Faults:
The Blazer is knock on wood and running strong.
The only problem is that the encoder motor quit working, and I have to replace it.
The window motor on the passenger quit working, but I fixed it with a couple of bangs on the panel and a few miles, and it started working and has never stopped.
The defrost wire has broken at least twice since I have owned it.
I put in a cold air intake and a performance chip, and I almost doubled my gas mileage from 17 to 30 miles per gallon.
Other than that, everything is working.
General Comments:
The problem with the encoder and why it costs so much, is that the encoder motor is a code sender to the front transfer case. When the motor starts to get a few miles on it, it starts to have problems and sends bad codes to the transfer case, causing it not to work, and the reason why it costs so much, is that you have to remove the transmission to even touch the thing with a wrench, then you have to remove the oil pan guard to remove it, but the motor is only about 100.00$, but the labor to remove it is what kills me.
I have found the solution is to keep the encoder motor running longer, saving the Blazer owners a few hundred bucks. If your 4 wheel drive will not kick out, stays in, or just will not go into 4 wheel drive, then you need to keep reading.
The steps are as follows: take out the fuse for the 4 wheel drive, then start the car for about a minute. Then put the fuse back in, and start the engine back up, and keep on going. This will cause the encoder to reset itself, allowing it to send good codes to the front transfer case.
10th Nov 2003, 08:26
I was wondering if we are talking about the same encoder motor. I have a 1999 Chevy Blazer and I have the same problem as you described. I can get the Blazer to shift into 4 wheel drive no problem, but has a tough time trying to get it back into 2 wheel drive. Now I have been told that it is the encoder motor and I have taken it off, but had none of the work to take it off as you explained. I just had to remove a skid plate and there it was, on the back-end of the transfer case, a little motor about the size of a wiper motor. Three bolts later and it was off, about 15 minutes work, but I have been told the thing cost $1000.00.Could you let me know where you can get them for $100.00?Would the difference in the year of the vehicles be the difference in the labor involved in removing them I wonder?