I have a 96 blazer LT with about 140,000 miles on it. my check gages light came on about 3 days ago. there is a funny smell coming from the engine and a little smoke when I pop the hood. It also has little jerks or surges when I drive it. I know for a fact my air filter is filthy and I have just been lazy about changeing it but something tells me it bigger than just my air filter. Any ideas what it is and how to fix it? Is it my transmission?

I have a 96 blazer LT with about 140,000 miles on it. my check gages light came on about 3 days ago. there is a funny smell coming from the engine and a little smoke when I pop the hood. It also has little jerks or surges when I drive it. I know for a fact my air filter is filthy and I have just been lazy about changeing it but something tells me it bigger than just my air filter. Any ideas what it is and how to fix it? Is it my transmission?
Check gauges or check engine? Or SES (service engine soon)?

Check guages light comes on if you are overheating, have low oil pressure, low voltage, etc. It is alerting you to look at your guages and see what is wrong. From what you are saying, it sounds like you are probably overheating.

Check your coolant and your oil. Don't drive around like that or you won't have an engine left to repair.

The check gages light will come on when there is an anomalous reading in the analog dials in the dash. Mine lit up and a quick glance down showed a mild overheat. This was about 3-4 months ago when my lower intake seals went and it got low on coolant. Like JC327 said, when the gages go wacky on you or read high or low, that will light up to draw your attention.

Check guages light comes on if you are overheating, have low oil pressure, low voltage, etc. It is alerting you to look at your guages and see what is wrong. From what you are saying, it sounds like you are probably overheating.

Check your coolant and your oil. Don't drive around like that or you won't have an engine left to repair.

Thanks for the help guys. it was my coolent, cause it was low but I guess that means I got a leak somewhere.

what does check gages light mean?.\

That light means you should check your gauges.

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That light means you should check your gauges.

Which means one of the following:

Fuel Level is low
Volt Gauge Reading WEird
Engine is Overheating
Oil pressure is low

You should be paying more attention to this, that smell was you engine overheating and the temp gauge will have to be high for that to happen.

Pay attention mopre next time and actually CHECK THE GAUGES.

Hey peter, If you overheated your truck, Change you Engine oil and filter ASAP.

Hey peter, If you overheated your truck, Change you Engine oil and filter ASAP.

Why?

Because after the Oil temp reaches around 250F it has begun it's break down.

Because after the Oil temp reaches around 250F it has begun it's break down.

Nah, it is made to withstand much higher temps than that.

Hmmmm, I did not know that.

Hmmmm, I did not know that.

No problem, an oil change is only necessary if coolant gets in the oil.