[catfish_hunter01]

97GMC JIMMY has been acting up. I have been having to turn the key on 3 times before the dash stuff lights up. If the engine light doesn't come on it won't start. Lately it has been dying in traffic and when it does all the dash stuff shuts down too. Today it did and wouldn't start back up for about 45 minutes, just enough for AAA to arrive. Fuel pump? Computer? Relay?

 

[Trapper-steve]

I assume you have checked battery connections? if so.
Sounds like a ignition switch going bad or if you are lucky just coming loose? check plug under dash on steering column.

 

[catfish_hunter01]

not a starter problem. It cranks just fine.

 

[m slayton]

i just had a simalar problem would run great then stall or force me to fluff the pedal to keep it running i didn't notice the guage lights tho sorry ... my problem was there was a hose on the fuel pump in the tank that had a hole in it or the rubber line in the tank was rotten it was a 97 s10 blazer 4x4 .

to check for this problem have some one turn the key on wile you listen to the tank you want to hear the fuel pump kick on and stop... if you hear the pump kick on then hear the fuel hit the side of the tank odds are you have a busted line on the fuel pump ,,, also note to self i went to a junk yard for replacement parts and the truck i got parts off of had the same dam fuel line rupture problem sooooo if it runs then bogg's down like lack of fuel check that first.. another note to self is that after i fixed the fuel line, the dam fuel pump no longer pumped enough pressure so wile your in there spend the 70 bucks on a new pump and filter and save your self a heartacke . also check your distrubutor for worn or broken parts look under the cap and at the button , you can check your throttle pos. sensor by simply unscrewing it from the throttle body and leaveing it pluged in and push the metal tab back n forth the truck should rev up n idle down with the movement . also check the fuel filter or change it if you have the funds.

also check all your ground wires and your fuseable links <--- these tend to be the answer to most wire problems hope you can fix your problem ....

i traded the s10 for a transfer case for my 84 nissan 720 4x4 no more chevy problems LOL

 

[smokey869]

sounds like you are going to need an ignition switch, its a pretty common problem on those models, does like half the dash light up at times and other half blank ? if so its the switch, no bad to install but they are a little pricey, i think $80-90 bucks, good luck with it

 

[catfish_hunter01]

Thanks, The guy at the auto parts store suggested the same thing. It weird because you put the damn thing in park and you can't get it back out of park until it sits for a while.