97 Blazer LT Dying and hard restart

I have a 1997 Blazer LT that has 105,000 miles on it. I make sales calls in it and when I came out of a customer account yesterday and went to start it, it sputtered and quit. On restart it fired and then quit. I went through several restarts before it stayed running.

On my next customer call it died when I pulled in the parking stall. I had a hard time restarting. Since the town I was working is 45 miles away from home I went home. I changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor last night.

This morning when I got to the office and pulled in, it sputtered but didn't die. I turned it off, waited a minute and then tried to restart. It died. Arrrgh. Same problems.

I changed the fuel pump last summer because it went bad. I didn't change the fuel filter though. Don't remember if that's a part of the pump or not. I can't find any vacuum leaks but the vacuum hose to the little ball mounted on the hood for the 4wd and A/C controls is dry rotted.

I had Autozone check for codes and it didn't throw a code so I guess that's a good sign.

Anyone have any other suggestions for me? I've never run fuel injector cleaner, wonder if dirty injectors could cause it. Or maybe bad gas? Running 10% ethanol here.

Subscribing....

Try changing your fuel filter for starters. Check your fuel pressure to ensure that your fuel pump is working correctly and that you have around 62 PSI of pressure. This is the most commen problem. If that checks out. Then you mite want to check out your CPI to see that its not leaking.

Try changing your fuel filter for starters. Check your fuel pressure to ensure that your fuel pump is working correctly and that you have around 62 PSI of pressure. This is the most commen problem. If that checks out. Then you mite want to check out your CPI to see that its not leaking.

The Fuel filter is located on inside of frame rail under driver seat of truck.

Thanks for all the information. I don't know if I'll be able to get to it until this weekend. I had a new symptom today. Driving down the highway at 60mph the engine quit for maybe 1/2 second and recaught. It wasn't a long enough stall to shut me down completely. The buzzer and airbag lights came on though as it does when you first start that Blazer. Going to stop by Checkers and see if that caused a code. I'm still thinking fuel filter is dirty. Does anyone agree?

Thanks for all the information. I don't know if I'll be able to get to it until this weekend. I had a new symptom today. Driving down the highway at 60mph the engine quit for maybe 1/2 second and recaught. It wasn't a long enough stall to shut me down completely. The buzzer and airbag lights came on though as it does when you first start that Blazer. Going to stop by Checkers and see if that caused a code. I'm still thinking fuel filter is dirty. Does anyone agree?

New symptom = bad ignition switch! if performing replacement yourself, save some $ and purchase new switch from Advanced Auto/Autozone/Checkers. O'Reilly's does not carry the ignition switch for the '97 Blazer.

Thanks for all the information. I don't know if I'll be able to get to it until this weekend. I had a new symptom today. Driving down the highway at 60mph the engine quit for maybe 1/2 second and recaught. It wasn't a long enough stall to shut me down completely. The buzzer and airbag lights came on though as it does when you first start that Blazer. Going to stop by Checkers and see if that caused a code. I'm still thinking fuel filter is dirty. Does anyone agree?

This is starting to sound like an Ignition switch failure.
Do you lose all dash lights and gauges when the engine dies?
(right before my switch went, the engine just quit while driving).
Do you ever have this problem while trying to start the vehicle after it has sat for a while? When it's hard restarting like you posted in the original post, can you take it out of park when the key is on but engine isn't running?

Any of these symtoms are a bad switch indicator.

replace your ignition switch ...

common problem for 97s and is potentially dangerous ...

search for 1997 97 ignition switch on the Blazer and GMC Jimmy forum ...

its not a matter of 'if' ... but 'when' ...

As suggested, I'd still replace the fuel filter too.




[QU0OTE=1997BlazerLT]Thanks for all the information. I don't know if I'll be able to get to it until this weekend. I had a new symptom today. Driving down the highway at 60mph the engine quit for maybe 1/2 second and recaught. It wasn't a long enough stall to shut me down completely. The buzzer and airbag lights came on though as it does when you first start that Blazer. Going to stop by Checkers and see if that caused a code. I'm still thinking fuel filter is dirty. Does anyone agree?[/QUOTE]

I don't think it's the ignition switch but its something I'll keep in the back of my mind. I will replace the fuel filter this weekend (along with front brakes, I guess my saturday is blown). Definitely seems like a fuel hiccup. I'll post again when I know something. No problems yesterday or today. But I have sales calls to make today so we'll see.

Ok I know its been awhile. I've changed jobs and actually now work for www.rockauto.com. So I get my parts cheap.

Anyway back to the saga. I still have the random dying problem but have grown to live with it. It always restarts. After changing plugs, wires twice, fuel filter, map sensor (coded for this), cap, rotor I'm having two distinct issues.

1. Still dies randomly. at slow speed completely dead, but restarts. at hwy speed more of a hiccup with all dash lights coming on like a restart.

2. P0300. Started as a P0304. I feel like giving up. I just don't want to get stuck somewhere.

I'm on my way to Checkers (shhh dont tell anyone here! LOL) to buy a fuel pressure gauge but my pump is only a year old or so. Also thinking of changing the ignition switch. Going to pull plugs and recheck my gap settings. I've run two bottles of fuel injector cleaner through and also some ISO HEET.

Any more suggestions???? I'm perplexed.....fuel injectors? Vacuum leak? Intake manifold gasket?

Mark,

Replace the ignition switch. Had same symptoms on my 97 - got so bad it became a crap shoot when turning onto a busy street (never knew if the car would die in the middle of the road).

Bought a fuel pressure gauge and checked it. 52-61 PSI. Ran it for a week and stayed within this range, even when missing. Ran these numbers by the GM dealer and these are the specs that he pulled up on the computer.

I did note that it won't hold pressure more than an hour though. No rough starting, fires right up. Assuming the fuel pump is leaking back.

So now what? Still missing. HELP!!!