Well, the video speaks for itself. Check it out folks. What do you think I should do here? I don't really need another project, but dang I love these little trucks !
Its possible that the jumble of wiring is preventing the truck from starting in 1st gear because it's not sensing the proper signal from the ignition, like a limp mode or some such (could also be the cause of the skipping). Although I've heard on these sometimes you have to "reset" the shifting solenoid by doing some convoluted series of steps to reset the PCM solenoid.
Man that truck has been places. I bought a Sonoma 2 yrs ago same setup but with the flareside bed w/160000 on it now in 2019 164000 still in great shape.
The truck doesn't look too bad Jay. It looks like something that can be saved. Just fix what it needs and get a grill on it and it should be good to go. I especially like the Blue color. I'd save it Jay but it's up to you of course. Take care.
Gosh you're good! Save it. I bought a 2000 Sonoma SLS with Vortec V6 Engine for 1700.00 last July. It had been sitting in sellers driveway for over a year. Started right up and runs great.
I would imagine it would not be worth reverting back to stock, electrical is always a nightmare to get perfect, but it is so clean you could build it and turn it into a race truck or a show truck
@@MrManniG so I'm not arguing. Just giving my a opinion. 1 no one is going to by it with all those wires messed up. Also you can never have enough yard cars. They are subject to die at any moment. They a POS's to start with. That's why they are there to begin with. If you are driving that truck around the yard some customer will see it runs well and want the motor or tranny. I see it happen all the time. I would knock a hole in the exhaust and make the yard cars I used sound just awful so no customer would want the motor. But then someone would want the tranny. This is just my opinion. I guess they don't get buyers from Mexico or south America. We sale every running motor. Every running motor
I would save it and fix up a little bit and use it as a yard truck to pick up parts and it sounds like it might be a solenoid that is causing the trans to be sluggish in drive
Nice!! I have a 95 extended cab step side. The 4 cylinder was taken out of it and they put a rebuilt 4.3 v6 in it as well as a rebuilt 46le transmission. It has alot of other stuff done to it as well. Love the truck to death!
2.2L S10 isn't bad as long it have been taken care. My dad bought '98 with a manual transmission new and put 230k on it without a major issue. I remember it was going slow on hilly road at 170k, but still does a job.
Although it has the lamo 2.2L and not the 4.3.. Its good good bones to make a decent mini truck. For having 230K... I'd give it a tune-up and go from there. I can tell you that hood is from the S10 variant. The Sonoma/Jimmy had twin arches not a center line. If it were me, I'd rather put a new column in it just for ease of not having it rigged and Sonoma hood. That would bug me honestly. The paint looks decent. You could upgrade so many parts to it and have a super clean truck. Like power bucket seats, power windows, power mirrors, Envoy/Jimmy front bumper with fog lights, or even a Bravada grille to be different, put a step side bed on too. Throw some ZQ8 wheels on, drop it 3 inches all around and call it a day. It really depends on how far you want to go with it. It's got potential.
many years ago I had the Holden Rodeo , which was basically the Isuzu , with a 3.2 quad cam V6 , and 5 speed manual , good little truck , looked very much like the GMC
Hey Jay, I am no GM expert (obviously) but I know GM's of that era had a 'snow mode' that probably went under a variety of names, which forced the transmission to start off in 2nd to limit the power in a low-traction scenario. That being said, it SHOULD have a light indicating if that is in that mode, but with the hotwiring going on, that might be what it's doing. Just a thought.
That's a good little truck! Definitely worth saving! I've noticed the rwd version of the 2.2 4cyl seem to last way way longer than the FWD version in the Cavalier. Save it!
I"ve got a 1996 sonoma,same truck,hand crank windows the whole deal,same engine and trans.Never had any real engine or trans problems,however coil packs went bad about 7 years ago,I"ll run it until trans goes,engine is solid,love that truck.Main problems-rotted brake lines,rotted fuel line,rotted trans cooling lines.Maintaining them is alot cheaper than replacing them till the engine or trans needs major work,then it"s goodbye.Nice video.
