I am lost. Please please help

Tiny
MELANIEM
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER
  • 4.3L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
I drive a 99 chevy blazer with the 4.3 vortex in it. I bought the truck around this time last year and the issue has been there the whole time but is random and seems to get worse. I have racked my brains on what could be causing the issue but I have not found a resolution. Below is a list of the issues that I am experiencing. I am not sure if they are all one issue or multiple.
1. The check engine light stays on, I have had the codes read and it comes up for the gas cap, but I have replaced the cap three times now and it still stays on.
2. My abs light stays on
3. My truck has a shake with acceleration, I have had new tires, pitmans, idler arms, balljoints, suspension, checked mounts, replaced my transmission mount, had it realigned, replaced breaks and drums, the issue is still there.
4. Randomly the truck seems to sputter while in drive. It does it usually when the truck has set for say a day, but like I said it is random. I have thought that it was thirsty for fuel, but the gage doesn't spaz out. I have looked at my front end and also transmission and all seems right there, but when it sputters I still question them as being the issue. This issue has been there since I have bought it, but with it being random I never really worried about it. It seems to happen more ofter now.
5. Here lately, I have noticed that the service 4wd light is coming on after the sputtering happens.
6. The truck doesn't fire on the first turn over. Usually, takes two attempts before it turns all the way over.
Thursday, March 26th, 2015 AT 5:42 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check fuel pressure with a gauge auto parts rent it, should be 60-66 psi. Scan for codes however a pro will need to scan for abs codes to find the problem. The gas cap thing may be the evap canister solenoid as they get dirty and stick but a pro should smoke test it. As far as shake have tires been checked for balance?Switch fronts to rear see if it makes a difference. Also check motor mounts and have alignment checked.
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Thursday, March 26th, 2015 AT 6:00 AM
Tiny
MELANIEM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
As far as the tires and alignment, that is not the issue for the shake. I have had new tires placed on it and them check three times since purchase of the vehicle last year. I think the shaking has to do with the sluggish stalling issue. I plan on checking the fuel pressure, but it seems like per online the sputtering issue is a common issue with the blazers. I am not as worried about the abs or the shake as I am about the stalling. I just wasn't sure if they could all possibly be all in line with each other. I have checked other sites and it seems like people who are experiencing the stutter has said that their check engine light or other lights on their dash seem to either come on randomly or stay on like in my case. I have read a few reviews and it seems like it could be an alternator issue. I am not the pro by all means, so can you enlighten me on how this could relate, I have also seen a timing issue that describes some of the problems. I just want to cover all my options, before I have to go replacing sensors, which I am hoping that it not the issue.
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Thursday, March 26th, 2015 AT 6:34 AM
Tiny
MELANIEM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Also, the sputtering I have noticed happens when it has sat for say a days time frame sometimes less, and it happens between 1500 - 2000 rpm.
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Thursday, March 26th, 2015 AT 6:38 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Until you scan for codes and check fuel pressure you have no idea what the cause is engine wise. If you get a misfire can be from a vacuum leak/low fp etc and that can cause your shake. Most auto parts scan for free but don't know what the codes mean or how to fix it other than to sell you a part. Forums are nice but they aren't mechanics who deal with stuff on a daily basis. They can be so misleading. It can be a lot of things so do the two things first then start checking for a vacuum leak with choke cleaner.
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Thursday, March 26th, 2015 AT 6:52 AM

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