Chevy S10/GMC S15-Sonoma: Problems & Solutions
pocahontas
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Pocahontas
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Well the other day @ 79,000 miles I heard a loud crunch from the engine, and the truck went dead. I've been informed by my shop that the crankshaft snapped, and I require a new engine(Which will cost thousands of $) GM has informed me that since its out of warranty tough luck. Seems to me that crankshafts don't snap unless their defective, Do I have any recourse? any suggestions?
You may want to look up and see if there are any similar complaints/recalls about at the nhtsa website. If so, this would give you a little extra backing in writing a letter of complaint to Chevy/GM costumer service. Of course even then..., this whole situation may fall on deaf ears; some makes are better about responding to these type of situations thanks others.
Good luck and keep us posted. ;-)
Pocahontas
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CHEVY STINKS!!! Take it from a very dissatisfied customer. I could tell you stories of my 21K mile '96 S-10, but the moderator had to remove them all (along with all the other folks with S-10 problems). Hmmm. Good luck.
stick...I do almost all of my driving on the
highway, so naturally my fuel mileage is toward
the high side of the EPA estimate...usually
between 27 and 29 mpg...it consistently got
30 mpg when I first got it, but after 127,000
miles I guess I can't complain...it sure was
nice though when I could pull 540 miles out
of a tank of gas...
With today's spiraling gas prices, I feel for
you...I couldn't afford to go to work if I
was getting the fuel mileage you are...(I have
a 60 mile commute each way, everyday !!!!)
Does anyone know what this adapter is or how I can find out more info on this, such as how to replace or repair?
thanks much,
That's the extent to my complaints.
C. Spencer
miles,then again at 30,000 then wiper controller. Started burning oil at about 50,000 miles. alot of oil. replaced top end of the motor at 120,000, now its knocking again. have put on a set of front brakes every year. Many other small things have gone wrong with this truck. I change the oil every three to five thousand miles. do all suggested maintance. I would never buy another. I dont ever want another samll chevy.
The clutch was replaced and I too have a problem with the chirp that occurs unless pressure is being applied to the clutch. I was told it could be a result of the bearings being slightly offset or maybe the wrong size. Also the door occasionally does not grasp the latch and has become loose while I've been driving. I have never actually fallen out but its still kinda scary.
I'm also not too pleased with the paint job(RED) that was put on this truck it has greatly faded and seems to rub off when it is washed or waxed.
It has only this year started to rust so I can't complain much about that. Near the bottom of the doors and behind the cab.
I would like to know if anyone experienced rusting on the oil pan of these trucks, seems like bad metal.
I like chevy vehicles and will buy another.
The most frustrating problem that I have experienced is my digital speedometer has become temperature sensitive and does not work in the winter months. Any suggestions on how to fix it?
Note, if you are not handy with a soldering iron, best let someone who is do this. Also, wear a ground strap like is used to service computers to avoid static damage to the IC's.
Good Luck
The engine caught fire at 64,000 miles. I had purchased a 65,000 mile extended warranty. The dealer tried their best to get out of repairing the truck at all. Then after a long fight, they said they would fix it. They called me when it was ready but when I picked it up it had no power at all. They worked on it some more and I picked it up again the power was a little better but when I drove 20 miles and the thermostat still read very cold I took it to another dealer. They checked the engine and it only had compression in four of the six cylinders. I didn't tell them the truck was under warranty until after they diagnosed the problem and told me it needed a new engine. The fire was caused by the truck having the wrong type of antifreeze in it. I had never touched the antifreeze because it was supposed to be the dexron 100,000 mile antifreeze. Using the standard "green" antifreeze will keep the thermostat from working properly and cause the engine to overheat and catch fire. After this dealer replaced the engine I checked the radiator before leaving the parking lot-----it was empty!!! When I told them it was empty, the first thing the mechanic does is start to pour green antifreeze into the truck. Then when I tell him that's wrong he proceeds to pour the orange dexron antifreeze in with the other he's already poured. I told them they would have to drain all the antifreeze and refill it. When I came back to get the truck, I checked the radiator again---they had added the antifreeze but didn't add any water. I just added that myself.
Then my driveshaft broke. A small piece of plywood had fallen between the bed and cab of the truck and cut it in half. The driveshaft was made out of aluminum. The cost of a new driveshaft from the dealer was $600. I finally found a used one at S&J auto parts (they're on the web) for under $200 and that included shipping.
The brakes have continued to go out occasionally. I've had about 5 master cylinders replaced. I just replaced the proportional valve for the brakes and I'm hoping that will fix the problem for good.
All the parts for this model truck are expensive. The driveshaft: $600; The transmission fluid: $12 per qt.;Spark plugs and wires cost nearly $100 (some new type of plug in thing on them). These prices are rediculous.
Oh, yeah. The lower A-arm just broke all of sudden at around 37,000 miles. Luckily I was travelling at a low speed. The metal it was made of had to be defective although the dealer claimed it must have been something I did.
This has been the absolute worst vehicle I have ever had. I will never buy a new chevy again. I can understand an occassional lemon being produced but the hassle I went through trying to get it repaired made the warranty almost useless. If Chevy had shown some sympathy to the problems I had and atleast acted like they wanted to correct the situation I would probably still be a loyal customer.