I'd be willing to bet that because of what you have going on with the ignition wiring at the column that the transmission isn't getting power. Check the pink wire key on for battery voltage at the trans connector. I think it's worth saving it looks like a decent truck. Oops..well key on won't work lol, check with the ignition powered up.
You should save that truck. I'm personally a Ford guy myself, but those little S10s/Sanomas with the 4 cylinders ain't bad trucks. It'll probably be legal to drive the way it is assuming you have documents to prove you own the vehicle.
It’s legal to Hotwire your own car but I’d want something more legit in case 1. I ran into a cuff first ask questions later cop not that I’d get pulled over but there are a lot of check stops every Saturday night and I work late often that day or 2. I wanted to let someone borrow the truck
Was yours a 4.3 V6? Bottom end on my '98 2.2 just went bad at 1745xx. Going to either drop a 5.3 vortec in or rebuild the bottom end (top end was done 3 years ago)
You sir are an inspiration. Over 400k on your Sonoma.I just bought a 2000 Sonoma V6 with 193k miles and it runs better than the 07 Tundra v6 i just sold. Hope I can get the S15 up to 500k miles like u.
@@BUTGOD-j1x best of luck to ya! let me know! i sold mine wished i didnt. ol boy used to keep me informed on truck. but ive not heard from him in a while! motor change is above and beyond my capabilities right now, i wasnt sure how much longer it would last. so i elected to sell before it blew up, then i would have nthing..
Looks like a fun project if the trans is okay. That chevy tailgate cracks me up (I would take the badges off), replace the steering column, and install a grill.
Fluid & filter change. When you drop the pan check the shift solenoids. My Sonoma was acting similar and the 1-2 solenoid was bad. They are just a unplug, remove a clip and they pop right out...easy.
Jay, one of the wires that are cut may be power that is directed to the shift solenoids in the transmission. If power is lost, it will default to second in the drive position and of course reverse. Pulling the lever to manual low will give you first as witnessed. The clue is the fact the PO said it was a working and driving truck before the attempted theft incident. The little truck should be saved!
I worked for many years in a garage. Hated the design on how to service these little Chev/GMC trucks.....Even hated working on their 4x4 versions even worse! I say the answer is in your Crushing The Corsica video you previously posted!
Those, as well as Cavaliers and Sunfires use to be easy targets for theifts. Those engines are gutless, but still a nice truck overall. Definitely worth saving
I would definitely save it, seems like a nice little truck. I figure that the truck could be in limp mode because of the engine light or something to do with that security light but I'm not sure.
Whats up man,nice little truck. I had the same problem with my 99 tahoe 4l60e 2wd. My problem was i had an alarm installed on it(wiring was done wrong) when the truck was running there was no signal going to the transmission and it would would always be on 3rd gear. If i manually switched gears it worked fine. My solution was removing the alarm and installing a new wire harness.
Despite its potential to becoming a decent truck on the road again, this truck would also make an excellent enduro race truck! Hell, I would take that in a heartbeat as is.
Jay its because its full of codes and needs a tune up. The trans is working normal . Its a fuel problem and the 2.2 is slugish anyway. I had a girlfriend that had a 2001 S-10 2.2 4cylinder. Pulled good but wasnt fast and slow coming up from a stop. Nice truck and easily fixed.
The color of that truck was similar to my 1989 Chevy S10 I use to have, except it was a slightly darker shade of blue. Also, you should save the truck.
I had a similar issue with my 1995 S10 with the 4L60E and the TBI 4.3. One day it randomly seemed to get stuck in second while I was taking off from a stop sign and wouldn't shift to 3rd even at 45 mph. I drove it home and had it towed to the transmission shop to get it looked at. They looked at it and said it looked ok to them and replaced the fluid (which needed that done anyways) and it has been trouble free for the last two years. Not sure if thats the problem but it could be a starting point. Edit: I also remember one of the trans guys saying it might be an issue with the ignition switch that could cause it but I haven't had any issues with mine, but mine also hasn't been butchered either. I don't have a chipped key for mine so things may have been different by 1999.
