Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea?

EYEROCK89 · 09-13-2006, 12:37 AM

Like the title says, I'm about to buy a 2000-2001 Blazer, but I've been reading alot of stuff lately about transmission problems and it's sort of made me a little uneasy? My 92 S10 has over 200K and the most expensive part I've had to buy for it was a new radiator. I've been spoiled by my S10 and so I don;t want a money pit. I'm a nut about routine mantainance so once I get the vehicle, it will be kept up very well.

Anyone know anything about common tranny problems and anything else I should know first. I'm buying soon, so the more information I can get, the better. Thanks in advance.

gchemist · 09-13-2006, 07:16 AM

GM stock trannys for the most part fail near 100000+/- miles. If you rebuild properly, I mean at least $1100 on parts and a good rebuilder, the tranny will last forever. The best thing to do is add an external oil cooler. Heat is the #1 killer of auto tranny's.

EYEROCK89 · 09-13-2006, 06:35 PM

Crap...I was afraid of that. Has a US car manufacturer ever made a decent tranny...sheesh. Well, I rekon I can get the tranny cooler and plan on rebuilding the tranny in a few years. Thanks for the input. From what I can find, the tranny issue is about the only major downside to owning a Blazer.

Would changing the tranny fluid on a regular basis..yearly..prolong the tranny life any?

BanginJimmy · 09-13-2006, 09:10 PM

I'm close to 100k on mine and its still strong. Like you though I stay up to date on regular maintenance and I change the trans fluid and filter every 25-30k miles since 50k.

♠ M®. ßlυε ♠ · 09-13-2006, 09:13 PM

Shift kits help too.

bmxbang · 09-13-2006, 09:54 PM

mines got about 66,000 its an 01 and i haven had any engine problems or tranney

blackGMC · 09-14-2006, 07:49 AM

My 2000 Jimmy has only had the left front wheel bearing go bad. Oh, and the gas gauge doesnt work right, but i think thats pretty common. Ive got 86,000 on it.

The 95 sonoma we had had roughly 140k when the tranny died. So they can last a bit longer than 100k.

EYEROCK89 · 09-15-2006, 06:29 PM

Sweet, I'm a little more at ease now. I think the trick is going to be to find one with low miles. If I can get it before it;s been too beat-up on, I think I'll be fine. I talked to a GM mechanic (friend of mine) and he said if you don't haul alot and race everywhere you go, with proper mantainance, you should get 150K+ from the tranny.

Well, all I need to do now is find me a Blazer....wish me luck.

09-13-2006, 12:37 AM	#1
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea? Like the title says, I'm about to buy a 2000-2001 Blazer, but I've been reading alot of stuff lately about transmission problems and it's sort of made me a little uneasy? My 92 S10 has over 200K and the most expensive part I've had to buy for it was a new radiator. I've been spoiled by my S10 and so I don;t want a money pit. I'm a nut about routine mantainance so once I get the vehicle, it will be kept up very well. Anyone know anything about common tranny problems and anything else I should know first. I'm buying soon, so the more information I can get, the better. Thanks in advance.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2006, 07:16 AM	#2
gchemist Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 356 Location: Austin User is: OffLine	Re: Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea? GM stock trannys for the most part fail near 100000+/- miles. If you rebuild properly, I mean at least $1100 on parts and a good rebuilder, the tranny will last forever. The best thing to do is add an external oil cooler. Heat is the #1 killer of auto tranny's.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2006, 06:35 PM	#3
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea? Crap...I was afraid of that. Has a US car manufacturer ever made a decent tranny...sheesh. Well, I rekon I can get the tranny cooler and plan on rebuilding the tranny in a few years. Thanks for the input. From what I can find, the tranny issue is about the only major downside to owning a Blazer. Would changing the tranny fluid on a regular basis..yearly..prolong the tranny life any?
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2006, 09:10 PM	#4
BanginJimmy Registered User Age: 30 Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,615 Location: dallas, ga User is: OffLine	Re: Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea? I'm close to 100k on mine and its still strong. Like you though I stay up to date on regular maintenance and I change the trans fluid and filter every 25-30k miles since 50k.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2006, 09:13 PM	#5
♠ M®. ßlυε ♠ It's a Blue thing... Age: 24 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 11,060 Location: ♠ So★Cal ♠ User is: OffLine	Re: Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea? Shift kits help too.
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09-13-2006, 09:54 PM	#6
bmxbang Registered User Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 8,021 Location: Bluesprings, MO User is: OffLine	Re: Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea? mines got about 66,000 its an 01 and i haven had any engine problems or tranney
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09-14-2006, 07:49 AM	#7
blackGMC I only got 9 fingers!!! Age: 28 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,252 Location: Northern Indiana User is: OffLine	Re: Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea? My 2000 Jimmy has only had the left front wheel bearing go bad. Oh, and the gas gauge doesnt work right, but i think thats pretty common. Ive got 86,000 on it. The 95 sonoma we had had roughly 140k when the tranny died. So they can last a bit longer than 100k.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-15-2006, 06:29 PM	#8
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Buying a 2000 Blazer - Good Idea? Sweet, I'm a little more at ease now. I think the trick is going to be to find one with low miles. If I can get it before it;s been too beat-up on, I think I'll be fine. I talked to a GM mechanic (friend of mine) and he said if you don't haul alot and race everywhere you go, with proper mantainance, you should get 150K+ from the tranny. Well, all I need to do now is find me a Blazer....wish me luck.
	[Reply w/Quote]