1996 Chevrolet Blazer engine and engine cooling problems

“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. *TR”

“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 NHTSA 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. *JB”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLAMES WERE NOTICED DROPPING TO THE GROUND UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. GREY SMOKE WAS ALSO OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY, AND WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT PROCESSED AT THE SCENE. THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE MELTED THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF IT, AND DID MODERATE DAMAGE TO A THIRD VEHICLE PARKED ALONGSIDE THE SECOND VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB”

“PURCHASED VEHICLE 12/03 SINCE THEN HAVE REPLACED: WATER PUMP 3 TIMES, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT, UPPER MANIFOLD GASKET, MAIN REAL SEAL. OVER THE PAST 6-8 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED THE BRAKING ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES (MORE THAN 10.) LUCKILY NONE WERE EMERGENCY STOPS, HOWEVER WHEN BRAKING DUE TO TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGE OR STOPPING WHILE GOING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES "CHATTER," AN AUDIBLE WHINE IS PRODUCED, AND IT IS NECESSARY TO PUMP THE BRAKES BEFORE IT WILL REGAIN PRESSURE AND STOP. *JB”

“PURCHASED 1996 CHEVY BLAZER 1/15/04 FROM CARMAX. EXPERIENCED FREQUENT ISSUES WITH HEATING AND COOLING. 3/22/05 1ST MECHANIC FOUND NO TROUBLE FOR 2 DAYS, THEN DETERMINED THERMOSTAT WAS BAD. 2ND MECHANIC REPLACED THERMOSTAT. BROKE DOWN TWICE DUE TO PRESSURE IN COOLING SYSTEM FORCING RADIATOR HOSES OFF. 6/4/05 MECHANIC RESEATED HOSES & CLAMPS, REPLACED RADIATOR CAP, AND FLUSHED SYSTEM. 25 MILES AWAY FROM SHOP TEMP SHOT UP TO 260 DEGREES AND BLEW ALL FLUID OUT. TRIED REFILLING AND WATER IS RUSHING OUT OF THE RADIATOR END CAPS AS FAST AS WE'RE FILLING IT. THERE'S AN EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL OF SLUDGE THAT APPEARS TO BE DEX-COOL RELATED IN THE OVERFLOW TANK AND HAS ALSO BEEN SEEN IN THE FLUIDS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAINING DURING BREAKDOWNS.”

“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. *LA”