1997 Chevrolet S-10

Chevrolet completely redesigned its little S10 pickups in 1994. The new truck was longer than the previous truck, and the interior was more user-friendly. There was a regular cab, extended cab and a 4-door crew cab. 4-wheel drive was available and power came from either a 4-cyl, or a rather powerful Vortec 4.3L V6.

Several special models were offered and enhanced the little truck's good looks. A Super Sport version got an enhanced 4.3L with more torque and a better suspension, while a ZR2 model gave the 4WD 3-inches more ground clearance thanks to an off-road suspension and bigger tires. In 2WD form with proper tires, an S-10 can handle most off-road conditions without getting stuck. The ZR2 package magnifies these off-road abilities and turns the little Chevy into a proper off-road machine.

In 2001, Chevy released a 4-door crew cab model which had actually been sold in other parts of the world for several years. The wild-popularity of small crew cabs from Toyota and Nissan had forced Chevy to sell its little crew cab in the United States. However, customers weren't as fond of this American offering. Mostly because of it's tiny bed and laughable build quality.

These little trucks have decent road manners and power, but fall short of the build quality and durability of its import rivals. If you're in the market for a small truck, take a look at imports like the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. They offer more equipment and better resale value. Even though these imports cost more, you do get more truck for the money. . YEAR TO YEAR CHANGES FOR THE CHEVROLET S10: 1995: A driver-side airbag was added in 1995 along with daytime running lights and backlit switches for the power windows, locks, and mirrors. 1996: A rear side door was now optional for extended cabs, and a Sportside model with a step-side cargo bed was introduced. 4-wheel ABS was also made standard on all S-10's. 1997: The only change was an optional floor shifter for the automatic transmission. 1998: Chevy freshened the front end styling and gave it a new interior as well. Another new feature was the addition of a passenger-side airbag with an on/off switch. 1999: Chevy dropped the SS package in favor of an even-sportier Xtreme version. Only available only on 2WD models, the Xtreme featured a lowered suspension, body-color aero trim pieces, and sporty 16-inch alloy wheels. 2000: 4x4s got standard bucket seats. 2001: The S-10 4-door crew cab was introduced and the 4-wheel-drive regular cab model was dropped. 2002: Air conditioning and a tachometer were now standard, and the 7ft cargo bed, which had been dropped at the beginning of the model year, was brought back. A 6-disc in-dash CD changer was a new option, and Crew Cabs were now available with heated front seats. 2003: None . COMMON PROBLEMS FOR THE CHEVROLET S10: Fuel Pump (1994, 1997, 2002-2003) - $600 Fuel Pressure Regulator (4.3L engine only) (1997, 2002-2003) - $210 Canister Purge Vent Solenoid (2002-2003) - $60 2-3 Shift Solenoid - This can cause erratic shift patterns (2003) - $270 Transmission Valve Body (2003) - $250 Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) (2003) - $600-$800 Front Wheel Speed Sensor (2002-2003) - $120 Ignition Lock Cylinder and Housing Assembly (1998-2003) - $260 Transfer Case Encoder Motor Assembly (2001-2002) - $450 Transfer Case Output Speed Sensor (4WD only) (2002) - $70 Fuel Injectors (4.3L VIN W engine only) (1997, 2001) Air Pump and Hose Assembly (2001) - $290 Flexible Fuel Sensor (2.2L VIN 5 Flexible Fuel engine only) (2001) - $260 Wheel Speed Sensor (1998-2001) - $85 Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) (2001) - $600-$900 Fuel Injectors (4.3L VIN W and VIN X engines only) (1994-2000) - $140 Crankshaft Position Sensor (4.3L VIN W and VIN X engines only) (1997-2000) - $120 Transmission Valve Body (Automatic transmission only) (1997-2000) - $600 Transmission Fluid Pressure (TFP) Switch (Automatic transmission only) (1998-2000) - $160 Turn Signal Combination Switch (1998-2000) - $290 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve Passages (1994-1997) - $70