NHTSA Complaint #713539 — 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER

1&2) LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT AND IDLER ARM HAVE BEEN REPLACED, LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF WEAR AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 3) 4X4 ELECTRIC SHIFT JUST FAILED LAST WEEK. PRELIMINARY TROUBLESHOOTING INDICATES A #2 FAILURE CODE WHICH POINT TO EITHER THE ENCODER/SHIFT MOTOR ASSEMBLY OR THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE (TCCM). 4) THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM. WHENEVER THE GAS GAUGE INDICATES 1/8 TANK OR LESS AND THE VEHICLE STANDS FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS IT IS DIFFICULT TO START. IT TAKES 4-5 TRIES AND REQUIRES THAT THE GAS PEDAL BE PRESSED ABOUT 1/2 TRAVEL IN ORDER TO START. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WITH A NEARLY EMPTY GAS TANK, DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. YET, THE DAY BEFORE THE HARD STARTING PROBLEM OCCURED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. *AK