2002 S10 made like a plastic rattling low noise for a few minutes the stalled,

I had been driving about ten minutes a noticed a
noise sounding like a piece of plastic flapping
around under the hood on drivers side it seemed.
After another ten minutes or so, I was driving like
45mph and it just died. I couldn't even tell it had
died for a few seconds when my steering got hard.
I know it's not the battery and it has fuel. I took the
relay switch to auto parts store and got another one
for 15.00 and placed it in and got nothing, but I
noticed you could place it in either way the prongs
fit even if you faced it the other end. Is that alright?
Doesn't it have a pos - neg side?
It's parked up town, I don't have money to pay a
big bill can anyone give me my next suggestion
please. This is the first time my truck has ever
broken down on me, and I've owe need it for almost
ten years.