John,
That light is not there to tell you that you needed a tune-up............
What it does is indicate that the electronic PCM has detected a fault
in the operation of the drivetrain. That may be a signal picked up by
the oxygen sensor or some other sensor in the engine. When the
"Service Engine Soon" light, or the "Malfunction Indicator Light" (MIL,
as it is described in GM service texts) comes on, there is a code set
in the memory of the Powertrain Control Module that will stay until it
is cleared or reset.
A qualified service center will have a scan tool that plugs in under the
dash of your truck to read the fault code. There are other ways to read
the code, but without a service manual for the truck, you won't be able
to decipher the results.
Your ignition parts change may well have cured the problem. One way
of resetting the system is to make it dead by disconnecting the battery
for an extended period of time, like several hours. If the MIL comes back
on while the PCM reprograms itself during it's "learning process" (can take
several drives over a few days), then you'll have no choice but to get the
code scanned and find out what is wrong.
If your S-10 has the port injected V-6, it may be the electronic EGR valve.
That went on my Astro with that engine. Those engines are also sensitive
to low fuel pressure, so I hope you also changed the fuel filter. Don't ask
me how I know thi$$$$$. A final suggestion is to avoid alcohol blended
gas. Whether it was listed on the pump or not, I could tell within a few
miles of driving when I had put gasohol in the Astro. I noticed poor
performance first, and it was often accompanied by the MIL coming on.
Alan Sheidler
In a message dated Sun, 27 Jan 2002 09:58:12, John Lieberman <
johnlee@softdisk.com> writes:
>
> Subject: S-10 Help needed
>
> Quick question - how do I reset the "service engine soon" light on my
> '96 Chebby S-10? It hit 95K on the clock over the weekend and on popped
> the light. I've already serviced it - hoses, belts, filters, plugs, etc
> - - I just need to turn the danged light off!!
>
> John (Old Fartz & TLS #37) Lieberman
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