1996 Chevrolet Blazer: engine overheating

Filed Apr 23, 2009 · Engine · 97,745 miles · CA

I purchase my vehicle used on 12/4/01 , I have had to replace the temperature gauge every year because it indicates it is overheating. 3 weeks ago it started saying it was overheating and smoke filled the interior of my vehicle with fumes. It was repaired. At 3:15 p.m. Today, my car indicates it is overheating and now the service car light is on. This has been an ongoing issue with the coolant system. As soon as I turn the car on it indicates it is overheathing. Happening too many times.

Filed Jul 11, 2008 · Engine · 165,000 miles · MI

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet blazer. The contact stated that the air conditioner would not function. In addition, the radiator hose was leaking and the vehicle was taken to a repair shop for inspection. The contact was informed that there was a crack on the block (heater core) of the radiator. The radiator hose was leaking at the connection of the hose. The vehicle also overheated at times, in which the mechanic stated that this failure was included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 06e043000 (fuel system, gasoline). The dealer refused to perform the recall repair because other work needed to be done at the contact's expense. The current mileage was 169,123 and failure mileage was approximately 165,000. Updated 09/15/08 *bf the consumer stated brown sludge was found in the radiator. Updated 09/18/08.

Filed Jul 23, 2004 · Wheels · 80,000 miles · WI

The wheels were not seated properly on this particular trailer. When trailer was being pulled at any speed the hubs overheated. This caused the axel to be damaged beyond repair.

Filed Apr 6, 2004 · Engine · 84,000 miles · CA

The radiator and cooling system on my 1996 chevrolet balzer gets rusty and clogged every couple of years. In 1998 the whole radiator was taken out and boiled. In 2001 the cooling system was flushed again due to rust and clogging. And now, april 2004, the system has clogged again and causes engine overheat. Gm uses dex cool which is supposed to last five years, but every couple of years this coolant seems to clog the system and requires an overhaul costing around $400.

Filed Mar 4, 2004 · Engine · 95,000 miles · NE

After the consumer parked the vehicle it was discovered that anti freeze had a thick muddy texture in the radiator. This condition caused the vehicle to overheat on numerous occasions. Consumer has flushed the radiator three times within the last six months. The dealer examined the vehicle, could not find the cause of the problem.

Filed Nov 20, 2003 · Engine · 52,535 miles · PA

My 1996 chevrolet blazer with less than 53,000 miles has no heat and started overheating. I took it for service and was informed that the dexcool that was guaranteed for 100,000 miles had failed. The radiator was partially blocked and the heater core was blocked. Both the radiator and the heater core need to be replaced because of the sludge and rust that was in the cooling system.

Filed Aug 7, 2002 · Engine, Fuel system · MO

In jan 99, thermostat appeared to fail and when I opened the radiator cap, noticed what looked like mud/grit in cap. Took the truck to the chevrolet dealer, they said they did not know what it was. Ended up replacing intake manifold gasket, pulling and repairing/cleaning radiator and replacing thermostat. In july 2002, truck overheated again. Took it to firestone where they recommended $1200 in repairs to flush out "coagulated" coolant (dexcool). Ended up replacing radiator, radiator cap, and thermostat (again) and flushing entire coolant system. Firestone personnel said this was a recurring problem on the blazers with the dexcool breaking down and turning into a brown, muddy, gummy substance. Accoding to firestone, gm has several tech bulletins out on this, but they refuse to do anything about it. This dexcool broke down after only 30,000 miles. Why has nothing been done about this? Gm is knowingly selling a deficient product and they refuse to stand behind it. Please, can someone out there help us!?!?!?!

Filed Jun 14, 2002 · Engine · MD

Radiator clogged with gunk caused vehicle to overheat. This has reoccurred within a year after dealership repaired the problem. Please describe details.

Filed Apr 15, 2002 · Engine · WI

While driving engine does not heat up to proper temperature in the winter months, and in summer months it overheats. Chevrolet has admitted to the problem, but will not do anything about it. Please provide any further information.

Filed Apr 14, 2002 · Engine · VA

Entire cooling system clogged with a sandy substance. Mechanic says radiator, water pump, thermostated, and a number of other componets need to be replaced at a cost of over $1500.00. Mechanic says he is seeing this on a regular basis with 1996 blazers. While a number of complaints in your database point to problems with the dexi-cool coolant, the mechanic says in his view it is not the coolant as this problem is only with 1996 blazers. He believes it is sand from a faulty problem with the engine blocks were cast. The excess sand is now breaking off and clogging the coolant systems causing major repairs. Gm has ignored all complaints. This is a major problem as the vehicles are overheating and resulting in people getting stranded on highways, etc.

Filed Sep 4, 2001 · Engine · MD

Vehicle was not blowing heated air. After initial analysis of closest dealer (fox chevrolet - laurel md.), it was diagnosed that engine coolant had jelled. I instructed them not to repair due to excessive estimate to fix (and paid them their evaluation fee under protest), and arranged to take vehicle to dealer where the vehicle was purchased. They diagnosed the heater core needed to be replaced. Problems persisted over the next months and the vehicle was returned 3 additional times. Rust and/or jell in the system due to the dex-cool coolant was continually discussed as the root cause and the system had to be "blown out" several times yet the dealer nor the manufacturer would take any responsibility for the coolant problem. I pointed our that the system is labeled to not require any service/maintenance until 100,000 miles but they continued to not accept any responsibility. I requested copies of the manufacturers service bulletin on this problem to understand more of the specifics of the issue and to confirm that it was a known problem. Recently (july 2001) I am continuing to have problems with gauges indicating a potential overheat condition which I suspect is a continuation of the blockage in the coolant system since I had the thermostat diagnosed as working.

Filed Aug 9, 2001 · Engine · NC

Coolant formed a clay in the radiator at 86,000 miles. According to chevrolet, the engine coolant does not require maintenance for 5 years or 100,000 miles if a silicate free orange coolant (meeting gm spec 6277m) is used. There is a notice on the engine that states this information. We have monitored the coolant level and have followed these instructions. In july, the engine overheated. We had the radiator flushed and were informed that the coolant had solidified in the radiator. The service technician informed us that the coolant had formed a clay in the radiator. Shortly afterwards, the engine developed a sloshing/water noise. We had the radiator flushed again and were informed that we needed to have the radiator removed and manually cleaned. We took the vehicle to a trent, a gmc dealer (as the local chevrolet dealer would not repair the vehicle for 3 weeks) and were informed that the coolant system had been stopped up and clogged the heater core. According trent, the intake was clogged and leaking, which caused the entire radiator system to stop up. The radiator was plugged so badly that the flues could not be unstopped when the radiator was manually cleaned. The intake manifold gasket set, radiator, upper and lower radiator hoses, and thermostat had to be replaced. The heater core was flushed to remove the sludge. According to trent, all problems were caused by faulty coolant. the vehicle was within 5 years and 100,000 miles, and we followed chevrolets service instructions for maintenance.