Please help with 99 Blazer problem

I hope some of the experts who post here regularly can help me with my problem. About three weeks ago I began having problems with my power mirrors- sometimes it would adjust in but not out, one mirror would adjust but not the other, etc. Then about two weeks ago the truck started hesitating when starting, and now it's to the point where it not only hesitates but the gagues take a few seconds to pop to life and the rear gate window sometimes pops open. I figured it was a weak battery or bad alternator, so I had a free check done at AutoZone and their test confimed that both were bad. So can anyone tell me if the problem started with the mirrors or if that may be a totally unrelated problem? And about how much would it cost to repair/replace the alternator? It's still under warranty, but the deductlble is $100. Would it be more cost effective to have the old one fixed, or should I eat the deductible and have it replaced? TIA for any help.

Reply to
Walter Wagers
Loading thread data ...

If you can get a GM alternator replaced at the dealer and you dont mind the trouble of having to take it there, wait ect. go for it. The only way it will be cheaper is if you fix it yourself, and even then it will be close....The mirrors are probably unrelated if the truck had enough power to start. Of coarse my opinion is centered on the the guy at autozone knowing that the alternator is bad. Keep in mind he is most likely just a half-ass parts man and not a technician that can test your battery and alternator correctly.

Reply to
Scott

Unless you can install a new ALT yourself, eat the deductible.

Check for bad grounds, bad negative cable on the battery, Etc. Not only can they cause your battery and ALT to go or wear faster, but they can make other things like lights, gauges, and power mirrors act funny too.

Sam

Reply to
GaWd

Priced an alternator for a 99 Blazer lately? He won't find one for $100. Bob

Reply to
Bob

I can find them as cheap as $89, or as expensive as $141.

Repair kits for the alternators are about $55.

Sam

Reply to
GaWd

I should have said he won't find one worth bolting on for $100. That still doesn't change the fact that he'd be far better off to pay his deductible and get it repaired as needed. It sounds to me like he has other problems which likely have nothing to do with his alternator. Bob

Reply to
Bob

If you want to maximize your chances of success as well as the likelihood of getting good parts put on I'd say take it to the dealer, don't tell them "do this" but tell them the problem, let them diagnosis it, let them fix it, and let them bill the insurance company minus your deductible. That assumes your ext warranty will not have a problem with you taking it where ever you want to have it fixed.

Alternative solution is to take it to a place that specializes in auto electric work and rebuilds the alternator themselves. If they are good they should be able to rebuild it to like new and surely better then what you would get at autozone but it will probably cost more - just pay the deductible. Make sure your Ext warranty company pre-authorizes the repair.

If it was me, I'd just take it to the chevy dealer since mines only a couple miles away and there are no electric repair places anywhere nearby.

Reply to
AZGuy

Thanks for all the advice, fella's. I swung by a Midas yesterday and one of the mechanics there said the alternator was okay, and the battery was all that needed replacing. By now, the battery is so near death they have to give me a jump just so I could leave. So a few minutes later I swing by Wal-Mart, buy a replacement, have them install it and go about my merry way. When I get home, I notice that the retained accessory power that you're supposed to have for 20 minutes after shutting off the ignition doesn't work now. And the cigarette lighter doesn't work now, either. Do you suppose it could have blown a fuse(s) from trying to crank it over with the weak battery? I read over the owner's manual on how to find and replace the proper fuses, but I'm such a damn novice at this, I'm sorta wary about trying. Come morning light, I'll take a crack at checking/replacing them.

Reply to
Walter Wagers

Okay, here are some helpful pointers, it will seam weird.

You wasted your money on your battery. Never buy from Wal-Mart EVER again. Buy AC-Delco batteries, there like $20 more and you get a 6 year free replacement warranty (and they generally last 10 years in a cold and boiling New England environment)

You wasted your money. For the price of an AC-Delco battery (like you would have gotten at your un-friendly Chevy dealer) you would have gotten a complete diagnostic service, for $100 that would have fixed all the problems that your battery didn't fix.

As for fuses, find em, pull em, and you'll know if it's blown. There is a little wire inside, and if there isn't (and it generally looks black) then it is blown. Although your alternator could have been very hurt by running your car without a batt...

I'd try to return the Wal-Mart batt (I'm cheap like that) and go back to the dealer and pay the deductible. Ask a buddy about borrowing his battery, and explain why you want a new battery. Course if you mind looking like a cheap fark (I don't) then just go with this.

~KJ~

Reply to
KJ

I've had several of those AC-Delco batteries and they don't last worth a crap. Some lasted only a year. Thank god CostCo stopped carrying them.

Reply to
AZGuy

Only short-lived ones I've ever seen were my mother's, 5 years, and I don't know how she did it. Like I said, 10 years in my father's truck then it's retired to running the bass boat. Not to mention, you are either a very messy (lost reciept), or silly person, since I KNOW it is a FREE 6 YEAR replacement warranty.

~KJ~

Reply to
KJ

Reply to
Bobo

Yeah, the replacements were often free or nearly so. Still, I had TWO of them go bad on the SAME day. Both were right at one year old. I got 3 years from the original MOtorcrafts in my Explorer and Mustang.

3 is about as long as I ever get here in Arizona.
Reply to
AZGuy

I don't think I've ever seen a battery in my families fleet that hadn't bulged somewhere... Summers in new england got to hots around

95 and cold... well last year it got down to like 20 below w/ windchill :-) I think it was about 1-2 without.

Frik and frack, live in New England and don't like the weather? Wait five minutes....

-The Lonely Grease Monkey

1985' K5 305CUI TH700R4 NP208 KJ's successor

"Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, then he who believes what is a wrong." - Thomas Jefferson

Reply to
Lonely G-Monkey

I don't know where in NH you live, but in southern Maine, where I live we had 23 days in a row with a low below 0F. I remember having to start my truck on about 15 of those days when it was between -15 and

-20F w/o windchill. a few of those days the windchill was in the 50 below range. I lasted less than 5 minutes outside with insulated coveralls, sweatpants, jeans, 2 lined flannel shirts a t-shirt, heavily insulated Redwing boots, a pair each of wool and cotton socks, super thick gloves, a heavy hard hat liner and a scarf on. sometimes I really hate my job.

-Bret

Reply to
Bret Chase

Southern. Been going north more often though (Franconia Notch), and that is where we got the extremes. Last weekend it got down to 9!! A little early in my book, but I hope the snow flies - I love tearing that up!

~KJ~

Reply to
KJ

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.