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GMC Safari/Chevy Astro Starting/Stalling/Idling Problems

210 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 10:37 AM

You are in the GMC Safari & Chevy Astro Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Astro, Fuel System, Van


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Messages Page 21 of 21

#201 of 210 ok my turn hahaha by kingoftko

Feb 14, 2012 (9:22 am)

I bough an 89 astro van from a friend back in august. Its a 6 cylinder and it was sitting in his yard for about 2 years. I replaced the battery and altenator and off i went. In october the van wouldnt start for like 20 mins, would turn over with the starter but that was it. Then the problem got worse. Instead of just not starting now it will cut off mid drive suddenly with no warning whether im accelerating or not. I get no sputtering or anything. The only reason i know its off is when i push the gas pedal and get nothing hahaha. This is really scary when your doing 40 miles per hour!!!! And then i cant get it to start again for a while and even if i do get it started it can do it all over again right away or wait a month to happen again.
Ive replaced the plugs, wires, altenator, battery, entire distributor spindle (cap, module, rotor)
I know he replaced the fuel pump and egr valve before he parked in his yard 2 years ago, and he also had a bunch of other work done. A buddy of mine is trying to trouble shoot and said that maybe the TCC sensor or something can be making this happen.
 
Any ideas are greatly appreciated

#202 of 210 Re: ok my turn hahaha [kingoftko] by needhelpinpa

Feb 15, 2012 (4:20 am)

Replying to: kingoftko (Feb 14, 2012 9:22 am)
OK, This may be a long shot but my 94 would die suddenly or not even start. Upon investigating I also had no headlights and heard no fuel pump start up noise when I turned the key. Turns out part of my fuse panel was not getting juice. Why? Because on the astro behind the battery is a main wire plug connector that goes bad and can send juice through 1,2,or3 of the 4 wires. I found which one, hot wired it and I'm good to go. Just a possibility for you maybe.
Ted

#203 of 210 Tranny noise by needhelpinpa

Feb 15, 2012 (4:25 am)

94 awd astro. Makes a noise in tranny like something rubbing on flywheel. Nothing, all seems clear. Tranny dies a year later and the noise is right there from the beginning even with a different tranny. Mechanic baffled. Any suggestions? Thank you.

#204 of 210 starting problem by ccherdrem43701

Sep 21, 2012 (10:03 am)

OK I have a 2000 GMC Safari Van and I am having problems, Recently had problems with starting so we changed the fuel pump but it only ran for about 14 days, now it won't start again, Any suggestions? Desperate to get this fixed.

#205 of 210 Re: My van hasn't missed a start since [gzilla5] by edonaldson

Oct 05, 2012 (4:45 pm)

Replying to: gzilla5 (Nov 18, 2011 10:08 pm)
This has been a problem for me now for over 4 years. I have been told that it is a problem with distributor placement and overheating causes small cracks in the cap and that it means replacing every year?Mechanic Friend just told me that it is probably the wrong distributor and he will check the model in my van (he is a GMC mechanic) -In the meantime I will try your fix-thanks

#206 of 210 1999 CHEVY ASTRO by swiftone559

Dec 07, 2012 (1:22 pm)

MY ASTRO WONT START CRANKS OVER ,REPLACED IGNITION COIL,DIST CAP AND ROTOR,WIRES AND PLUGS I HAVE A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE SWIFTONE559 IS MY CHANNEL ANYONE PLZ HELP

#207 of 210 94 Gmc Safari acceleration problems by sephknight

Apr 07, 2013 (8:35 am)

#208 of 210 94 Gmc Safari acceleration problems by sephknight

Apr 07, 2013 (8:35 am)

