Chevy S10 trouble

It has NOT been a good day for me. I started today off which is never a bad thing and my aunt asked me if I would haul some carpets for her to get cleaned. I said sure thing and took my S10. Stopped over and visited my parents and left. Am leaving and am making a left turn... When I start to accelerate my truck starts to shake and loose power. The Check Engine light comes on and blinks. I gimp it back to my parents which was right near there. I get it back and it smells terrible in the cab and from the engine. I have a cheapo scanner and got "P0300 #10 "Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected.

Its a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 4.3 V6 with a 4l60e automatic 4 speed transmission 169,000 miles. Super bummed.. Any ideas what it could be? I'm no mechanic to figure it out.

So I get a ride home and then get in my Taco to do something for my Grandmother. Leave there and my Tire Pressure light comes on, stop at a gas station to get some air am unscrewing the cap and then BOOM the air valve breaks off. Fortunately I was only 2 miles from my house so I could get home and change it there instead of at one of the busiest gas stations in our part of the state.. Get home and the rim is stuck and can't get the tire off.

 

Sounds like a bad day for sure, maybe you can stop by a local auto part store and let them put the S10 on the diagnostic scanner and get the codes which could help track down the issue. Sometimes wheels can get stuck due to dissimilar metal corrosion, I usually put a small amount of anti-seize on the back of the wheels mounting surface.

 

I’m going to guess ignition module

 

P0300 random multiple misfire codes generally relate to a fueling issue. Most common is a fuel pressure regulator failing causing fuel to flow into the intake from the vacuum line

 

Latest Update: My mechanic called me this morning, he said that he ran his scanner and said its 3 cylinders misfiring. He needs to look more into it to tell me more.

 

One of those times when diagnosis by Internet doesn't work. Take it to a mechanic with good diagnostic skills. The ECM detects a misfire by the crankshaft slowing down at certain portions of its revolution. All this happens in millisecond timescale. Generally, a misfire could be caused by lack of spark, lack of fuel, or lack of compression (i.e. worn rings or bad timing). Given the symptoms randomly occurred and you got a terrible smell, either @Steves104x4 or @Bebop may be right. The reason the CEL blinks (as opposed to staying solid) is because continued driving in that condition will burn out the catalytic converters quickly.

Do you service your own brakes (interval is every 2 yrs or 20,000 mi)? Before I put on the rotor or drum, I coat the hub register generously with either antiseize or Fluid Film. Enough seep through on the hub register to prevent the wheel bore from sticking to the hub.

 

I agree just googling that code gave me a million reasons. Currently I'm anxiously waiting to hear from my mechanic.

I don't my mechanic does everything brake related. I will ask him if he does that and will start if he does not since he is getting older and slowly retiring.

 

I used to have a ‘97 S10 with the 4.3. I got the same code and just did a tune up and it went away. Plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor. Do yourself a favor and buy AC Delco parts for everything. I cheaped out and got Borg Warner parts from O’Rielly’s and had several issues. Upgraded to AC Delco and it ran like a champ.

 

You called it! Talk to my mechanic this morning and a tune up is what it was. I'm very happy!! Now I can stop threatening the wife that since we'll be down to 2 vehicles I guess I'll go buy my Harley

 

Glad it was a simple fix. You should get the Harley anyway. You only live once!

 

Hopefully one day! Those little Honda PCX150 scooters are very tempting to me as well.

 

I don’t know anything about those, but I do want a Super Cub.

 

I never had heard of them before, I just looked them up they are pretty cool looking!!

 

"Upgraded to AC Delco". That's something you don't hear every day

 

True, but those trucks do not like anything else. It was a totally different truck after “upgrading”.

 

you may be right, my brothers s10 v6 4.3l had a fuel rail problem? which was fixed for about $200 bucks area the mechanic who fixed it was common issue for those engines.

 

Got it back today all ACDelco, my mechanic said it cost a little more but it would have been a waste to do with any other brands these engines like there stuff only. So that's another person backing it.

Idled a little rough at stop lights but once I got it o. A road going 60 it started idle perfect all is well again I have my two ideal trucks back. And an angry wife with how much this has all cost this week

 

I’d change the belt tensioner pulley for $20 before it explodes and you have to buy the whole tensioner for $100. Very inconvenient when it explodes 200 miles from home. Other than that damn good motor

 

Update as of this evening. The truck now idles rough and the rpm jumps up and down 200 Roma. Was driving and the check engine light came home. Read the code now getting 4th cylinder misfiring.

 

I think you need a new mechanic. This is a very simple motor in this truck.