1995 GMC Sonoma SLS from North America - Comments

I'm only 17 so this was pretty much my first truck. 1995 GMC Sonoma, push button 4X4, extended cab, bed cap. A nice truck for a first. I bought it in the fall of 2003 for $3,500, decent price.

First thing that happened was I had only had it about 2 months, and I was going to get new tire the following week, so I was driving around, peeling out. Just messing around, finishing the tires off. After a night of fun, on the way home I look down and the check gages light is on, so I look around. I notice the oil pressure dropping fast. I had to pull into the middle lane of a busy street and shut my truck off. Next day found out it was the hose that connects the remote oil filter. replaced that at about $70 and an hours worth of my time. No damage to the engine luckily.

Now about 4 months later my EGR valve started to stick open. Had it off a couple times trying to clean it so I don't have to replace it. Costs about $250. I will have to replace it soon though. Because the EGR was bad it was putting too much air into the engine so the engine was compensating and putting more fuel in. By adding all that fuel a lot of it wasn't burned, ended up going into my catalytic converter and breaking the cone loose. $300 to fix that.

Other than a few little problems this is a very good truck. My next will be a larger Dodge Ram, or another GMC maybe, but larger. Has any one else had problems with the EGR valve or any other engine performance? If so E-mail me at nicholas_mal@yahoo.com

If you could help me out before I spend a thousand dollars I would appreciate it.

Have you found a solution to the EGR valve problem? I had the same problem on the same truck with the 4.3L engine, as did a friend of mine in his Jimmy. He had the EGR replaced 3 times by the dealer and every time the same problem reoccured. He was told that carbon gets in there and clogs it. I believe it is an overlook in the design as other EGR valves have carbon filters installed, but I have not been able to locate one aftermarket as one was never made for that valve originally.

My 1995 Sonoma suddenly quit getting 21 miles per gallon and is now down to 15 mpg. I used to get at lest 300 miles on a tank, now I am pushing it to get 240 miles. NO one can find the problem.