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Comments
-mike
Welcome to Safari/Astros ;-)
(fwiw, I have a good friend up north with a '90 model 4wd Astro that just won't die. He's a big guy and likes to use the pedal too; sort of like someone else I know ).
Steve
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If I hadn't bought my Trooper I would have likely gotten a loaded up Safari. I think they are a great vehicle both conceptually and execution-wise. In fact it is what 99% of all SUV drivers REALLY want. It's got a frame, AWD, more interior space than a Suburban, it's short relative to an SUV, and can tow 5K lbs!
Anyone know what the torque split is on the VC?
-mike
Steve
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Marc B.
My question is for others that own the AWD version 99 and after (do to the redesign) does your van have the same symptoms as mine? Just wondering to see if I want to strangle my dealership or if possibly it's normal.
Thanks in Advance.
Corey R.
I have had a 2001 awd Safari cargo for one year. It does have a slight grab or sensation that it in four wheel drive. It is only a fraction of the feeling you would get if you drove a regular four wheel drive on roads that were not slick. It has always been that way and has not given any trouble. But I have not driven any other awd vehicle. I do not think that mine does that when the roads are wet or slick, but I will try to notice in the future. And when I turn a tight circle you can tell it is not a two wheel drive van.
Sammy
-mike
I've got to say that I haven't experienced the problems talked about with the AWD. The AWD, on all of my Astros has performed flawlessly. It has been invaluable in a number of situations. That has been the experience with the other AWD Astros in our company also. I can't say that about the transmissions. We have had problems with several of those in the past.
That's my 2 cents worth.
I could believe that. I have two doors that are not working and two doors that are working. I really wish I had a schematic of the system. I have replaced the driver door switch, swap relays on the power locks and checked all fuses. By chance you don't know the PN# of the Actuators do you? Thanks
This is what I have from my receipt:
Front doors: FP Number 22020256, Description: Actuator 10.485
Sliding door: FP Number 25664287, Description: Actuator 10.485
Good luck,
Marc.
- Astrosurf in NJ
thanks
jp
Anyway, I started having a "grinding" noise. At first I thought it was some new tires I had recently bought. After a couple of trips back to the store complaining about the noise, they finally had someone take a ride in it with me. Upon further inspection, we discovered that the left rear axle half was bent!?!
The only way I know of to bend an axle is to hit something pretty hard. Hard enough that you destroy wheels, and I haven't hit anything, curbs or otherwise, and the wheel is straight.
A guy I work with said that his 1/2 ton Chev pickup, and his Astro had a problem with the ring and pinion going out every 80k miles. He said that it would make the axle appear to be bent if inspected visually, and that he had found a TSB about the problem.
I've looked around and I haven't found anything, or heard of it being a common problem, or even a problem at all.
Has anyone else had, or heard of this?
GM does recommend frequent lubricant changes of the differential lube, especially if used for tow or heavy duty service. For this reason I use Mobil 1 gear lube in the differential.
I also know that GM has a newly designed differential for the 2003 full sized vans. And I read somewhere that the van introduction and delivery was delayed due to getting the new differential, for some reason! This is an indication that there was room for improvement, or, cost reduction.
I personally know of some Astros that have gone past 200,000 miles without a differential failure. Maybe a pinion seal leak. My pinion seal was replaced under warranty at around 30,000 miles.
I assumed you were talking about the axle shaft housing being bent. How could a failed ring and pinion gear possibly make the housing appear to be bent???
I had a 74 impala that had been wrecked and bent the housing. I couldn't keep the inner and outer bearings in the thing. Finally got another differential from a salvage yard and cured the problem.
Good luck
Boyd
regarding the trans shift: I've had a few other GM vehicles, only one with a trans problem, and the check engine light will come on if there's something wrong with the tranny. If I remember right, Chiltons has a chart in the back that tells you had to pull the codes yourself and what they meaen. Try Napa or Schucks (could be called Checkers in your neck of the woods. It'll probably save you a few bucks from having the dealer run a diagnostic on it.
Anyway, it did not come with a remote for locking and unlocking doors. I don't know if it's lost or maybe there never were any. I have searched on the net and some sites says that it was standard and other says it was an option. Now how can I find out if my Astro was born with the keyless remote or not?
Regards
Michael
I went to GM's website and sent them an e-mail about two weeks ago asking them about it. I still haven't heard anything back. It'll probably be cheaper to get an aftermarket alarm that has keyless entry options anyway.
If I ever hear anything back, I'll post their response here for you.
My 97 came with power locks but no remote entry. I installed a Clifford alarm with the remote entry option.
But if the option delivery codes are still inside the glove box you can take these to a good friendly dealer and have him give you a summary of the delivered options.
