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GMC Safari/Chevy Astro Transmission Problem

145 messages,  Last post on Nov 15, 2009 at 9:04 PM

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

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#72 of 145 Re: 98 Astro, Jerking and Hesitating [fardelean] by connitta Nov 21, 2006 (9:30 am)
Replying to: fardelean (May 16, 2006 7:48 am) Same problem on my 2003 Safari. We also replaced all of the above. We were sure it was the transmission, too. Not so. After driving it from Michigan to Tennessee for a funeral, and having it jerk the entire time, we took it to another dealer. He immediately knew what the problem was. They said the problem was in the screen of the transfer case. The dealer had a "bulletin(?)" on this from GMC - which tells them there is a problem....but they aren't going to recall it. So YOU get to pay for it instead of them (go figure). Have a dealer look up the notification on a 2003 Safari transfer case for you. I'm sure it will fix your issue.
#73 of 145 1989 Astro Slow shift by heymikey Dec 04, 2006 (8:30 pm)
Test drove an '89, 1 owner Astro today with 86K miles and a 4.3L. I believe the model was a CL? It was 15 degrees outside and I don't think the vehicle had been started for days as it has been sitting on the car lot in the cold.   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
#74 of 145 Trans not downshifting by scramble7 Dec 16, 2006 (7:27 pm)
Had a rebuilt trans (4L60E) installed in my 95 Astro a few months ago. Just started having problems with it recently. Sometimes it seems like it is not downshifting. I will come to a stop and the engine revs higher then normal and the van moves slowly till I get up to a decent speed for 3rd gear or so. I am comparing it to like driving a manual trans and trying to start out in second or third gear. It can be done but you have to let the clutch out slowly and rev the motor a little higher to get going. If I pull over and turn the van off for about 15 seconds it resets then it is fine. When it goes into this "mode" as I am moving the shift from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd will be hard then I know it will not downshift when I come to a stop. Sometimes pulling over and turning off the van for 15 seconds or so fixes the problem for only one shift or sometimes it will not do it for an entire day. It seems like it happens more after the trans is warmed up. Any HELP would be appreciated. Thanks, John
#75 of 145 Shifting issue with 2000 Astro Cargo RWD by jimi1976 Dec 22, 2006 (9:13 am)
Hello. 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!!!
#76 of 145 94 Astro van - transmission whining by seriksen Dec 28, 2006 (3:41 pm)
I bought this 94 Astro van at the end of August with just over 171,000 miles on it. It now has just over 175,000 miles on it. I've had no problems with it at all since I've had it. The only work that I've had done to it so far, is a battery replacement, tune-up, oil change and flush and fill. I was out of town last weekend and noticed the transmission starting to whine. I don't have the money to have it looked at right now, but may at the end of next week.   This is my only vehicle, and without it, I can't get to work. Does anyone have any suggestions?
#77 of 145 Re: shifting [discjocky44] by raisyn Jan 03, 2007 (9:39 am)
Replying to: discjocky44 (Jul 30, 2005 8:00 am) Had the same problem with my '97 Astro last summer. After a long drive it would shift VERY hard from 1st to 2nd gear. Problem was the torque convertor. During long drives the convertor pressure builds to "lock" the convertor. When you stop, the convertor would not release pressure and unlock, therefore you didn't have the natural "slip" when you started again. To be sure before taking it in for service, the next time you have driven a long drive and come to a stop, put the transmission into park for a few seconds before resuming. This will release the pressure and unlock the convertor, so it should shift normally. As for repair cost, the van had over 100K miles on it so I elected to get the entire tranny rebuilt along with a new torque convertor. $1,368.00!!
#79 of 145 2000 Astro trans not downshifting by cfo1 Jan 03, 2007 (12:35 pm)
After sitting for 5-6 hrs and then starting up to go somewhere the transmission works perfectly. After 15 minutes or so of stop and go traffic the transmission will bam into 2nd gear from a standstil accelerating. Then It will not downshift to first gear at the next stop. It will start in 3rd and stay in 3rd till you stop and shut off the ignition for 10-20 seconds. Then the trans will run all day perfectly until you shut off the truck for 5-6 or more hours. 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? Replies to this message: jodivan (Jan 26, 2007 11:43 pm)
#80 of 145 Re: 2000 Astro trans not downshifting [cfo1] by jodivan Jan 26, 2007 (11:43 pm)
Replying to: cfo1 (Jan 03, 2007 12:35 pm) my daughter and her husband are in need of a van that will have enough room for them and their 6 children. She asked me to go with her to look at a 2000 Safari the other day. we both drove it and it seemed fine, but what do we know? so i found out about this site to do some checking. i guess they are considered "lemons", and i wonder if that is basically true of all of the Safari's, and should we not even consider it for about 4500 which seems like a lot to me. the car sales place here in flint said he bought it at auction. Since i am a widow and will be loaning them the money, i am even more concerned about this situation. what else could fit 8 people?
#81 of 145 2000 Safari ..bought at auction, 4sale at lot, safe to buy or not? by jodivan Jan 26, 2007 (11:50 pm)
Looking for van to fit 8 people, my daughter, her husband, and their 6 children. looked at a 2000 Safari at used car lot off Bristol in Flint, Diversified Auto. the guy said he bought it at auction and will sell for 4500. we droveit and it seemed fine, but checking things out here, i am really concerned, esp. the talk about tranny problems. have no mechanics in the family for sure, so need to be careful what they get. any ideas? Replies to this message: cob (Jan 29, 2007 9:19 am)

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