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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 20 of 22

#184 of 210 @ Guildman by grayliner

Jul 13, 2010 (2:15 am)

Replying to: Guildman (Jul 12, 2010 11:14 am)
Not sure, but since you're ok when out of gear I'm wondering about the mysterious Throttle Valve cable -maybe line pressure is off due to electrical/solenoid? It connects the throttle body to the tranny and is full of voodoo. Might want to track down an experienced/trained GM transmission shop to road test diagnose it. There's a science to it. Check the lockup torque converter clutch solenoid. They can stick when hot.
 
I had trouble with my distributor, timing on a '97. I replaced the timing chain, while in there checked to see that my crankshaft sprocket dot was lined up with my camshaft sprocket dot so my timing could be set. The #4 cyl will be at Top Dead Center now. And the rotor in the distributor will need to be facing the #4 terminal in the distributor cap.
 
Put a new crank position sensor on (if yours has one) because this can cause issues. The timing chain is a good thing to do just as wise general maintenance anyway. Don't want mine to grenade on me anyway. But I don't really think it's a timing/distributor issue. I suspect a tranny-electrical issue.
 
Hmmm... let us know what you find please.

#185 of 210 clutch solenoid by russ75707

Jul 13, 2010 (6:55 pm)

The clutch lockup solenoid idea sounds entirely plausible,anybody know where it's at on Astro's? I can test a solenoid,all they are is a contact that becomes magnetized when energized,and creates a circuit.I have a two wire connection the rear driver's side of tranny that I thought was speed sensor.The connection has been badly fouled w oil for a while and I cleaned it thoroughly several times ...it appears to be clean and dry at last look though

#186 of 210 Re: @ Guildman [grayliner] by Guildman

Jul 18, 2010 (6:47 am)

Replying to: grayliner (Jul 13, 2010 2:15 am)
With further checks on other forums,I think you're right about it being the TCC solenoid.Other symptoms-after exiting freeway to a stop I hear a clunk almost like I've been rear ended-maybe thats the lockup not releasing from overdrive.The engine misses intermittently at idle in park as well,but that could be another problem.Trouble is,all these things are inconsistent so I can't reproduce them at the shop.The solenoid fix looks like it might be beyond the average diyer.Is it? Thanks for the help

#187 of 210 tcc solonoid by russ75707

Jul 18, 2010 (1:20 pm)

Where is it?Anyone tell me where it is I'd like to take a look at it,maybe i'll check autozone repair manuals

#188 of 210 Re: @ Guildman [Guildman] by Guildman

Jul 22, 2010 (9:55 pm)

Replying to: Guildman (Jul 18, 2010 6:47 am)
Unbelievably,all my rough idle, stalling at lights and after coming to stops at freeway exits,seems to be solved by one treatment of Techron fuel system cleaner!Hard to believe cause all symptoms were pointing towards Tcc solenoid.I'm reading ethanol mix in California gas,especially cheaper brands, will clog fuel injectors over time.If this fix holds its the best $9.00 I've ever spent.I'll throw in another bottle for good measure on the next fill up.

#189 of 210 No way,nuh-uh,u still have rough idle ,it's just on vacation by russ75707

Aug 04, 2011 (11:28 am)

I have read exhaustively night after night,scouring the automotive forums,picking up some pretty impressive viruses from some of them,cleaned egr 5 times,changed fuel pump #4 for me,broke knock sensor and cts sensor on drivers side btwn #3 and #2,tuned up,changed rear end,rear u-joint twice,changed oil a coupla eimes,fixed ac,then broke it ***** w it like a *******. All while trying to find out if spyder needs replacing or not,and why rough idle when stopped but clears immediatly when put in
park or nuetral,damnit i even went to clean out cat converter and found out it had all blown back into my late model muffler and ruined it.UR NOT GETTING OFF THAT EASY!! LOL another cause I've investigated is possible loose/worn distributer shaft bearings

#190 of 210 Re: No way,nuh-uh,u still have rough idle ,it's just on vacation [russ75707] by Guildman

Jul 23, 2010 (6:29 am)

