[RandyB]

The first time it happened while my wife was driving, but it recovered after a bit. The second time, with me, not so much.

Driving with auto stop on. Pulled up to traffic light, auto stop engaged just like the hundred times before. Pushed on the skinny pedal and no start. Wife had to put into park, press start and still nothing. Press start again, nothing. Third time it started. No trouble codes, no alarms.
Today, pulled off of interstate, drive up to stop sign, auto stop engaged as normal. Pushed on skinny pedal and nothing. No lights, no codes, all electrical stuff worked like windows, radio, no DIC when trying to start. Tried starting dozens of times. Had to physically push the car away from dumbasses that can’t see emergency flashers. Called Chevy dealer that are ironically 1/2 mile away. Called dozens of times with no answer. Called 800 number from owners manual and arranged for a tow truck. About 30 minutes have now elapsed. Tried the start button one more time...it started. Drive around a nearby parking lot until felt satisfied it would stay running. Called and cancelled tow truck. Continued on errands. 100 miles later all OK. Now with auto stop off every restart. Possibly a heat-soak issue?
Going to dealership tomorrow to get the problem logged into car’s history. 1,588 miles.

 

[brownactive]

"Pushed on the skinny pedal" what do you mean by that????

 

[brownactive]

What the motor not turning over at all when it was failing?

 

[RandyB]

The skinny pedal is the accelerator pedal or gas pedal or go pedal.

The starter motor would not engage or energize. Silence when pushing the button.

 

[brownactive]

Ah ok never heard the gas pedal referred to as the skinny pedal.

 

[brownactive]

Get an resolution on the issue you were having?

 

[RandyB]

Have taken it to the dealership. Intermittent problem, so impossible to analyze. Had the incident logged into the vehicle history is all that has been done. It has not been a problem since. Not knowing, have been trying to remember to turn off AutoStop at each startup.
Honestly, I think it was a heat soak issue. Highway traffic, slowed to a stop/crawl for about 15 minutes before occurrence. However, even with high heat, what would cause the starter to not simply not operate? Then, after a while it did? All other electrical systems were good. Tick-Tock...
Believe me, if there's another occurrence or a resolution, it will be noted here. Stay Tuned.

 

[brownactive]

Could the key fob have been obstructed in anyway that the car couldn't start?

 

[RandyB]

Could the key fob have been obstructed in anyway that the car couldn't start?

Anything is possible. I’ve never considered it as an issue. It was in my pocket and I was in the driver’s seat. No horn chirps like if fob is was left in car. I’ll have to mull that over.

Quite simply, the starter did not energize to recover from an AutoStop. Then, putting the gear selector in either neutral or park, still no starter. After doing nothing but wait, it worked normally after 30 or 40 minutes.🤔

 

[brownactive]

Did you hit the brake pedal when retrying start up? Move the shift through all the gears.

 

[RandyB]

Did you hit the brake pedal when retrying start up? Move the shift through all the gears.

Hmmm. Good point. Do I remember actually applying the brake pedal? No. Am I really, really, really accustomed to doing so? Yes. In the heat of the moment, it’s possible.

BTW, thanks for making me think its MY fault. I’m trying to convince Chevrolet it’s theirs! Purely in jest

ps. if you try to start without the brake pedal, isn’t there a big warning on the dash saying the brake pedal needs to be applied? I didn’t get that during “the event”. Just a black blank display

 

[brownactive]

Ha ha ha, just trying to cover all the obvious bases. The tech in this car is the first car I have had like this.

 

[ZR2LIFE]

The security system can also cut power to the starter to prevent theft, but not sure how or why it would do it during normal driving.

I also don't think it's a heat soak issue as we have driven our Trailblazer in 110° plus heat for a week without any problems, but the AC was also on which disables auto start/stop. I wonder if all the connections on the starter are tight?

Steve

 

[brownactive]

Check the battery connections at the battery, it is a new car but you never know if one got out with loose cables.

 

[GriseldaJavier]

just purchased my Trail Blazer Active two weeks ago and now is making a thump sound once in a while. have to take t to the dealer tomorrow. If this is the case and the car is going to give me these problem I just don't want it.

 

[brownactive]

just purchased my Trail Blazer Active two weeks ago and now is making a thump sound once in a while. have to take t to the dealer tomorrow. If this is the case and the car is going to give me these problem I just don't want it.

THUMP is a broad term in that where is it coming from? Front, back, in the motor area, inside the truck?

 

[ZR2LIFE]

There is a TSB for the Trailblazer that mentions a boom or flutter sound.

GM TSB #20NA165, NHTSA TSB 10181697.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Flutter or Boom Noise at 1200 RPM- Service Calibration.

 

[rickhow]

The first time it happened while my wife was driving, but it recovered after a bit. The second time, with me, not so much.

Driving with auto stop on. Pulled up to traffic light, auto stop engaged just like the hundred times before. Pushed on the skinny pedal and no start. Wife had to put into park, press start and still nothing. Press start again, nothing. Third time it started. No trouble codes, no alarms.
Today, pulled off of interstate, drive up to stop sign, auto stop engaged as normal. Pushed on skinny pedal and nothing. No lights, no codes, all electrical stuff worked like windows, radio, no DIC when trying to start. Tried starting dozens of times. Had to physically push the car away from dumbasses that can’t see emergency flashers. Called Chevy dealer that are ironically 1/2 mile away. Called dozens of times with no answer. Called 800 number from owners manual and arranged for a tow truck. About 30 minutes have now elapsed. Tried the start button one more time...it started. Drive around a nearby parking lot until felt satisfied it would stay running. Called and cancelled tow truck. Continued on errands. 100 miles later all OK. Now with auto stop off every restart. Possibly a heat-soak issue?
Going to dealership tomorrow to get the problem logged into car’s history. 1,588 miles.

If I understand the description, you stop, the engine goes into auto-stop without a problem, but when you pushed on the "skinny" (accelerator) pedal it would not start. It should restart from autostop when you release the brake pedal. It seems from the description you are pushing the skinny expecting that to restart the engine. This won't happen. Your foot needs to be on the brake pedal to start engine.

 

[ZR2LIFE]

When auto start/stop is enabled the brake switch will trigger the system to turn off the engine when the speed gets to 0, then when you take your foot off the brake it signals the system to restart the engine.

There have a been multiple reported cases where the system fails to restart the engine which is what I believe is happening with RandyB's Trailblazer. Hopefully he'll report what the dealership finds as a cause.

 

[rickhow]

When auto start/stop is enabled the brake switch will trigger the system to turn off the engine when the speed gets to 0, then when you take your foot off the brake it signals the system to restart the engine.

There have a been multiple reported cases where the system fails to restart the engine which is what I believe is happening with RandyB's Trailblazer. Hopefully he'll report what the dealership finds as a cause.

I didn't know of this problem on other Trailblazers. Seems odd as Chevy has had auto off for years already. But what made RandyB's sound strange was he was expecting the engine to restart by pressing the accelerator. Personally I like the auto stop most of the time but appreciate the on/off switch because in heavy traffic areas auto stop is a pain.