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I was kinda skeptic about the figure
Has anyone got anything over say 22-23 MPG? even if holding the speed down to say 55mph
A trailering tow package is just a receiver and wiring. The wiring is easy access inside the rear panels, except for the brake controller. The GM package does not include a transmission oil cooler, nor does GM offer an aux. oil cooler for this van. I installed and aux. transmission oil cooler, not the Hayden brand, but one with a better mounting setup.
Buy the small cement mixing tub at your local home center, Home Depot or??? to to catch the oil. Loosen all the bolts leaving 2 or 3 in place front and rear. Loosen the rear bolts so as to let the pan drop as you tap it with a rubber mallet and or pry with a wide bit screwdriver. And let that mess run out the rear into the container. Best to measure how much was removed so as to replace the same amount.
I happened to use Havolene replacement as Sam's sells it, and I like the brand. The Lube Gard, the way the mfg. spells it, was purchased at O'Reilly, but NAPA also handles it. It is a 10 Oz. container listed for Dexron III. I always bite the bullet and purchase the GM oil filter. Being careful, use a small screwdriver and bend the lip on the filter neck seal and pry it out. You may have to drive the screwdriver up beside it to crunch it more for removal. Drive the new seal in with the wrench end of a socket.
The Lube Gard is also sold and used by most transmission repair shops.
The Award travel trailer is built and sold in Dunnville Ontario. Ours is rated at 3850 Lbs. but the new unit is rated at 4540 Lbs. Dry weight. Pull up awardrv.com and the first display is like our unit. Ours has a bass wood frame, but the new units are aluminum frame. They are relatively expensive and are built for easy tow and basically are for two people to travel in comfort. But will accomodate 2 or 3 children. For me it's the best out there. But others are making some progress in a reasonable quality design.
Thank You
Speaking of gas, the book says to use at least 87 octane and I noticed all the stations around here ( New Mexico) have 86 octane as the lowest cost fuel. Think that would hurt the engine?
The higher the altitude above sea level, the lower the octane requirement. Chevron
Looks like you're at 9,000 feet? <wow> Your van would probably cruise on 50 octane if there was such a thing!
Steve, Host
the alignment checked and toe in adjusted. With Mobil 1 5W/30, Mobil synthetic in Differential, K&N filter, new specified spark plugs, new thermostat, 44 psig in tires, Marvel Mystery oil in fuel, Lube Gard in the transmission, egr valve cleaned, throttle body cleaned, summer unblended fuel, and a 25 mph tail wind, 60 mpg, 23 mpg was the best I can obtain. Also the air was only used for brief periods. This is with the 3.73 gears which gives the 97 model 5500 Lb. tow rating. The 94 Co. driver with 3.23 gears would run 23 to 24 mpg with medium load of tools and junk. This was with the 165 HP engine.
But, fuel mileage is difficult to check on these vehicles because the nozzle always cuts off when it will still hold from 5 to 6 more gallons. (I didn't say this), I sometimes turn the nozzle upside down and top off completely at each fill when checking mileage. And also try and have the right rear lower so as to assure a full tank.
I was equally impressed with the vehicle with the exception on one thing.....The harness of the front suspension. On real smooth road surfaces, it was fine on others it left a lot. It is like a rumbling vibration, throbbing rough ride.
wondering if better shocks and tires would make a difference?
I had one failure at 27,000 miles and had some check engine light occurrences since. Now I know more. For 2004 models GM added a dual stage fuel pressure regulator, and apparently more computer and injector tweaks. GM claims the computer is the best there is. The new injectors are electronically controlled instead of fuel pressure controlled and reportedly have less leakage. A cam chain tensioner was added, and the valve train has been tweaked with rollers to reduce friction and improve fuel mileage.
And New Mexico fuel has 10% ethanol to help reduce the fuel mileage by 1 or 2 mpg. But I was hoping for a report of 24 or 25 mpg on a 2004 model so as to be back to where they were 10 years ago.
where did you get all this good info on the 2004 model.
Are you sure about the 10% ethanol for New Mexico?
I read somewhere GM didn't like ethanol in the 4.3l engine.
BTW Thanks for all you help.
Getting ready to drop the transmission for filter change and lubeguard as soon as the rain lets up here in Cloudcroft
But the KYB high pressure monomax did result in more road feel. But did stop the pitching on undulating road surface, especially when towing with an equalizer hitch. Also is a lot more stable in wind and rain.
Did you mean did "not" stop the pitching........?
I know that on the main route I40 you only get 86 octane with 10% ethanol. Ethanol is OK, or is approved, It's the methanol that is not to be used.
The road in particular for a pitching ride was from Albuquerque, never can spell that, to El Paso. With original shocks I would get about three bouncy pitches, with the KYB Monomax just one and it's over. These are heavy duty shocks and are not for everyone, but I like the stability and a more assured feeling of being in control. The recirculating ball steering and the high profile needed some assist for towing and cross winds.
