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[BTW: Not sure if I'm just cheap, but I don't know why someone would buy a NEW Astro/Safari -- in Canada the AWD new is $37,000. 1998's run about $10K or less on the used market]
I have searched and found no postings re using an mp3 player / ipod in an astro. I have a 2001 with the factory installed radio / cd player. Ihave tried the fm transmtter route - no good here in New York. Have read about cables to cd changer - www.rcainput.com has a model GM 9-Aux which should work?????? Installation???
Steve, Host
astro. It's actually easier to drive because it's shorter up front. Backing up takes practice, she says you have to use the side mirrors. Nowhere near as hard to drive as she thought it would be.
I just drove a new Yukon this week-end and it backs the same as the Astro. I haul a lot of strange stuff and I'm always backing, so for the Astro to perform differently it must have the rear axle off the frame. I back mostly with my side mirrors, as my Astro is usually loaded, so my vision is blocked out the rear view mirror.
You have to have the "Astro from Hell". Good luck on getting it replaced because they are not all built like that.
I am surprised that GM is still building the Astro/Safari in 2004. I think a 2005 will be a maybe, depending on which side of the bed Bob wakes up on.
I have a 97 Astro that I purchased in late 97 as a program unit with 26,000 miles. Only have 50,000 miles on it now.
Problems:
Fuel injector replaced under warranty.
Serpentine belt replaced under warranty.
Rear pinion seal replaced under warranty.
Rear door opener broke and I repaired it at no cost. Dealer wanted $47.00 for the part.
Replaced brake pads and shoes.
Driver side power window acts up occasionally, indicating that I'll need the $75.00 circuit board soon.
Throttle was sticking, cleaned the carbon from the butterfly with carburetor cleaner.
Heard so much about the PCV valve and port plugging with carbon, checked this and it was clean.
Replaced the spark plugs at 48,000 even though they were in good condition. But, one plug was different than the other 5 plugs.
Replaced the Dex Cool with new Dexcool and replaced the thermostat.
Changed fuel filter.
Has a 3.73 differential.
I run Mobil synthetic in the standard differential. Not limited slip.
I use Mobil 1 5W/30 in the engine.
I have changed the transmission fluid twice as I pull a 30' Award travel trailer. The last change I put in lubegard with Havolene Dexron III.
Have a K&N air filter.
We run about 21.5 mpg at 75 mph and summer fuel.
Had a 94 company driver that I drove 80,000 miles and only replaced the plugs. It had 3.23 gears and would run 23 to 24 mpg. The gal that ordered that on must have been mad at me and ordered the 3.23 ratio instead of the standard 3.42 axle.
The differential can be a weak spot as GM now uses a synthectic lubricant in the differential.
In addition to changing the fuel filter regularly I don't run the fuel tank close to empty. The motors last longer if immersed in fuel for cooling, and has to work less to pick up fuel.
jpc47 you mentioned that your light came on and it was a motor that controled the distribution of the front and rear wheels. How much was it to diagnose and get it fixed??
Thanks,
JOEL
I did this after calling the dealer and finding out there was a $135 diagnostic fee and a potential charge of $500+ to fix something.
JOEL
I feel as though the Astro/Safari are akin to Mom's apple pie and baseball. Many owners feel that the 4.3 engine is even better than the 3.8 used GM cars for several years. I drove a 94 2wd 88,000 miles without a single problem. My 97 2wd has had about 4 minor problems. I do wish it had rack and pinion steering instead of re circulating ball. But like a rock.
Who'da thunk it?
My service AWD light is still on. It comes on almost every time the car is started know.
I replaced the transfer case fluid with Auto trac 2 as suggested by the dealer.
When driving on snow in my yard yesterday, only the back tires were spinning. Does this mean that the AWD is not working?? (The light was not on at the time.)
Any ideas???
Frank
By the way, your problem with wipers may have been a generic problem Chevy has been having with wiper motors. Do a search on other Edmunds Chevy forums and you will see many complaints about Chevy wiper motors. Many of the complaints have been satisfied by chevy at no cost to the owner.
Frank
Thanks for your contribution
Has anyone changed the type of rotor they are using on their Astro/Safari? My 2003 Astro has warped rotors. I was thinking of trying some slotted or drilled rotors so they stay cooler. Has anyone tried them? If so, was there any improvement?
Thanks,
Phil...
Now, sometimes when I'm cruising at highway speed (more like 70-80 mph) it will cough a little bit. This has been going on for a few months and it is very unnerving. It hasn't died, it just coughs at highway speed. I checked the diagnostic trouble Codes and got a code for the camshaft position sensor. I replaced that, and it has helped; but still has not solved the problem.
