Can it get anyworse? OT

Nate V. IA · Aug 30, 2010

Last couple weeks the wifes S10 2000 (125K mi) has been acting up, not starting when you ask it. I can't diagnose it because it only does it when it feels like it, no pattern at all, something electrical. Left me stranded at work at 4:00 am and next day went to work on it and it starts right up.

The brakes started squealing so I've got it in the shed with the wheels off trying to get figure out the terrible tire ware on the front and see if there is a bad connection at the starter, I guess my set of SAE and metric wrenches, sockets, extensions, ratchets and impact aren't enough to get at it.

Next my 92 k2500 (180K mi) started, well, not starting, bad drain on battery somewhere. It did the same thing last year and healed itself. This is bad cause I have to take the oldest kid (5) to and from the bus stop 4 miles from home and I need the ext cab to get that done, because of the other two little ones (2 and 9 months)

Since the wifes truck is down she has the van (04 Montana 198K) which I normally would have. She calls tonight 60 miles from home. It wont start. Something electrical, has 12v at the battery. I need parts and more tools but no way to get to town and back.
I lost most of my religion after talking with the wife.
At least we have or health.
Nate

fordtractor2000 · Aug 30, 2010

on the gm truck, the nti lock brake thing under the cab can malfuntion and make it drain the battery, one of the offroad sows on tv did a show on this very problem an how to fix it I just don t remember which show it was but talkto your parts store if yu get someone smart they mite be able to tell you about what i m talking about

tinny · Aug 30, 2010

Check the starter mine did that and had to replace it.

Harry J. Case · Aug 30, 2010

Hey Nate
Sometimes you have to bite the bullit and let the pros. fix them. Still a lot cheaper than buying new. I keep my old Mopars running for a year on one monthly payment on a new one (I think).

S2710 · Aug 30, 2010

Nate the BIL had the same problem with a smaller chevy car. It wouldn't start and the next time it would. He had a couple of good mec. look at it. What the problem was where the wires went through the firewall on the plug in one of the pins was loose and sometimes it made contact and sometimes it didn't. Just haul;ing it on the wrecker would make it make contact. HTH
Bob

Nate V. IA · Aug 30, 2010

I hear you Harry, I cannot justify spending the money on a new "reliable" car that will be out of warranty in two years. My wife has a 120 mile commute. I usually have someone else diagnose it then I can fix it but lately we cant find a reliable mechanic around here. The good ones have a three week wait just to have them look at it, most people can't wait that long. The GM dealer last year told me I needed two new wheel bearings on the van, qouted $1400. I did it for $65, in an hour without a hoist, it only needed one and the other side just started making noise 30,000 miles later. The wife was picking up a new bearing when the van quit.
Nate

old · Aug 30, 2010

Shoot your just catching up to me LOL My wife's car has a strut that has gone as in jack the car up the the tire never leaves the ground and then there is my small truck that runs when it wants to and doesn't when it wants to. Then today because of my ruff driveway I rode my motorcycle into a bunch of black berries and all I can depend on is the old tractors and my 1980 Chev 4X4

Anonymous-0 · Aug 30, 2010

Stop buying GM products and things will improve. Neither a montana or s10 are known for being overly reliable.

Amarillo Doug · Aug 30, 2010

I know how you feel,just got rid of the wifes 2000 cavalier durn thing was doing about the same thing.Got fed up and sold it.Bought an 03 Explorer.My 88 Bronco has 685000 miles and still going strong.

Nate V. IA · Aug 30, 2010

I know, I grew up with Fords. Got my first GM after dropping out of college 97 S10, it would get 30 miles to the gallon, a lot better than my camper special with the 390. After I finished school I got married and the wife's family had a little of everything. Her family bought new stuff, my family bought stuff no one else would drive. So I guess we met in the middle and somehow ended up with all GMs, just half wore out. I'm kinda thinking it was a bad idea.

NEKS · Aug 30, 2010

Parked a 92 Jeep in the fence row cause it would start when cold, but not when hot. Repair man said its called heatsouk(A part gets hot and quits working). But he could not find the problem. Might of found me another newer used car or truck if the external_link Plan had not kicked in.

Nate V. IA · Aug 31, 2010

I must say that my 1953 IH 450 is the best starting engine I've got. It was about -25 one morning this winter and she's the only one that would fire. If they still made vehicles like this the company would probably go broke because you wouldn't need to buy another one for sixty years. If I could figure out how to safely strap 3 kid car seats to it Lord only knows how many hours I could put on it then.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 31, 2010

The S10s are rather notorious for eating brakes - one of our neighbors religiously redoes the brakes on his 2-door blazer once a year to make sure they are in good shape - and we have our own batch of problems with our 4-door (Airbag light on intermittantly, funny tire wear, poor starting after cooling down) Oh well!