It seems Chevy can only make vehicles in two categories: Excellent and Awful. Other people have the exact same model s-10 that I do and have had no problems at all. I previosly owned an '89 Beretta - got 176,000 miles on it and the only repair I had to make was the audonator. Currently have a '98 Lumina with 83,000 problem free miles.
I'm thinking of swithing to dodge/plymouth products. I hear they make excellent vehicles but their transmissions are awful. I have a '94 Plymouth Acclaim and it has 186,000 miles on it. I had to have the transmission rebuilt at 136,000 miles (got a lifetime warranty on it at Cottman transmissions) and haven't had a problem with it since.
> and the only repair I had to make was the audonator....
Doncha just hate it when your audonator goes out? I can't find a replacement audonator anywhere!
Hans
The absolute worst is having your disgronificator out of adjustment!
Ya need at least one chuckle every day!
PF Flyer
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Anyway, as far as the 4cyl goes, I would imagine they would have no power, my Brother's 2.8 is slow as can be, especially after the Vortec 4.3.
I get in this piece of crap everyday and wonder what will break next and shoot me into the middle of a horrible accident. I've owned a load of cars and trucks in my life, but this one is by far and away the absolute WORST. Too bad the lemon laws in AZ require the same problem 5 times in 2 years. I've had close to 30 problems (all different) in 5 years. Who structured that law anyway? If you own an S-10, good luck to ya. All I've got to say is keep going to church - you never know with these fine pieces of technology. ;-|
Truck has been great. Only minor things needed to be fixed (O2 sensor, alternator, brakes) all done by him. The truck is starting to rust a little bit mainly because it is a work truck and it is driven to the steel mills. Other than that its a great truck. Oh yea in our family my mom has a 2000 blazer and i have a 2000 silverado. All have been very good.
Ryan
First problem was a rip in the passenger seat which tore near the stitching...note I have only had a few passengers in this vehicle and my "little wife" rides with me now and then. Dealer sent it to a seamstress and its been good for the last 60,000.
Second problem is in the winter the drivers side door won't open...apparently cause the seal came out...but wait this is totalllllllly typical of a GM car as everyone I have ever riden in has this problem including my brothers '89 S-10. I know its a problem on my moms lumina as well, and the trunk of my wifes cavalier. Note I had an old Ford once it was just fine after 140,000.
Third problem was a battery issue...whoever assembly crossed the wrong wires by not using the wire harness seen in other S-10's... and 2 years later it corroded to [non-permissible content removed]...it was a real mess that I didn't catch until it was too late.
Fourth problem...as for the guy with the leak...well my does that too...however I don't have a rear sliding window...matter of fact I just pulled the carpenting out this weekend to dry...this was probably the cheapest thing to fix after the dealer soaked me for for 32 dollars only to tell me my "drain" wasn't plugged. Better add another 26 dollars for the blower I rented at Amercian Rental.
Tailgates....If you own and S-10 and are in a winter climate I would highly suggest removing this in the winter months...mines already starting to rust...this is just a poor design as I believe they do a good job coating the undersurface.
Fifth...I have had to put premium gas in the thing for the last 3 years, as otherwise I get the sizing or precombustion noise. I had it timed two times a two different dealers. No deal! Just kinda sucks now that gas is so high ~ $1.59 right now.
Sixth...EGR valves are not a success story of the GM corporation...end of subject...especially when you hit 80,000.
Seventh...Serpentine Tensionor went out at 80 on this truck. Ya I was really getting sick of the hissing/squealing noise for the first 10 minutes in the winter. Oh, ya my brother had to replace his at 100,000.
Eigth...O.K. this ones picky but the piece of rubber at the base of the shifter was ripped since day 2. Of course GM saved 0.02 on this "least cost source supplier".
Ninth...There is a cheap little piece of metal or plastic that broke, so its a pain to return the passenger seat to its normal position after exposing the extended cab area.
tenth...again this is picky but on bumpy roads the seats in the rear and some other [non-permissible content removed] rattle real bad. Done it since day one.
Well gotta go that's all i can thing of right now.
Well I am not normally this negative but hopefully this maybe helpful to someone ready to purchase a truck.
Recently my radiator started leaking, and I mean leaking (remember 80,000 miles). The radiator had never been flushed but the lower metal coupling is bad. I looked at the red textron fluid and its "super merky" and the resovoir is full of rust. I heard a horror story that some 1996 S-10's have some serious problems with corrosion of something????
I asked this car former car mechanic at work today about it and he said that he's heard something about that...
Anyway...any scoop on this one?
Thanks in advance Giff.
1. Have a passion for their vehicle and love it.
2. Have a lemon and hate it.
Those of us in the middle rarely take time to write anything, just read.
Mark
My 91 S10 has always had this problem since I bought used @ 79k. (I'm third owner).
My model is the "plain" truck, not fancy LS or Tahoe etc. No sliding rear window... But the big puddle that forms on the drivers side floor is a pain in the rain! I also, have found the door/light switch contact to be very corroded and rusted, and intermittant. I suspect water from outside is comming thru the front qrtr. panel to hood seam and trickeling into the interior. On the good side, I dont have carpet, just rubber flooring, so a sponge is in order on rainy days:-(
Joe
Your tranny is going. I've had two friends that had the exact same thing happen to them with their automatic transmissions. The first was a 94 S-10 with 80k miles. The other was a 97 with just less that 60k. They both exhibited the same behavior of hard shifting, and eventually they began losing 1st & 2nd gear altogether.