[net.auto] Chevy S-10 Blazer

mrlopez@trwrba.UUCP (Michael R. Lopez) (09/28/85)

  I am currently considering the S-10 Blazer for my first "NEW" car.
  I would appreciate any suggestions. I was thinking of the 4X4 model
  but I have not yet decided if I wanted to get the automatic or the
  5 speed. I would especially like to know of any problems with either
  the car, the dealers, service, etc... 

		Thanks
		   Mike Lopez

tmorris@convex.UUCP (10/02/85)

	I worked for a Chevy dealer as an auto electric/electronic tech
at the time when the S-10 Blazer came out. There were some major bugs
during the first year:

	1.The transfer case was supposed to be able to shift into
	4 WD  at speeds up to 50mph. Several of them would turn them-
	selves into gear souffle'  if this was attempted.

	2.The 700r4 lockup transmission was a disaster it's first
	years out.

	3. The clutches in the manual transmissions tended to grab ,
	due to poor machining of the input shaft , which caused the
	throw-out bearing to hang up as it slid along the shaft.

	4. Intake manifold coolant leaks on the V-6.

	As far as service goes , dealerships are as different as day and
 night. I've seen a few that were terrible ,a lot that were barely tolerable
, and two that were great. The factory stood behind complete repairs of all
of the defects mentioned above, and they have since disappeared from the
vehicles under production , or at least dropped in occurance so as not to
be noticeable.
	I did see one incident that put me off of S-10 blazers forever.
As a transport truck was unloading one from the lower level , the ramps pulled
away from the truck . The S-10 was being backed out ,the rear wheels were on 
the ground , and the front wheels were about two feet off the ground. The
front of the S-10 fell all of six inches before the front bumper encountered
the back of the trailer. The frame bent , the side glass  fell out ,the roof
got a large wrinkle about midway down the vehicle. The vehicle (with 3 miles
on the odometer) was declared a total loss , as the cost to repair it exceeded
it's retail value. I'D NOT GO 4-WHEELIN' IN ONE OF THOSE!



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