The starting problems - Can you crank the engine at all? Our GMC 3500 started to not crank at times (The lights would turn on but the starter would only click) and it turned out to be a loose battery terminal.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 31, 2010

My solution to mechanical problems was to let a couple nice fellows that mechanic for a living
hunt my farm and the ones I rent.They fix just about anything problem I have plus get a big discount on parts to boot

Bill(Wis) · Aug 31, 2010

I've had friends with S10s and I can tell you, from their experience, they're bad. In a lot of ways. Get rid of them and get Toyota Tacomas with 2.7 engines. They can't be killed. Well, not here anyway. The taliban use them. (Hy-luxes) They can be killed but it takes at least .50 caliber.

Nancy Howell · Aug 31, 2010

My '96 Chevy 2500 had electrical problems for years. Went through 7 batteries and 3 alternators in 8 yrs. Finally replaced the battery cables (dealer only item) at $200 and that fixed the problem.

rhouston · Aug 31, 2010

If you turn the key and there are no clicks of relays you may need a new ignition switch. I had to replace mine on the Olds for that exact issue. Also if the starter relays are under the hood clean the contacts along with the underside of the relay block. Also many of the relays are identicle so you can swap one with another to test the relay itself. If it cranks but does not run I cannot help you.

BhB · Aug 31, 2010

Sometime you just had bad luck. Two weeks ago had gas line on the car started leaking took it to get repaired and they found the brake lines were rotted. Next day the shift cable on the truck was rusted and broke. Still had the van, went to my daughters and while turning in her drive the left control arm broke. Wasn't all that bad I still had the Harley and the Model T.
Everything fixed until the next time.

old · Aug 31, 2010

Ya know what you mean I have tractors here that start almost any time I want them to but the things I need for going to town do not do the same. Still wish I could find a MM UDLX but if I could I would most likely sell if because they are worth so much

NawlensGator · Aug 31, 2010

I used to have car problems when I bought american made cars. I switched to Honda in '98 and never had a problem since. American cars/union labor, are crap.

dhermesc · Aug 31, 2010

You can't kill the engine but the frame will rust in two and kill the driver when he least expects it.

MoMike · Aug 31, 2010

I was going to use the term Bulls**t, but I decided against it. I have a '91 F 150 with 234,000 miles on it, other than a computer problem a couple of years ago, no major issues and a '04 Ranger with 115,000 miles no problems other than a screw up on my part. Do you buy American made tractors "union made" or do you buy cheap imports?

Nate V. IA · Aug 31, 2010

Our car insurance towed the van right across the street to an auto shop. Tightened + bat cable and it started right up. That's what I told the tow driver to do, I guess he couldn't figure it out. grrr

(USAA is awesome $15 a month covers free towing for 3 old vehicles)

The k2500 started right up this AM. I noticed the cruise control was in the ON position yesterday and I turned it off. I'll turn it on agian tonight and see if it drains the battery.

The sS10 is still up on blocks, I'll see if I can get to town and by another wobble extension and see if I can get the starter off with that.

Thanks for the ideas, and similar bad luck stories, I was starting to think I might not be giving enough at church.

Nate

Handyman · Aug 31, 2010

(quoted from post at 13:37:51 08/31/10) Our car insurance towed the van right across the street to an auto shop. Tightened + bat cable and it started right up. That's what I told the tow driver to do, I guess he couldn't figure it out. grrr

(USAA is awesome $15 a month covers free towing for 3 old vehicles)

The k2500 started right up this AM. I noticed the cruise control was in the ON position yesterday and I turned it off. I'll turn it on agian tonight and see if it drains the battery.

The sS10 is still up on blocks, I'll see if I can get to town and by another wobble extension and see if I can get the starter off with that.

Thanks for the ideas, and similar bad luck stories, I was starting to think I might not be giving enough at church.

Nate

y brother had an S10 and the starter went bad on him, he bought a new starter and unbolted the old one then spent three days trying to get it out, finaly took it to a shop and they told him to get the starter out you have to remove a frame crossmember and then raise the engine about 4 inches and the starter will drop right out. he sold it a few months later.

Mike M · Aug 31, 2010

Our family had nothing but constant troubles from most of the big 3's cars. Been running alot of Hondas lately but my sisters both have CRV's and they are starting to have problems at around 150,000 mi. One just had a valve burnt. the other just had a radiator tank split and now the converter is rattling. Seems like if you run Hondas get rid of them before they get to 150,000 mi.
I have an 08 Fit and mom has an 07 CRV and Honda is putting JUNK tires on there stuff now. About 20,000 miles and the tires are really worn down. Sisters 99 CRV went somewhere around 50,000 miles on the original tires.

WA-Hal · Aug 31, 2010

Believe me, it sure can get a lot worse....don't jinx yourself!!!

Can it get anyworse? OT

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