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Comments
Any Help on this situation would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Taylor
I've decided to trash the vehicle rather than have some mechanic put in a new engine.
After trying a lot of things and ended up being a bad 4 prong plug which plugs in front(as you look at it) of the dist.
You see the plug fits tight to the rear cowling when install and causes it to malfuntion.
My suggestion would be to wiggle and slightly pull on the wire harness (4prong) going into the rear (facing to the back of van) and see if you notice and chage.
I have seen 3 other astro in around the same year have the same problem. I replace the plug at a cost of 10 bucks and all my problems have been gone for about 6 months. I hope this helps you and others.
My 91 Astro has 180,000 + miles, and still runs good ... up till now. I started having problems with the transmission shifting into the next gear, usually 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd, with erratic shift action up through the gears. A Haynes repair manual suggested adjusting the throttle valve cable. Adjusting the cable helped the problem somewhat, but not completely. Accelerating from a stop must be done slowly, or the transmission will not upshift, causing overreving of the motor. This makes highway entrance ramps and steep hills difficult to drive Once in top gear, the van will run all day, with no slipping or problems. I am thinking it would be worthwhile to try replacing the throttle valve cable, but am realistic enough to realize this could be an early sign of a new transmission in the near future. Any help or advice in this area would be appreciated. :sick:
Ended up reading most all of the 1463 messages! Hard to believe that after 132000 miles, all we have done other than normal tune-up and custom stainless exhaust, is replace tires and front brakes! No idler arms, wiper motors, transmissions, window motors! Everything works! Must have bought an orange instead of a lemon. (Trans clunks some from 2 to 3 (depending on throttle position), which it's done since new.) We are preparing to tow a 3000# travel trailer, hence the cooler.
I discovered 2 problems or concerns:
1) slow or sluggish shifting from 1st to second. I did let the vehicle warm up for about 10 minutes before driving off. Could it just be the cold or might there be a tranny issue? I didn't hear any strange noises, just wasn't a smooth shift. It seemed to shift into second at a higher than expected RPM.
2) After returning from the test drive I noticed the Oil pressure gauge was pegged and when I turned the heater fan on it would drop to the normal range and then peg again. I could almost repeat this symptom at will by turning the heater fan on. Short somewhere? When the heater fan was left in the off position, about every minute or so the engine would, (i hate to say) stumble a bit and the gauge would go to normal and then immediately back to pegged. I hate to say stumble because it wasn't a "bad stumble" just a noticeable change in RPM almost as it feels when an electric fan or air conditioner compressor kicks in.
As a third issue, I have been driving Caravans since they were made in '84 and I did notice the engine noise in the vehicle is much louder than the other style mini vans I have been accustomed to driving. It wasn't bad noises or exhaust noise, just the sound of the engine running. Having never driven an Astro, is it safe to assume that because it is made with a dog house like conventional full size vans that this is normal for the engine to be louder vs one that has a firewall between the drive and the engine? Not a big deal just different.
This thing looks to be in great shape, no rust anywhere! and the price is right. Why is it still there, I think people are afraid to buy something that old now days.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mike
Perhaps someone has experienced this before:
Lately, it seems most of the time when I'm driving....the van whill 'hesitate' and almost 'drag' while driving. At first, I thought it was dirty gas....but after using some Seafoam, I realised the engine wasn't the hesitation/dragging....it was something with the transmission,etc.
So, say I'm sitting at a stop light. I go to accelerate, and the van will rev up as normal....but it feels like the van is being dragging/pulled back....all of a sudden it will release with a 'jolt'.
Help?
Thanks!!!
This is my only vehicle, and without it, I can't get to work. Does anyone have any suggestions?
A "reputable" trans shop had the truck for 2 weeks and replaced the solienoids and the ignition switch wiring harness as the codes indicated. no luck. An aftermarked security system had been installed when the truck was new and was wired into the ignition switch wiring so they uninstalled the security.. Now i'm out the security and 300 or so bucks and nothing. Can anyone help?
I am a 1988 Chevy Astro Van with about 160,000 miles. It will not go in reverse at all! Is it useless to even try to fix? My ex-husband said I could probably get a new transmission but I don't know. How much would something like that cost? Any suggestions, ideas??
Thanks!
Shifter is between the seats, stiff boot, often would shift it self out of gear when parked and hit by a gust of wind. Seems funny, but I have had to chase the car twice when mechanics left it in gear with the parking brake released. You ever had to chase and get in a car while it was rolling? And stop it when the power brakes were not really working, (or the steering). Once it was left by a young mechanic running in neutral with the brake released. In the middle of the Sears Garage.
Thanks
Chris
He's responding to a post about manual transmissions in the Astro. Buying and selling aren't allowed here.
