1997 Chevy Blazer Engine Won’t Start Sometime - No Dash Lights

I’ve got a 1997 Chevy Blazer four-door 4×4 and an auto mechanic who’s chomping at the bit to ding me for $800 for a new fuel pump.

Here’s what it’s doing. A conventional turnover of the key won’t start the vehicle. It turns over repeatedly - without the dash warning lights coming on - but won’t start.

A partial turn or a key-in, though, will start the vehicle - on the oft chance that the dash warning lights come on. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t. When they don’t, the vehicle won’t start. I keep trying the partial turn until they do, and then the vehicle starts.

Others - including a Chevrolet service adviser - have told me that the mechanic is trying to rip me off, and that I have an ignition problem.

Your thoughts?
Bill

Hey Bill,

I would need to test some things myself, but just from reading your email I would have to concur with the service advisor about a possible ignition problem. Ignition switch, lock cylinder or actuator rod inside the steering column type of problem.

Easy test…….is there voltage at the fuel pump when it won’t start? If no power to the pump…….the pump is NOT the culprit.

You can sometimes bang on the bottom of the fuel tank with your fist or a rubber hammer AS you crank over the engine ….to help jump start a weak fuel pump.

These vehicles were notorious for bad fuel injectors nicknamed a SPIDER. The plastic fuel lines would leak and cause an internal fuel leak in the intake manifold area. Since it leaked fuel pressure, the common complaint was slow to start, excessive cranking time etc. etc.

Blessings,
Austin Davis