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Vans & Minivans GMC Safari & Chevy Astro GMC Safari/Chevy Astro Transmission Problem
145 messages, Last post on Nov 15, 2009 at 9:04 PM
You are in the GMC Safari & Chevy Astro Forum. Your Host is Karens
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I get a slipping of the tranny with every startup acceleration...seems like a slight jolt every couple revolutions until I get to cruising speed. Van has 64,000 miles on it. Any ideas? I'm new to this forum. Thanks, drbdb
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Replying to: drbdb (May 29, 2007 5:10 pm) 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.
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Replying to: iloukataris (Aug 04, 2007 10:05 am) 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. |
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I have a 1995 Safari with 294,000 still original trans and motor (4.3) never had had a problem with it til a couple years back. it shifts real hard going from 1 to 2 and when i let off the gas the trans hesitates and jerks and also if im doing between 60-70 mph it shakes real hard and i let off the gas it stops. ive tried everything and nothin works.
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Replying to: safari08 (Sep 11, 2007 2:36 pm)
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Replying to: dave8697 (Sep 12, 2007 4:31 am) |
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I was recently driving down the road and the van just stopped going , it was like I was driving in neutral engine racing but no power. I had it towed home and the next day could drive for it about a quarter of a mile and the same thing would happen. I changed the transmission filter myself and replaced the lost oil with new (3 quarts) and the van ran ok. Although I didn`t go for trips over 20 miles it seemed to work ok. So decided that I`d have all the tranmission oil flushed and replaced. That done I drove the van home and it ran well until I got home and found I had no reverse. The van had been sitting for a year and half before I bought it and when I changed the filter myself the oil was very dark and the filter looked plugged with debris. Any suggestions as to what to do or just look for a new tranny or rebuid this one?
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Replying to: luckyphil1 (Sep 13, 2007 3:50 am) |
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Replying to: luckyphil1 (Sep 13, 2007 3:50 am) 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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I have a 2000 Astro Cargo Van, V6 2wd. Recently Purchased. When going between 40-50mph and I depress the gas pedal fully, such as trying to merge or pass, the engine revs, but there is no shift in the tranny. This only happens at the noted speed range. The tranny seems to work fine in all other ranges. Had a local mechanic drive it and he felt it may be a solenoid, but nothing major. Took it to the Chevrolet Dealer purchased from. They checked it out, said nothing wrong with tranny, solenoids checked OK and problem was a clogged fuel filter (?) Changed the filter, charged me $170 for diagnostics and filter and said problem fixed. Picked it up and no change in problem. By the way, I still have 3 weeks left on a 90 day powertrain warranty. I can't imagine a fuel filter would cause this so I have lost faith in the dealer, but am taking back one more time next week. They wanted to clean my injectors for $150, but I don't think this will fix the problem. So is my dealer a crook and trying to get me out of warranty, or something simple here that they didn't diagnose. Any input before I go back is appreciated.
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