Awesome little truck, it's worth fighting and saving, excellent to haul stuff and or to drive around. Only bad thing it's not a 4x4, but it will do. If I were to pick a car to serve, or pick, it will be those small trucks with big beds in the back, don't have to think about Gas that much. It will be the next best thing like the old military jeep for ww2. To get around .
I have a 98 Sonoma with the 2.2. I've drove it for 2 years and my dad drove it for almost 10 and I haven't done anything mechanical to it except a alternator starter and a fuel pump.. definitely worth keeping that truck. If anything drop a 350 in it lol
I had a 1995 S-10 with the 4.3 V6. Nice little truck, it could boogie. Unfortunately, the brakes went bad on me. It had that GM brake recall on the anti lock but by the time it came out, I had already sold it. Oh well, one of life's regrets. This is a nice truck, I'd definitely think it could be fixed up. 👍
I say save it... Those issues are minor compared to what you guys be getting sometimes Its really hard to find the little trucks from the early years. Make it a work truck I would if no one buys it 😊😉👍💯
It's kind of a nicely painted pig as trucks go; if it were mine I'd try & sell it for $550-650 for a bit, & if that didn't work part it. If possible, always go for the low work option first, you might get lucky!
@Jay Smart My family had a similar situation last September, we own a 1992 Buick Century which is still currently parked in the garage, because someone apparently tried to hot-wire the car, but had no idea what they were doing, they instead destroyed the steering column, broke the gearshift clean off, damaged the lock cylinder and the multifunction switch for the wipers and turn signals. So now it's just scrap, the engine and transmission still work, because the car was driven the day before it was vandalized, we're now driving an '89 Chevrolet Suburban that we're borrowing, and it runs and drives, but it's worn out, and not street legal, as it's missing the muffler, and the plates expire at the end of this month.
Got to find out what the check engine codes are, should point you in direction you need, might be worth saving if the skip can be fixed and can find spare parts to fix up the ignition
I’ve had the abs cause similar trans issues. I’ve had the abs issue with shift solenoids sticking as well as the torque lock solenoid. All cheap fixes. Oh, change the filter’ reuse the fluid.
I had a Friend with a 1999 Caviler. The overdrive solenoid clogged up and it wouldn't downshift out of overdrive on the highway. He had to manually shift it back to 1st gear or it would nearly stall out taking off. It was under warranty, so Chevrolet changed the valve and that fixed it.
I save this pick-up, GM S-10(Sonoma) it's a excellent car. It's easy to recovered I saved and imported grille to Brazilian GM S-10. As it is imminent to open the market here in Brazil, probably cars like her, in better state, will be able to come
I drove a 91 S15 4.3 with a OD trans, company truck, and it never did stay in first very long, was like a limited slip diff. and the power band was all in 2nd gear. The bands are probably out of adjust, and first is staying in too long, making it shift late. watch out for a dirty 02 sensor, always was a problem with those. made the engine surge like crazy. other than that, not too shabby.
It almost seems like the transmission is stuck in winter mode, where the trans starts off in second gear to avoid wheel spin when pulling away. I don't know if these have winter mode, though with it being from the late '90s I would think it would, so I would guess that something got messed up in the attempted theft. It certainly seems like this one has the potential to be saved and to go back on the road as it seems to have life left in it...
Ive got an 01 with the 2.2 L4 it has the 4l60e transmission. Its a 4speed auto. They have issues going into 1st unless you peg the throttle. They are awesome truck and should be saved as much as possible.
my husband had the same trouble with his s10 he said the coil pack and a good tuneup will do the trick. we were driving in his s10 and this happened. no start out power when starting out. once you got going you were ok his had 315000 mile when were traded it.strill ran like a top when we got rid of it and still on the road.his nephew has it now. three colors later camo now.
If it has mechanical issues then use the GMC for body and interior and swap onto the S10 or do an engine, transmission and column swap from the S10 into the GMC. It would give you some more content and take the channel back to when you worked on your cars in your back yard.
It's amazing how quickly some people just give up on a vehicle that still has plenty of life left in it, and then get something new that they can barely afford.