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Thanks,
drbdb
I have a 1997 with 105K---hard shifting and and LOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG delay between 1st and second until warm. Would also, lunge at speed----65 or better.
Upon scoping (sp?) the engine--WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND AT A REPUTABLE SHOP--NOT DEALER!!!!!!!--- the issue was discovered to be the TIMING CHAIN. It was as much as 8 degrees off.
Not a cheap fix---but necessary as the chain is critical to the engine. Now that the chain has been replaced---no probs.
Also, as I have been in the engine compartment of the Safari---I would HIGHLY recommend that you do not try this at home!!!! It is a PAIN.
Further to this---when the mechs were inside the oil pan gasket and the water pump gasket had to be replaced. As these had to be removed to get to the chain---OK.
I suggest that you find a good independent shop that has a good rep and get the van scoped. It may not be your transmission at all.
The good shop re-sleeved the aluminum control module with steel sleeves, changed every sensor and solenoid, seal and filter, and flushed the tranny for $275 out the door! I have put 25,000 miles on it and still fine at 106k mi.
The aluminum modules are in 1997, 1998, and part of 1999 model trannies. It could be V6 Sonomas, S-10s and Astros. A 2000 and later should not have problem. Problem, when properly fixed is not that big a deal. I wish I had fixed mine sooner than waiting a year.
The Chev dealer did want $765 to fix it and they knew what it was too. They wouldn't tell me what it was and said GM would be petitioned by them to refund me some of the $765 since it happened at 48k mi.
The '87 van never had any problems with tranny. I drove it yesterday on 100 mile round trip to work. I don't do that very often as $13-14 in gas disappears when I do. I use it for local stuff like going to the ballpark on muddy days. It is just getting bottom rail rust on the two sides in it's 20th year of sitting out in the sun, dirt and rain. Mechanically, it has been like a rock. I put cheap steel mufflers on it every 2 years and finally used aluminized last nov for all but converter new system. Even that was only $79. I had alternator rebuilt free 10 years ago and I put in a triple core new radiator 10 years ago that was $110 at an Advance auto parts store that was closing up and discounting stuff. I was offered $600 for it on trade back on 2000 but kept it. It's hard to spend $60 on it once a year for the last 8 years.
My '98 is worth $2000 resale value but I wouldn't part with it for less than $6500. Garage kept, always fixed right, like new inside and out, runs perfect and everything works on it. Gets 23 mpg on a trip with front and rear a/c and needs nothing. They are very underrated value wise and if you could get a 2000 for $4500 with 80k mi on it and it passes a 50 mile test drive to look for tranny problems and front end problems, then you will get a lot of utility for $4500. They come with a lousy factory battery, water pumps are good for 75k but cost $58 at NAPA. Suprisingly, my '98 alternator is still good but I have a spare one on a shelf that I got free. I may keep my '87 until 2015 and don't plan on putting $500 into it or ever giving it it's first trans fluid swap between now and then. It still gets 22 mpg on the work loop which is better than it's rating when it was new and it doesn't leak anything.
Any suggestions as to what to do or just look for a new tranny or rebuid this one?
To fix, the tranny guy rebuilt it. He told me that blowing 2nd and "R" is common on the Astro/Safaris models. Common for folks who "over stress" their tranny. Stuff like pulling over weighted trailers and trying to lay rubber away from every stop light - is very bad on a tranny. Not too sure if aggreesive drying style caused your tranny problems but since then, we no longer tow our 19ft TT with our Safari van. Lesson learned the hard way.
Anway.... We got our original tranny rebuilt. New bushings, no bearings, complete cleaning, adjustments, etc. etc. Total bill around $1,300 (cash). We would have swapped out the tranny but our mechanic said, "how do you know how that other tranny was driven? It could be near broken as well". He made a very good point. Thus, we rebuild our original. And, our rebuild tranny has been doing great ever since.
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Well I was on my way back from a long fishing day I was pulling my boat when i came up a hill inotice that the check engine light came on its nothe first time it dose this so I know it not the weight of the boat. Well the ? I have for you is when you were driving your van tith the light on did the 1st to 2nd gear jumped or shift kinda of hard? I was on my way to the repair shop but i decided to do some reseach first. Do you think that this is my problem I have a 2000 gmc safari thanks agian for the help.
The problem does not exist when driving on city streets at posted speeds from 25-50 mph.
I took it to local chevrolet dealer he said "check engine light is caused by death code for transmission & said I need new trans $3500-$4400.
I then took it to transmission place AAMCO they could find no problem ?
Today it still does it and I have learned to live with it.
My trusted mechanic/friend from childhood said do not change trans fluid because it may not pull off rack when finished I have no idea if fluid has ever been changed.
I figured drive until transmission fails and then deal with problem any ideas ??
Thanks for your time reading & any replies.