Questions and Answers

Chevy Blazer Completely Dead Q. Okay, first off I am a woman. I like trying to fix my own car if I can but if I can't I send it to someone who can. Right now I just can't afford to. I have an interesting problem with my truck. It is a 1973 Chevy Blazer 4WD 350 V-8 High mileage with a carburetor. Okay, here is the problem. Wouldn't start so I got a new battery and installed it.

Seemed like the thing to do at the time. Still won't start. Battery is holding a good charge but still everything else is dead. I have recently, since yesterday by installing the new battery, found that nothing in my truck is getting power. Even with the new battery my headlights should turn on or my inside lights should come on. NOTHING.

Thought about the alternator, it checks out. All fuses are good, I went ahead and changed out all of them, just in case, but still nothing. In other words, HELP! Any ideas?

Sherri

A. You say you are a woman like that is a bad thing. It's not. Just because someone has breasts doesn't make them stupid or preclude them from maintaining or repairing their own vehicles.

You need to make sure the cables are good, clean & tight. Then you'll need to follow the positive cable to the starter and see if it's got a good connection there. Also check the negative cable to where it goes. My guess is a bad connection or a blown or burnt out fusible link. These "links" are in wires to the starter motor solenoid. If they are good maybe the ignition switch is bad or the rod that activates it is broken. Should be a fairly easy diagnosis if you get a wiring diagram from the public library.