A few things I suspect are: Fuel injectors, timing chain, and ignition coil. Presently, I am getting no Diagnostic Trouble Codes. I would appreciate any of your thoughts, experiences, etc. My brother suspects that I'm sporadically losing power to my ECM, but I've seen no code to this effect.
Thanks
Too cheap to go to a dealer
In my situation, I put new tires on the van right after I picked it up from the dealer. The trouble was that one tire was not the same size as the other 3 and it happened to get mounted on the front. When it was rotated from the front to the back at 5,000 miles, it started trying to kick in the limited slip feature. The sensors were telling the limited slip to kick in because one tire was turning slower than the other. Chevy did all the things that they did to your van until one sharp eyed technician figured it out. Yeah, the tire dealer paid for it all.
Just thought I'd pass that along if it might be of help.
My 2 cents
Took it to the Dealer just before the 6y/100k warranty expired. They had it for the day and two techs could not feel the vib. it probably was not acting up at the time for them or they don't know vibs.
Could it be the original rear shocks ???
I am just a jet Aircraft Maintenance Technician, what do I know about vibs......
The major engine change was in 95 when the engine rating was increased from 165 HP to 190 HP & I assume the Vortec designation.
The 8 passenger and the 7 passenger van is the same size and wheelbase i.e. maneuverability is the same.
Some other changes in the 18 year old design.
97, supposedly ruggedized the 4L60E transmission.
99, added the tow haul mode to the 4L60E trans.
Around 02, 03, and 04. changes. Changed the computer program to eliminate the EGR valve. Added disc breaks on the rear. Changed to Synthetic fluid in the differential. Cheapened the base model by eliminating the folding and sliding rear seats in the 8 passenger model.
Changed the fuel injection system again, I believe in 03. Side door beams were added sometime after 97, (my model year), and this reduced the rated fuel mileage from 17, 21 to 16, 20, on the rwd.
Issues, but not major:
Transmission valve body on 97 models.
Sticky throttle body valve.
EGR valve on models so equipped.
Fuel pump if fuel level not properly maintained as a pump coolant.
Fuel pressure regulator on early models, and injectors. These problems mostly caused by using California formulated fuel and or using a premium fuel.
Differential is a little on the weak side if used for heavy towing. Synthetic lub, and or recommended frequent changes alleviate this problem.
Brakes are a little on the weak side.
Summing up: Like a rock, it is one tough truck. If you have the 8 passenger you can remove the rear seats and haul 4X8' sheets of wallboard and plywood. The center seats are bolted in on the 7 passenger. But it takes two men and a boy to lift the rear seats. Actually I do it by myself but they are heavy. I would recommend the 2003 if within your price range due to the disk rear brakes, improved injection system, no EGR valve, and the synthetic lube already in the differential.
Maintenance work is not all that difficult. Considering some of the other vans. i.e the Venture for instance.
Good luck
Try asking in the Got a Quick, Technical Question? discussion - maybe there's some A&P propeller heads in there who can help.
Steve, Host
From 1992 to 1994 GMC Safaris were available with L35 engines that produced 200 HP @ 4400 rpm. These so-called "W" series engines were marketed as "Enhanced" or "High Output" V6s and used central port electronic injection for fuel delivery. All were catagorized as "Vortec" V6s. From 1995 to date the SAE Net HP rating was reduced to 190 HP @ 4400 rpm. Multi-port fuel injection Vortec V6s became available starting in 1996 to date.
With a relatively frugal 17/22 EPA rating for 1991 and a 27 gallon fuel tank, the Astro/Safari had an outstanding fuel range. Many owners were getting 24-25 MPG on the highway with the 1990-91 Astro RWD.
Sadly, GM failed to make small improvements such as easily removed 2nd row Captain Seats and left side sliding door so the Astro/Safari sales continued to drop as the Voyager/Caravan/Town & Country kept improving in comfort items and power while retaining excellent fuel economy.
Most early Astro/Safari owners (1985-1994) would have continued to buy one IF GM would have improved them as Chrysler has done.
Honda got it right the 2nd time with the 1999 Odyssey and Toyota finally produced a satisfactory minivan with the 2004 Sienna.
The Mazda MPV minivan and KIA Sedona are too small for most families; the 2004 Nissan Quest too radical in appearance; Volkswagen vans have always been too gutless with very few creature comforts and poor gas mileage; the GM FWD vehicles were too radical at first and then too expensive with the current style; and Ford never did make a competitive minivan at a reasonable price. Ford minivans were always haunted by very poor reliability. The Taurus/Windstar transmission had a notoriously high failure rate and the 3.8L V6 had an almost 100% head gasket failure rate.