2000 chevy blazer (4.3 engine) has a hard time starting in the

driving in 4wd on hard surfaces produces what is known as torque wind up as the wheels cannot slip so the variations of distance going around corners , dips in the road etc place considerable strain on the transmission , transfer case , drive lines and diffs
that is why it is difficult to get out of 4wd unless you drive with 2 wheels on a grass verge to relieve that torque wind up
as for the noise check wheel bearings and the cv ("U") joint at that wheel as there appears a proble where the dog teeth in the hub are not engaging properly or are jumping out of engagement

Check for gas or spark problem on the engine. Check that starting fluid does start the car for a few seconds before dying, indicating a fuel delivery problem, like a fuel pump or circuit to it.

If the car won't start with starting fluid sprayed into the intake, then the ignition system may be at fault, or engine timing.

I don't know what engine you have. If it is the v6 then you probably have the death knock my v6 just did that last month! a new crate motor cost 1200$ and put it in your self.

You may have misunderstood the part he spoke of are you sure he meant the ECM or did he mean the ignition control module? Bring the car to an Auto Zone and have them check for trouble codes, they check them for free and you can google OBD II trouble code then your year make and model and the code.

if this happens only in the morning after you start for the first time its the clutch on the fanblade needs replacing

Try this. Turn key to the on position, but do not start. Now press accelerator pedal all the way down for say 5 seconds. With pedal still depressed turn key to start position, does engine now start.

Is it a vortec engine if it is your fuel injector may be the problem. Chevy ran one injector on the vortech engine it is under the upper intake manifold, it has 6 plastic hoses running to each cylinder under the manifold. if one of these hoses are leaking its dumping raw fuel into the manifold during hot soak. that fuel is getting picked up by intake air when trying to start. and flooding it out hence hard to start. gasoline evaporates rather quick so what fuel was in the manifold when you park for the night has evaporated by the next morning so no raw fuel for intake air to pick up easy start. Seen this problem many times. pretty easy fix but a bit pricey around $200

Start by checking each cylinder for spark with a good spark tester. A misifre is either spark or fuel, so you can cut the problem in half. The engine light is probably on due to the misfire.

if it does not start after you check your distributor cap that means you took the car out of timing, when you put the distributor cap back on you did not put it is the correct position, now you need a mechanic to get the timing of the engine

i think its the operator