96 Blazer Problems, Any Mechanics out there?

[MattB]

I had problems with my battery holding a charge a few weeks ago, so I checked the alternator and auto zone told me that it was bad. (It was under warranty, so there was no incentive for him to lie), and same with the battery. I have since replaced both. Things have been going great for the past 2 weeks, but the last two times it has rained, my car has failed to start. I can jump it, and it starts with minimal charging from the other car. Once the jumper cables are unhooked, my car will continue to run. Once I turn off my blazer, however, it will not start again without being jumped. I have re-tightened all connections to the battery. The lights will turn on and seem to have full power. The over head light will come on at full power. The windows will roll up and down. I can try to start the engine, but all I can hear is the starter clicking and the overhead light goes off. If I try again without getting out of the car, nothing happens. If I get out of the car, close the door, and get back in, and try to start the engine again, click, click, click....same thing. Any ideas? Any help will be greatly appreciated as I am a student living off a VERY low paying job and cannot really afford to have someone do this kind of work for me, plus I enjoy this kind of work.
Thanks ya'll.

[rp]

Have you checked your battery cables. All the way on both ends. It takes a lot more power to turn the starter than it does the lights or window motor.

Next try Ramchargercentral.com Admit you have a Chevy and beg them for ideas. Look for the forum on personal vehicle help.

[Moatsy]

Matt, it takes some juice to turn a starter on that size engine, so your lights would still work easily. It's one of four things...

from most to least likely...
1. you put the alternator on yourself and it is either the wrong one (less likely) or the pulley is the wrong size or is too loose and is slipping (highly likely) and thus not pulling the alternator.
2. your battery cables are loose/corroded.
3. the alternator is STILL bad because it is from China.
4. Some sort of crazy short in the cellanoid requiring extra juice to fire.

Again, most likely, you think that pulley is tight enough, but it isn't even close. Tighten it.

[buckshot1224]

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/index.php?

the guys on these forums can help a lot

also dieselplace.com they have a gasser section that could help

I think Trapper is on to something though.........

[wskinner]

I had a 86 K5 blazer and had similar issues. The cables were the problem. You might as well replace them now and save yourself more trouble down the road.

[saltynut]

I would replace both the cables before I did anything else. I'm pretty sure in 96 they were using a serpentine belt. Ceck the routing diagram and make sure you have the belt on correctly and that your tensioner is working.

[b-rad54]

I agree with salt, skinner, and rp. I have had similar problems before working on my room mate's car that after a lot a hair pulling ended up being just a bad battery cable. Couldn't hurt anything to try it. Only costs about $12 and 20 minutes. Other than that, trapper could be right about the fine engineering quality of those great chinese parts. Just finished fixing my own truck that wouldn't even engage the starter which I had replaced about a year ago. Turned out that the new starter went bad.

[MattB]

Thanks for all of the input, gentlemen. I'll repost Monday with the verdict, but in the meantime, I have a test to study for and a woman cooking steak for dinner tonight.

[MattB]

RP

Have you checked your battery cables. All the way on both ends. It takes a lot more power to turn the starter than it does the lights or window motor.

First post was the right post. Battery cables needed fixin' Thanks.

[JEB911]

You check your distributor cap for a crack?

[BigBallin]

Many moons ago I worked as a parts hussler and I can tell you, they give you a lifetime waranty on stuff because you need it. I would see people month after month replacing "lifetime warranty" electronics, so just because it was just replaced does not mean it is good. Also, if you are 100% sure all of your battery wires and connections are good (hot and ground,both ends), look for something stupid in the truck like a liscense plate or dash light that for some reason will not cut off. Good Luck

[Turd Ferguson]

I can tell you right now what it is


its your gawdurn linkage, thats the problem

[300WINMAG]

Check voltage drop on the positive cable to the starter. Also check integrity of the ground cable- if this is the typical side post type cables, the battery posts were known to fatigue and allow battery acid into the cables themselves, causing high resistance and excessive voltage drop in the circuit. Should be no more than 0.5 volts drop in the positive cable from battery terminal to starter lug. Also ground should be no more than 20 millivolts. Be sure to check both battery to body ground cable and engine to body ground cable as well. Hope this helps.