1993 Chevrolet S-10 LT 4 x 4 4.3 vortec
Summary:
Never..ever...buy this year of vehicle
Faults:
First year of the 4.3 vortec's; apparently later years 94-98 have the problems worked out. Bought it used with a warranty: had to use it in one week because it needed new valve seats. Later on down the road I found out that the dealer failed to tighten the hardest to get at exhaust manifold bolts, which probably added to the piston rod breaking in the last cylinder at 125,000, (warranty now expired).
Engine rebuilt by independent shop that put the old crankshaft in a newly built, tight engine. Blew again @ 6K. Rebuilt again (make sure everyone and his brother knows it's either a "W" or a "Z" engine code from vehicle I.D. #... (Put a piece of tape on the fan cowl designating which one). I had to keep reminding every mechanic that touched it. Engine now rebuilt, has too much power for the transmission, and it blew; had to rebuild it. Power window motors on both driver and passenger side now out (GM wants $170 for one motor and 2 hours at $70/hour to replace just one side... I passed) Fuel injection assembly replaced three times at $600 part + labor each time. 1994 model re-engineered with a $45 fuel regulator for a reason. Brakes going every 10K. Squeaks and rattles constantly... Power is non existent, especially for having the drive train rebuilt. Under 20 mpg freeway; worse around town. Consumer Reports said don't, but this vehicle; I didn't listen.
General Comments:
I can either drive it into the ground or try to sell it with only one window working (now the passenger window doesn't work... I have one working window that only goes down half way in the back) at a huge loss for the amount of money I've dumped into it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 10th August, 2002
2nd Apr 2003, 22:28
I really agree with this person about the 1993 Chevy V6's. My parents bought the hunk of junk in 1999, and it is definitely the worst investment we ever made. When we bought it, it had 119,000 miles on it, and ran like a charm. 4 years later, it is sitting in our garage with 182,000 miles on it, with a busted timing chain. Warning to anyone that thinks that 1993 S-10 anything is sharp and worth buying, think again!!!