I would think that if the van is equipped with the keyless entry, there should be some kind of box somewhere, to receive the signals from the remote and to get programming information for a new remote. Does anyone know if this is the way it works and where the box should be located.
Regards
Mike
My question is "Where does this end? Is this just dumb luck, supposed to happen, or what?" I always take good care of my vehicles, and I have always used Mobil 1 in this van. Any input would be appreciated.
Shocks.
Brakes.
O2 sensors, and there are three of them.
If the van has been used in heavy duty service or towing, and the transmission & differential fluids were not changed every 30,000 miles or less, then there may be tranny and rear end failures.
Serpentine belt.
Radiator and heater hoses.
Air conditioning compressor and hoses.
Wiper motor circuit board.
Possibly another fuel pump as they are about an 80,000 mile item.
Some have reported door lock solenoid problems.
By the cracking vinyl on the steering wheel, sounds like you live in a warm sunny climate.
I have a 97 2wd Astro, but I only have 45,000 miles on it. I had the fuel injector assembly, serpintine belt, and pinion seal replaced under warranty. I also run Mobil 1 in the engine and differential.
These are all normal wear items that start to show up after or around 100,000 miles on American iron. But, replace the few items an run another 100,000. Ain't no deal.
Just hang in there and make a few repairs and enjoy the ride.
The chevy price was 70$ for the remote, but I got a brand new one on ebay for $25 incl. shipping.
Steve
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The front end has been pulsing during braking since about 25,000 miles and I finally took it to the local Green Bay Wi dealer (Gustman's).
They diagnosed it as warped front rotors. They ground the fronts disk rotors, ground the rear drums, and had the car back to me in 1.5 hours.
All under warranty, all at no charge.
I know a lot of people gripe about the quality of some of the dealerships but I have nothing but good to say about this one.
This is the first real problem of any sort I have had on the unit and it has been in service for 18 months.
At 29,000 miles 50% of the front pads and 60% of the rear pads lining is still left.
My 2000 came without the power driver seat. Anyone know where I can find a good used one and retrofit it? Are the harness connnections there already?
I am 6'5" and by redrilling the front seat mounts I gained 2" back movement of the manual seats on BOTH driver and passenger seats.
I did this on my wife's Ford Explorer and on my 95 'Stang. Fords seat frames are intented for other hole locations, GM equipment is not.
Helps those of you with leg room complaints, but cant do much about the foot room, especially the passenger side.
No, no grabbing. Is it the pumpkin or the brakes? I so have had a moan coming from the power steering pump since day 1 and the dealer says it is the cooler unit. What do I know....
I get 16-17 in town and 18-20 highway and have since day 1. I checked the computer against actual and it is right on with the calculations.
I did notice that the engine has to warm up for about 20 minutes or so to get the best mileage.
Try some injector cleaner in the gas tank and be sure your air cleaner filters are not crudded up. I get the best mileage on flat highways zipping along about 65-70 and just the two of us I get 20-21 averaging. Seems the big 6 in this unit does best efficiency when the van is clicking along at higher steady speeds.
And the unit cant be beat in snow handling and that is with the cheapo Tiger Paws that come from the factory. I have 30,000 on them and they are about 1/2 gone so I will have to wait until 50,000 to put on Michelins.
I took out the center seat and may never put it back in. Lots of leg room for the back seat and lots of storage room between.
I also bought a matching color storage console off the web and can email you a photo if you like. Helps a lot with waste paper, small storage, etc. We keep a waste basket right in the console.
Wish I had a power seat on my side, however.
Even so, it is the ONLY vehicle I have ever owned that rides so smoothly down the highway and my rear end never gets sore from the long sits. I went from Toronto to Green Bay last spring nearly non-stop for 13hours and no pain when I got home.
I do have the 3.73 rear end in my van and wonder if that might be addidng to my poor mileage? I have the same whine that sounds like a power steering pump but never had it checked out. The grabbing is from the pumpkin, it seems have a hwy drive & when you exit either off of the hwy or into a rest area & turn the front wants to grab. Guess I will have to grab the service manager by his neck & take him for a drive.
Sometimes I wonder if I replaced the rear end w/ 3.55 or whatever the higher gear is that's std that my mileage would be much better. It gets pretty old getting 13.5 to 14 in the city & we are babying the thing & heck hwy at 65 & only 17.5 & the computer is always off w/ calculation. Guess your's is a middle of the week vehicle.
Steve
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ROB
Griffith, IN
P.S. I do not have a manual any help you be appreciated. Thankyou.
P.P.S. I know you all hate DRL but it is our safety requirement up here in Canada.
Steve
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