1999 Chevrolet Blazer engine and engine cooling problems

“AFTER HAVING DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS ON INTERSTATE ROADS (CONSTANTLY MONITORING THE COOLANT GAUGE - STANDARD FOR ANY TRIP I TAKE). I STOPPED TO GO TO THE REST ROOM AND WHEN I RETURNED AND STARTED THE VEHICLE IT MADE A HORRIBLE LOUD METAL BANGING NOISE. I MOVED THE VEHICLE TO THAT IF IT NEEDED TO BE TOWED IT WOULD BE READY. I CHECKED THE COOLANT GAUGE AND IT WAS AT THE VERY END OF THE HOT ZONE, CHECKED THE COOLANT AND FOUND ALMOST NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR. I HAD TO PUT WATER IN TO GET IT HOME (ANOTHER 3 HOURS ON THE ROAD). AT NO TIME DURING THAT TRIP DID THE COOLANT GAUGE INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL PER THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND HAVE DONE MOST OF THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND HAVE HAD NO OTHER MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. ON JULY 12TH I HAD THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET REPLACED, OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRIP.*JB”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MULTI-PORT FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE REPLACED THE PART, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NEED TO HAVE ITS SPARK PLUGS REPLACED OR CLEANED. THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MULTI-PORT FUEL INJECTION WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THE UNIT, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”

“DURING MAINTENANCE, OWNER NOTICED COOLANT GETTING DIRTY. HAD IT FLUSHED FOUR TIMES. HEATER QUIT WORKING AFTER FIRST FLUSH. BROWNISH-GRAY SLUDGE WAS BLOCKING THE HEATER CORE. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS DUE TO A SMALL LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING SMALL AMOUNTS OF DIRTY AIR AND OIL TO MIX WITH COOLANT. SINCE HAVING GASKET REPLACED, COOLANT HAS NOT GOTTEN DIRTY AGAIN. VORTEC ENGINES 1999-2003 WERE PRONE TO THIS GASKET FAILURE. DEXCOOL DOESN'T MIX WELL WITH DIRT OR OIL. *NM”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN OIL LEAK WAS NOTICED AND THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A FAILED OIL COOLER LINE AND "O" RINGS. THE LINE AND RING WAS REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE NOT THE ISSUE AS MUCH AS THE ENGINEERING CAUSING EXPENSIVE LABOR COSTS FOR A SMALL PART TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.”

“PURCHASED USED 99 BLAZER FOR BUSINESS USE. 8 MILES FROM DEALERS SITE, THE DAY OF PURCHASE, VEHICLE OVERHEATED - 18,200 MILES ON IT. DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR AND HOSES - FULL FLUSH OF SYSTEM - REFILLED WITH DEXCOOL, AT NO CHARGE. SOLIDIFIED RUSTY SLUDGE CLOGGED RADIATOR, HEATER CORE, AND HOSES - HAD IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH 96 BLAZER. PERSONALLY REPLACED DEXCOOL WITH ZEREX. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS SEEN 15-18 OF THESE IN LAST TWO YEARS.*JB”

“I HAD VALVE NOISE AND TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER TO CHECK. DEALER CALLED AND TOLD ME IT NEEDED A VALVE JOB. AFTER THE VALVE JOB DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOISE IN LOWER PART OF ENGINE AND THOUGHT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS 1999 BLAZER HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. I FEEL GM SHOULD COVER PART OF THIS EXPENSE. DEALER WOULD NOT HELP WITH THIS. *JB”