You should not expect good fuel mileage being up on that mountain. I have worked with a retired man that moved to Cloudcroft and built a house.
Your comment on the shocks makes up my mind and will order them. BTW the trip I took was from Albuquerque toward El Paso!!
I changed the transmission filter today and added that lubeguard.
Hello all,
When I pushed up on the filter it seemed to just snap in place ok. Later when I was discarding the box the filter came in, I noticed a round plastic fitting. There were no instructions in the box for this. Was it somehow supposed to be installed on the filter tube before I pushed it up in place?
Is your 97 like this?
John
BTW Cloudcroft is a wonderful place to live. PS. we dont have any tornados here either...
When I pulled on the filter it had a little resistance but then came down. I took the new one and inserted the of the filter in place and pushed up on it. It had resistance and them popped in and it felt secure.
The question now is. can the old lip that was supposedly in place be re-used? Do you think the old one could have fallen out when I pulled on the filter element.?
Would you just bite the bullet and drop the pan to be sure?
GM may have changed to a gas charged shock on the 04. Suggest that you disconnect one an collapse it to see if it has any restraint. You also my want a more compliant shock than the monomax. Possibly the standard KYB or Bilstien.
On a previous pose I mentioned removing the filter seal. But you are OK as your van isn't that old or have high mileage that would cause the seal to dry out and harden. The seal was always been mounted in a metal sleeve. If it is in plastic there must be a cost reduction.
I thought a bit about towing up the mountain to Cloudcroft, but didn't do it. Because I wanted to get to Mexico.
I sure screwed up today.
The filter was up in place of course and there was nothing in the pan. Decided to leave the old seal in place in lieu of the newness of the vehicle. Sure wish I had remembered or re-read your earlier message about that seal.
On another thought, why do you think they would make two different fram filter kits for the unit. One is for a thin pan and the other for the thicker pan.
Any suggestions appreciated. Would consider used ones if anyone has some to sell. Seems they are hard to mount on Astros/Safaris
The driver side power window had the stop and go problem. Replaced the switch and circuit board assy. This was not he problem and had to replace the window motor.
Since your van is over ten years old, your problems are typical of the broken wire problem - wires in your door boots are in the process of breaking, or already gone. Usually driver side first then passenger side depending on door usage.
To repair you have to access wire loom through side kick panels and door boot to recover some wire slack (there is lots BTW) and repair the broken ones. Takes a bit of time but can be done with a few household tools. Good Luck.
But since the locks are out of whack too maybe there's a short in the wiring somewhere.
Steve, Host
I don't know when they started the ill advised nuisance auto down and the associated circuit board failure. I hate auto down!. But I had fixed several friends GM windows by replacing the board and switches. But my own Astro I wasted the cost of the board as it was the motor that would run in short spurts and progressively got worse.
Has anyone used the R-265 on astro/safari before?
Steve, Host
Who does GM think they are fooling? My 1999 "Chevy" Tracker was a re-badged piece of Suzuki junk. The "Chevy" Aveo is even cheaper Daewoo junk. My 1980 real Chevy van was a reliable vehicle but the 2 Geo Metro's were cheap in every sense of the word. My current 2001 Blazer LT is okay but not as roomy nor as comfortable as a comparable Ford Explorer.
Chevy pickups are no real competition with Ford. Toyota vehicles have been reliable but all current Toyota vehicles are too ugly for me to buy another Toyota.
I also don't plan to buy another GM vehicle.
H
Thanks. glebeaux
Any opinions on whether the Astro TMV is too low (and I should bite the bullet and pay more than TMV), or whether 4 vans is too small of a sample (and I should hold out and wait for a much better deal). The van doesen't have to be purchased for another few months. Thanks in advance.
Maybe sellers think they are more valuable now that GM has finally decided to stop producing these things
And I thought the reason the Prisms were so cheap was beause *they* were out of production. Go figure.
Some claim it is too high for DC minivans while others claim it too low for the Odyssey and Sienna. Most newspaper ads have DC minivans selling for significantly above TMV. One reliable Honda salesman writes that the market itself is the accurate indicator of value.
Apparently the 2002-2003 Astro is really worth more than TMV.
Did they feel their design was as "timeless" as the VW Beetle that Dr. Porsche designed to be the "people's car"?
Now GM is destroying their rapport with Chevy owners by placing the Chevy label on Daewoo junk made in Korea. I will not buy another GM vehicle and GM will continue to lose market share to more innovative companies (all other automotive manufacturers).
What other vehicle can you name that you can put 8 people in, load their stuff, tow their toys and do it without question? The Safari is simply a work truck in van clothing. GM never changed it because they probably couldn't keep up with Toyota or Honda (Chrysler for that matter), but if you look at service vehicles, remember I said SERVICE VEHICLES, there isn't another vehicle that can do what the Safari does. Besides, what kind of wierdo (besides me) buys a cargo van for personal use? With the removal of the Safari from its fleet, GM can focus on what makes them tons of money- trucks and SUVs. At least the Corvette is still kinda cool?!