You are here: Forums Vans & Minivans GMC Safari & Chevy Astro GMC Safari/Chevy Astro

GMC Safari/Chevy Astro

1889 messages,  Last post on Nov 13, 2009 at 9:04 AM

You are in the GMC Safari & Chevy Astro Forum. Your Host is Karens

What is this discussion about? GMC Safari, Chevrolet Astro, Van

Messages Page 182 of 189 1 ... 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 ... 189 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#1809 of 1889 astro rough idle and stall by blackpacific1 Oct 05, 2008 (4:57 pm)
We recently took our Astro on a trip to Washington DC. It ran fine for most of the trip. But on the way home it did not seem to have as much power on the hills. We took historic National Highway 40, which is a straight road, with monster grades up and down the beautiful hill country of Pennsylvania. A few days after getting home it died in town, had to be towed home. I coaxed a code 44 out of the computer, but that is where things went astray. Code 44 means a lean fuel mixture. But all the suggested fixes were dead ends. The oxygen sensor was recently replaced. I could find no vacuum leaks on top of the engine. I replaced the distributor cap and rotor. I pulled the plugs and did a compression test, it tested good. I replaced the plugs and wireset. Then I did something rash, I cut the catalytic convertor off, thinking it was just some high back pressure that was causing the rough idle and stall behavior. I was glad to see that my cat was perfect, too bad they are not bolt on installations. I checked the timing to see if the distributor or timing chain had jumped a gear tooth, timing was okay. I put it all back together, still had not fixed the problem. Then I did what any sane shade tree mechanic would do when faced with a code 44, I took the fuel filter off. I was careful not to spill the contents of it on the ground. I poured the fuel left in the filter on the back/dirty side of it into a clean container. It was amazing to see all the black specks and metal shavings that came out from the inside. I put a new filter on, and the problem was solved! I expect that the fuel pump might have been stressed by the bad gas, I would not be surprised if it went out soon. I will have a muffler shop put a new cat and muffler back up. But it is nice to known that our trusty Astro will be back on the road. Replies to this message: dlm1954 (Oct 06, 2008 5:21 pm) blackpacific1 (Oct 22, 2008 5:17 am) dlm1954 (Oct 22, 2008 6:59 am) and 1 more...
#1810 of 1889 Re: astro rough idle and stall [blackpacific1] by dlm1954 Oct 06, 2008 (5:21 pm)
Replying to: blackpacific1 (Oct 05, 2008 4:57 pm) A code 44 is lean mixture code which could be an oxygen sensor, but the idle sounds like an EGR problem which these ASTRO'S are notorious for. The plenum design with EGR in the front of it lets every piece of carbon that breaks off fall into the valve and stick it open. I would get a screenede gasket for the EGR valve which they make now I used to make my own and now they make them you can buy,pull the EGR valve and clean it out and install that screened gasket and it will save a lot of headaches in the long run. Those Vortec MPI ASTROS run like champs but they had major design flaws in the injection and EGR setup. I just replaced my injectors, the nut kit which is basically a plastic line setup inside the plenum and usually they start leaking around the o-rings but once you take it apart it's much easier to replace everything to make sure you got the problem fixed,because it's a several hour job pulling it apart.Those injectors are just plastic poppets basically spray nossels because the main injection body controls it all. DLM1 Replies to this message: blackpacific1 (Oct 22, 2008 5:17 am) dlm1954 (Oct 22, 2008 6:59 am) blackpacific1 (Oct 24, 2008 11:29 am)
#1811 of 1889 Leaking dutch doors by iahawkeyemn Oct 09, 2008 (6:58 am)
I have a 200o Chevy Astro and I have noticed the dutch doors appear to leak during a hard rain. This is espically noticeable on the passenger side. I have seen previous posts about this problem. What is the best method for resolving this problem?
#1812 of 1889 Re: astro rough idle and stall [dlm1954] by blackpacific1 Oct 22, 2008 (5:17 am)
