Chevrolet S10 Engine Computers
The Chevrolet S10’s engine computer oversees the motor to ensure that it runs efficiently under various driving conditions. When an engine computer malfunctions, it needs to be replaced with a new one immediately. Engine computers that fit your model Chevrolet are easily replaceable.
How does the Chevrolet S10 engine computer work?The S10’s engine computer, which is sometimes called the engine control module (ECM), receives information from sensors in the motor that monitor data points like:
- Camshaft speed
- Internal pressure
- Oxygen
- Crank angle position
- Cooling air flow
- Coolant temperature
Given this information, the computer sends commands to adjust how the vehicle engine is running. It changes such parameters as:
- Air-to-fuel ratio
- Anti-theft controls
- Cruise control acceleration
- Electronic valve controls
- Engine idle speed
- Ignition timing
Engine computers today have microprocessors that can track conditions in the engine in as they happen and perform calculations. They can also be programmed to aim for certain targets or impose limits to the engine’s performance. This allows your Chevy’s engine to perform better with greater fuel efficiency.
What happens when the Chevrolet’s engine computer stops working?A malfunctioning engine computer in your pickup can be hard to detect because it can affect many different parts of the engine. However, there are some tell-tale signs that something is wrong with your Chevrolet’s computer.
- Unexplained engine stalls: If your Chevy’s engine starts stalling out without warning for no apparent reason, the engine computer is a possible cause.
- Intermittently fails to start: If your truck develops a problem of not starting sometimes and there’s no obvious reason, check the engine computer. It may be failing intermittently.
- Fuel pump stops working: If you discover the fuel pump is not running and there’s no mechanical reason that you can find for this, it may be the computer not operating the fuel system properly.
- Fuel injection trouble: A malfunctioning engine computer can signal the fuel injectors with bad timing commands. If there’s nothing wrong with the injectors, test the computer.
- Engine computer not communicating: The most direct evidence of a faulty engine computer is that a diagnostic scanner isn’t able to establish a connection to it.
Engine computers are so integral to the functioning of your truck’s engine that it’s unlikely that it will run when the computer is malfunctioning. However, if the computer is sending bad commands to non-critical components like the cruise control, the S10 may run. It’s inadvisable to continue driving a truck with a faulty engine computer, though, because it could damage the engine if it were to get worse.