Hi I need your help experts of Gmc's. I have a *94 gmc safari sl 4.3 v6 mini van. Only 71k + miles by the way ill sell it for 1,500 as is. It's having acceleration problems. Basically it all started when someone changed my water pump. I know it has nothing to do with it but recently someone told me there is a sensor behind it that regulates all sensors and if dirty can lag acceleration. Anyhow here's the issue when the car accelerates from 0 to 40 or more it lags and is no accelerating properly. I have to keep pushing the pedal tapping it faster and faster to accelerate it. This comes and goes meaning sometimes it is normal but more often than not its lagging. When i turn off the car quick and turn it on it goes away but the acceleration is hardly the same as it used to be anyways and accelerates slower than normal. Once in a blue moon it goes back to normal the way it used to be. Someone told me because when i turn it off and turn it on and it accelerates almost normal to normal sometimes that it has to do with the oxygen. Now im not a car expert but here's what ive tried and figured it could be been trying for months now. Had the fuel filter changed not it, had the fuel pressure checked not it, Fuel pump not it, catalytic not it. The mechanic who changed the pump said it was something oxygen related now how would he know that? I think he sabotaged it to get more money from me i haven't spoken to him since he disappeared. I think its either the throttle body part or whole thing spiders ect. Or its a bad wire somewhere its a pain to find i hope not. Or its the o2 sensor let me explain. I had a diagnostic with an obd1 sensor. The corporate office from GMC after many calls and hit a wall with an evil woman who thinks i wont find the upper vp's numbers i will eventually or if someone has it they are located in Detroit michigan has impeeded my progress for answers but according to them and others it doesn't have many sensors. Doesn't have a map sensor but im not sure about that. The obd1 test from someone who had the old red machine obd1 where years before 96 car parts compatible from 91 to 94 only i believe that's what corporate said not anything after 95. Anyhow the obd1 test said it was either the catalytic, fuel filter, or o2 sensor. So far the only thing i haven't changed or checked is the o2 sensor will do that this week finally been busy doing other things. someone told me on rare occasions the o2 sensor rd cause acceleration problems. several mechanics said no but we will see. At this point any suggestions would help. Oh yes an my other theory is that its the computer. I had it changed a year prior after a questionable mechanic shop told me i needed it after battery died. Found out later after battery died how cheap and easy it is to change only 100 bucks or less and its plug and play. Was charged 400 bucks. Went back for warranty the guy said he lost my records. Will consult lawyer i think that's illegal he must pay but anways don't worry ill rate him badly on Angies list and every other mechanic who hasn't found the problem! Anyhelp would be greatly appreciated. Im going to try to post this in as many sites as possible. Ill keep you guys updated on my o2 sensor change. Don't want to spend too much money on this otherwise i would have changed all my theories already. wb asap and please logical helpful replies and if you don't really know don't answer its already confusing enough.

#209 of 210 Re: My van hasn't missed a start since [edonaldson] by thermsdave

Apr 29, 2013 (9:00 pm)

Replying to: edonaldson (Oct 05, 2012 4:45 pm)
I had severe driveability problems with my '95 Safari (245,000 mi.) and replaced the intake air temp sensor, a split elbow at PCV valve, the EGR valve due to a completely open feedback loop coil, and a canister purge solenoid that leaked vacuum. I had a big improvement with the first, small improvements with the other three. The nagging problem that wouldn't go away was the lack of power at high speeds, slight roughness at all speeds, and exhaust manifolds that glowed orange hot when driven at night w/engine cover off.
 
Replacing the distributor with a $100 rebuilt unit from Advance Auto Parts has it running like it has never run for me. Other symptoms: Slight side to side movement of the distributor shaft, a corresponding wear mark in the cap that is 2-1/2 times the diameter of the contact on the rotor. A vibrating oil pressue needle.
 
This thing now performs well under all conditions and has never before been this smooth.

#210 of 210 Re: My van hasn't missed a start since [thermsdave] by thermsdave

Apr 30, 2013 (10:37 am)

Replying to: thermsdave (Apr 29, 2013 9:00 pm)
I should add that the giveaway that it was a timing issue was hooking up a timing light (even though the computer sets the timing automatically) and noticing that the timing jumped around constantly.

Messages Page 21 of 21

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