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I know this is a Dodge forum and i am a Dodge guy but at the time i bought this truck it was all i could find and afford. I have a 1989 Chevy S10, 4.3l Fuel injection and i have had a few problems with it but recently it hasn't been driveable at all. Here are its issues: Rythmic fluctuating idle, when it goes down it stalls out and dies. Here are what i have tried: replaced MAP sensor, replaced Fuel Filter, rebuilt the fuel metering system in fuel injector, and took out injectors and cleaned them the best i can. Also the alternator seems to be getting over charged and getting very hot. Any input would be greatly apprecieated. Thanks!

Dustys66 wrote:.....Any input would be greatly apprecieated. Thanks!

Stop throwing good money and time after bad..... Dump the chitty and get a real truck.

Clogged or bad injectors, vacuum lines, there are tons of variables it could be. Charging problem sounds like a completely different issue.

id like to dump the piece of junk, i would like to sell it for what i paid for it though so it has to be running before i can get rid of it. And i have checked the vacuum lines already too, and took injectors out and cleaned the best i can. I was just kinda hoping i would be lucky enough that someone else has had this problem too and could tell me how to fix it.

fluctuating voltage could be messing up your sensors/computer etc... might not hurt to chase alternator problem first.

Alternator problem was discovered while trying to fix this problem, leaned against it and burnt arm, so i dont know how long it has had that problem, have hooked up scanner to it and couldnt get any codes. Im just dreading taking it to a professional mechanic so they can charge me more than what its worth . I plan to send it on its way as soon as i can get it to run right.

Have you checked the in-tank fuel pump?

Yes it is seems to be working just fine.

Have you checked the idle stepper motor? Sometimes spraying carb cleaner through the idle stepper motor works.

just taking a stab in the dark...fuel pressure regulator

had a 93 with the vortec that wouldn't run right when the FPR went bad...on the 87 with the 4.3, there was something about how the fuel pump was wired with the coil that messed with the running...that could have been a hack job though, since everyone and their mother worked on it

Fuel pressure regulator was my first stab in the dark, i rebuilt the entire thing because when i took it apart and the spring inside was busted so i thought i was on to something... but nope it couldnt be that easy

Also im not sure what the idle stepper motor is.. i Changed out the Idle Air Control motor bacuase it was broken aswell.

Is it new enough to be able to have codes pulled.?

Yes its new enough but it wont show any codes. Could this whole problem mean the computer system is junk?

Dirty throttle position sensor. Stepson's fiancee had a baby Blazer that acted the same way. Once the overheating alternator was swapped for a fresh one it threw a TPS code. The hot alternator plays with the ecm, wouldn't let it register any fault codes.

The thing is i already put new TPS in it, and had alternator tested. Should i just try to get ahold of a good alternator and try it? Just in case it is screwing up the ECM, or could it have fried the ECM?

Get the ECM tested. Around here Autojunk (I mean Autozone) can do it.

Have a 4.3 in one of my trucks. First year though, so it has a 4bbl from the factory. None of that fancy crap to go wrong.

Thanks for the idea, i think our Autozone can only test 1995 and newer but i will check. Thanks.