18th Oct 2006, 16:06
UG! Same problem as the rest of you - fan clutch. 35K miles on an '02 Trailblazer. Of course it is conveniently out of warranty. $570 for parts and labor from the neighborhood dealer.
I don't know the first thing about initiating a class action, but damn if I am not going to find out. I wonder how many documented cases of the near identical problem it would take before GM would issue a recall. My guess is zero, since nobody is dying over their malfunction.
18th Oct 2006, 21:18
I too have a 2002 Trail Blazer LTZ that started making the jet engine noise at 33,800 miles (2 years ago). I asked the dealership service tech about it at that time and he explained how it worked and thatit wouldn't hurt anything. Just this week (57,600 miles) the noise wouldn't stop and then the "service engine soon" light came on. I don't know what the total charges were because I had purchased the extended warranty and paid only the deductible. After reading all these comments, I think I'll need to get rid of it before my warranty is out. I must say it has the best ride and space of any vehicle I've had.
22nd Oct 2006, 13:02
We had the fan clutch replaced on a 2004 Trailblazer under warranty thank goodness. Ours was replaced becuase of a clicking noise with A/C on. Ran fine with A/C off. Now, a couple months later it is making the jet noise. Another dealer said the first fan clutch was defective (Duh!) and the replacement is more powerful and therefore louder. Comments? Or similar experience?
28th Oct 2006, 21:06
Are you freaking kidding me??? I have an 03 Envoy and just spent 4 hours changing the fan clutch for the same reasons as everyone else... guess what...the thing is still stuck on!!! NEVER AGAIN will I buy american... how sad is that?
31st Oct 2006, 15:31
Let's think about this fan clutch problem. GM fully understands they have a problem with it. But maybe they think they are making money at this. Every time each one of you goes in to have it fixed they are making what? $500-$800 dollars a pop? I have decided not to take mine in for repair because of this, besides I can't afford this repair and don't think it is worth the money. But, in the long run, they will pay because some of us will not buy GM products in the future. They are losing integrity and it shows in the billions of dollars they have lost. Don't ya think a 5yr. 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty from a competitor sounds better? You have to feel for GM in a way though. They have their union assembly line workers making 70k a year and the only way to survive is to short the customer somewhere-fan clutches at $650 a pop!!
1st Nov 2006, 21:42
OK, I think I have the most pathetic of these comments, my trailblazer is a 2005, I got it in April 05 and it has been sounding like a jet engine since august 06, it only has 10000 miles, because I use it only to take the kids to school and going to nearby stores.
It is covered by the warranty, but ALSO the CD player is not working properly, what is their solution? Take the radio off and send it to GM Service headquarter so I have to wait (they say about a week) for a replacement with a hole in my hood.
I am really sad because I love the car, but I am seriously concerned about its quality.
My other car is an Isuzu Rodeo 97 that never lets me down.
3rd Nov 2006, 16:33
Just want to add my 2003 47k mile clutch fan replacement to this list. One can only hope somebody at GM actually cares enough to google this issue to see how many angry customers they have. When I emailed customer service, the only response I got was a card in the mail for a free 10 point inspection. No thanks. Not going to fall for that one. After a front strut, two tail lights, failing gauge cluster...etc, I'm ready for a product provided by a company that cares about the consumer. I hope GM doesn't track me down cause I heard they can create even more problems with a touch of a button via On-Star. I better disconnect the antennae lead tonight:).
5th Nov 2006, 00:48
Owner of 2002 Trailblazer: 92000 miles and has been great truck. I have had the roaring noise some 6 months ago and had the computer updated with no further problems. I noticed this afternoon a knocking noise and looked at the fan shaft into the water pump and it had some play in it. I don't know if this is just time to replace water pump or something to do with fan clutch problems. Comments from those who had the fan clutch problem and if the repair or service performed, replaced water pump and fan clutch assembly all in one for the app.$650-$700 that is being mentioned here? Info concerning this would be appreciated!
6th Nov 2006, 13:51
Mine too!! We have a 2002 GMC Envoy with 76,000 miles on. Needs a new fan clutch. They said it was gonna be around $800 to fix. That would pay my car payment for about the next 2-3 months!! I hope they have a recall soon!!!
12th Nov 2006, 15:07
I have a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer LS it has 44,800 miles and every time I'm on the freeway my "service engine soon" light comes on, this is the second time that this has happened to me, and I thought they fixed it the first time. The first time they told me that I didn't tighten my gas cap all of the way, but I did this time, but to no avail it happened again. Does anyone else have this problem? please help.
13th Nov 2006, 21:10
I have a 2002 trailblazer with 54k miles. The fan clutch locked up so now it sounds like a semi. Just like everyone else here. To answer the question about is it bad to let it go and the answer is yes. The fan is running over the safe limit and will soon disintegrate (fragment) and that will cost another $150 parts to replace. I would suggest that anyone experiencing this issue should get it replaced ASAP and in the mean time avoid reving the engine too much. My check engine light error code indicated it was triggered at 63 mph. This means drive 55 and don't accelerate real fast or you risk blowing up the fan. My mileage also went way down because of the increased engine load from the fan. Save your receipts and maybe GM will wake up and reimburse us.
14th Oct 2006, 18:23
Jet liner like everyone else. Bought fan clutch at local GM dealership. I now have the entire front end apart inc. rad, grille and head-lite assembly...wow! I cannot separate the fan clutch from the water pump. Tried crescent wrench and 13 mm wrench as suggested by one reader. Broke two 13 mm bolts so far. Will take assembly to machine shop to see if they can separate components. Folks, THIS IS NO EASY FIX...DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. Oh how I'm hating GM at this moment!!