little plug up near the dash that wears down just enough to stop that little push pin in that makes the interior light/buzzer go on. I have heard of many issues with the back hose for the windshield wiper coming apart causing no water to squirt out when you push the button and finally the 4x4 actuator causes probs when it goes out. I keep driving mine and repairing it though so that I dont have a car payment. It's probably not any worse than other cars but I cant comment on those b/c I have been driving this same one for 8 years. I now know every inch of my blazer though so feel free to pm me if you come across any specifics.

From what I've seen the 96 was a so-so year, 97 was terrible, 98 and up were much better. Look for lower mileage, 60k or so on a 98 or newer and take a close look at the antifreeze in the radiator. That Dexcool is well known for its problems and expensive repairs when it turns to mud and eats up the gaskets.

I've got a 96 4 door 2wd 118543 miles, the only thing that was wrong with it is the front sway bar was missing a bolt, other than that the o2 sensor goes out at about 75,000. Nothing else has happend to mine, besides the rattling of the plastic. Every car has that after its been around the block. My Trans is strong, motor is great. I found they are good Suv's they are fun to drive, the bad thing is if you get a pre 98, you have to buy a tow bar, or buy a 98-> bumper. I have had it for 7 mos., and i love it.

Oh yea, forgot to mention that break pads on front end wear out annually.

Not if you drive normally they don't.

Had mine on for 3 years and was just replaced.

I don't think its the driving, I do the usual driving in city traffic, every November for 8 years now like clockwork I gotta replace em. Thank goodness for the lifetime warranty from autozone on those pads. The drums on the rear however have only needed replaced once.

how many miles do you put on it in a year?

Thanks for all the info!!!!