Replying to: dlm1954 (Oct 06, 2008 5:21 pm) After replacing the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel filter, and checking the coil and EGR valve, I decided to tow it into the dealer. I really hate to be in that position. I suggested to the dealer to check the fuel system since it appeared to run better after I replaced the fuel filter. He finally isolated the problem to a failed fuel pressure regulator. So my van has been spared from the scrap heap once again. I think maybe some of the black plastic and metal flecks that I found in the fuel filter belonged to the pressure regulator. It was one of those situations where I did not have the right tools or insight to find the problem myself. Replies to this message: dlm1954 (Oct 22, 2008 6:59 am) blackpacific1 (Oct 24, 2008 11:29 am)
#1813 of 1889 Re: astro rough idle and stall [blackpacific1] by dlm1954 Oct 22, 2008 (6:59 am)
Replying to: blackpacific1 (Oct 22, 2008 5:17 am) I understand your position, that's a pretty complicated undertaking to take apart that plenum and injection system. Because without the proper tools it would be really hard, but good luck it'll probally run better than it ever did when you get it back if they replace everything which is what I do if I go to the trouble of disassembly. DLM1954 Replies to this message: blackpacific1 (Oct 24, 2008 11:29 am)
#1814 of 1889 Re: astro rough idle and stall [dlm1954] by blackpacific1 Oct 24, 2008 (11:29 am)
Replying to: dlm1954 (Oct 22, 2008 6:59 am) Well, the replacement of the fuel pressure regulator did not solve it. I purchased a new fuel pump which the dealer is installing today. If that does not fix it, I'm giving up. So far the dealer has run up an $800 bill chasing dead ends. I wish I could rewind, since it is a lot less costly for me to be chasing dead ends. He claims the fuel pump is not putting out enough pressure, and that the fuel pressure leaks out when the fuel pump stops. My experience has been that when a fuel pump dies, it is sudden, not this costly lingering agony. But I don't have a fuel pressure tool in my tool box. Maybe next time I will. More to follow.
#1815 of 1889 by dlm1954 Oct 24, 2008 (3:40 pm)
I think he might have got you there, the fuel pump pressure should have been checked first thing, and it actually sounds like an open EGR valve which will probally be next on his list;and that to should have been checked first because a little piece of carbon in that EGR valve causes those Astros to run like crap and their notorius for it. The fuel pumps usally just go out they don't usally lose pressure they either work or they don't. I've only seen that happen very,very seldom. And loke you said they usally just go out they don't lose pressure, I think you might being getting played for parts you don't need and they will keep it up as long as possible. I would ask to see the low pressure reading, if it's there at all which I kind of don't believe. DLM1954
#1816 of 1889 Re: Wiper problems on GM vehicles [jlflemmons] by jonkez Oct 28, 2008 (2:35 pm)
Replying to: jlflemmons (Dec 01, 1999 4:29 pm) Ok Lads the real answer to the riddle of wiper troubles. This is always the root cause. The wiper motor Ground strap is located under the mounting leg near the hood opening at the windshield. This strap is used as the ground through the bolt and the body. Vibration will cause erosion of the metal and the strap causing bad grounding. Thus intermittent operation. The cure is to thread the unused hole on the upper right of the wiper motor and install a Tap bolt and soldered wire clips to a good ground on the firewall. No more wiper troubles!!!! Replies to this message: biffoon (Nov 15, 2008 8:05 am)
#1817 of 1889 Re: Astro 2001 - Rear End Thump [astrovette] by daleb618 Oct 29, 2008 (10:37 am)
Replying to: astrovette (Sep 26, 2007 7:31 am) I know this is a long time after this post. But I have just bought a 2000 Safari and am having thumping noise when I ease off.. Is there a way of checking brakes It does sound like it is on the passenger side. Any help would be appreciated
#1818 of 1889 '92 Safari with random ticking noise by gstrand Nov 11, 2008 (8:20 pm)
I'm hoping someone has an idea what may be causing the random ticking noise I hear that seems to be coming from the area near the catalytic converter/starter motor. The noise is apparent in park, in drive at low speeds below 45, and at idle. It's a fairly rapid tick, anywhere from 3 times a second to maybe once every 2 seconds, but there is no pattern to it. This rig has 208,000 miles on it and starts and runs beautifully. It has been a bullet proof rig but this noise has me baffled.

Messages Page 182 of 189 1 ... 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 ... 189 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Vans & Minivans GMC Safari & Chevy Astro GMC Safari/Chevy Astro