Oppo, help me diagnose an issue in a vehicle I don't own anymore

"Jcarr" (jcarr) 12/31/2014 at 10:04 • Filed to: None

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So last night I was thinking about the Blazer I had in high school and college. It was a '94 S10 Tahoe LT 4x4 with the Code W Vortec 4.3 and 4L60E. Great vehicle with a decently powerful (for the time) 200 hp/260 lb.ft, power locks and windows, keyless entry, power seat, shift-on-the-fly 4WD...etc.

The weird issue I had was when it was very cold (single digits). Upon start up it would make a sound that almost sounded like the fan was hitting the shroud, but the noise would go away after it warmed up for a few minutes. Also, it would sometimes not want to move in drive when it was very cold. It would shift into gear, but would take a good bit of a throttle to move.

Obviously it's not important to solve these issues since I haven't owned it for almost 10 years now, but I just got to thinking about it and was curious.

Party-vi > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 10:06

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Lifters slapping around waiting for the oil to pump them up probably.

Nibbles > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 10:11

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Air was too cold for the Vortec Generator to function properly

JGrabowMSt > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 10:12

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Fan clutch maybe. I had a bad tensioner cause all sorts of hell in my SL a few weeks ago, but that's more of a worn bearing sound.

Cold wreaks havoc.

jariten1781 > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 10:20

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Also, it would sometimes not want to move in drive when it was very cold. It would shift into gear, but would take a good bit of a throttle to move.

Not familiar with that transmission but this is the symptom of the clutch piston seals getting hard. When they're older and brittle they won't seal well enough until the fluid gets some temperature in it so you'll get lots of slippage.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 10:20

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The problem with your transmission is the fact that it was a GM 4-speed. My 2010 does that (but not near as bad as what you're describing). I think it holds the low gears longer to warm the engine up. That and cold tranny fluid explain the lag, imo.

But that's just my opinion based on observation and no research.

Nice truck btw.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 10:28

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ERMAGERD aftermarket remote is HUGE, circa 2006. Nice ride for a high schooler.

Jcarr > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot 12/31/2014 at 10:30

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Haha, I know. I don't really even know what the point was since the head unit was just inches away.

Jcarr > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/31/2014 at 10:34

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The funny thing is, the 2004 Envoy that we have now has the same 4L60E in it. Thankfully, I haven't had a problem with it through 100k miles.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 10:49

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I never understood the remote. It was always more of a distraction than anything.

505Turbeaux > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 10:59

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god I love those blazers

Jcarr > 505Turbeaux 12/31/2014 at 11:03

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I really loved it. I occasionally have dreams in which I still own it.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 11:11

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try replacing the fluids with synthetics

Jcarr > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 12/31/2014 at 11:12

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Might be hard since I sold it 8 years ago. :)

WindexCheese > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 12:05

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If the starter was ever off, or the transmission out, the 4.3/4L60 combo (aside from being thirsty) had a flywheel cover made of metal one grade above tinfoil - they were easy to bend, and would often drag on the flywheel slightly - a noise that often went away warm due to thermal expansion. I even think there was a bulletin on it back in the day.

Buddy of mine had one - nice truck until it rusted to pieces.

Jcarr > WindexCheese 12/31/2014 at 12:15

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Interesting. Never had the starter off or transmission out during the time that I owned it, but it could have had work done before I bought it.

Yeah, those lower door panels were insta-rust.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Jcarr 12/31/2014 at 23:29

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I'm thinking everything was down to the cold increasing the viscosity of your fluids. At -40, my Jeep (with the block heater plugged in) would start nicely, idle until warm (~10 minutes, also warming the AW4 auto tranny because of the tranny cooler/warmer integrated into the radiator) and then I'd start driving and it would be like moving through glue for the first few minutes until the gear oil in the diffs and transfer case had warmed up a bit. The slapping noise could be similar... things in the engine aren't getting lubed, or lifters not getting pumped up, because the oil is extra thick.