Replying to: russ75707 (Aug 04, 2011 11:28 am)
Believe me,I know its to good to be true.I feel your pain,& I'm gonna assume you did the fuel additive (twice?) with no results.I also did a couple of small things for what its worth.Sprayed carb cleaner around all the vacuum lines,making sure they were all intact,especially at the ends and where they lie close to engine block& get to much heat.Also cleaned pcv and checked elbow at pcv valve.Let you know if my fix holds,or maybe I'll just park it so I can claim victory over this beast,ha,ha

#191 of 210 Re: No way,nuh-uh,u still have rough idle ,it's just on vacation [Guildman] by russ75707

Jul 24, 2010 (11:41 am)

Replying to: Guildman (Jul 23, 2010 6:29 am)
I hear u about parking it,wanna quit on a high note!I only know of maybe 4 vacumn lines all good,I visually inspected pcv elbow,half assed,maybe that warrents a second look,I try to schedule doghouse/engine cover removal when I have a whole day of work there,cause inevitably i get done and am too tired to put it back right,and 260,000 miles and 15 yrs of age,if u dont stay on top of the little things,it turns into a junky piece of crap pretty fast.I guess tcc solonoids are inside housing of tranny,so I will need to plan that in advance,A lot of cursing,tool throwing,and etc. goes on then...

#192 of 210 3 day problem vacation over by Guildman

Jul 24, 2010 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: russ75707 (Jul 24, 2010 11:41 am)
Stalled once yesterday after decelerating from about 45mph,but I will say my normal idle is much better than before fuel treatment.Here's a link & info on Gm tcc solenoid replacement.He talks about checking engine problems and the tcc linkage first,before doing the solenoid replace.I'm pretty sure mine needs the solenoid -there's GM tsb's on it apparently.
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/l/aa011703b.htm
Let me know if you manage the repair-its past the mess level I want to deal with.">link title

#193 of 210 Re: 1994 Astro stalls [94astroext] by spfldo

Nov 10, 2010 (10:53 am)

Replying to: 94astroext (Mar 16, 2010 7:29 pm)
I had a 94 astro, bought new. It had the central port fuel injector. First thing I noticed was that it had a misfire once in a while and took longer than normal to start. This went on for quite a while and I thought I'd get around to tuning it up. Then one day I about ran the battery down trying to get it started. I drove home, parked it and was going to do a tune up, but then it wouldn't start at all. The only thing I could find wrong was fuel pressure. If I remember the manual called for give or take 54lbs. pressure. My reading was 48-50. I thought surely that wouldn't keep it from starting - but it did. New fuel pump and drove it many thousands of miles more. My brother had a no start in his '99 and it was a dist. cap. I also had a 99 that Ibought new. At 24,000 miles it developed a mis-fire. I can't remember the code (p301 maybe) - random intermittant misfire and it acted just like a plug wire was bad. Took it to the dealer they did an injector clean -twice, a top engine clean and a new fuel pump but they never fixed it. I took it back again and they washed their hands of it - GM was no help and they wonder why I never bought another GM product? After driving it another 125,000 miles with this stupid problem I never did get it figured out exactly. Sometimes it was worse (terrible) than others and sometimes drove perfectly. In later years it would always show up on damp, rainy / cold mornings. I'm sure it was a secondary ignition problem but I'd replaced wires, plugs cap, rotor, module, coil and EGR valve. I'm sure it is something simple that is apparently common and it really pisses me off that GM wasn't interested in finding out what the problem was. I came to the conclusion that the "flat" dist. cap is poorly engineered and even a new one might not work. I tried original equipment, aftermarket and a JEGS cap with bronze contacts, but nothing worked. I was at the parts counter at the Chevy garage once and the guy in front of me was trying to buy a cap for his Astro. Parts guy says that's funny we're out of stock - we've already sold three this week. I also had a similar problem on my Suburban - one time a bad misfire (so bad I thought the timing belt had jumped a tooth) and the other a no start. It ran perfectly when it was pulled into the garage but wouldn't start next morning. I'd had a friend with the same problem in a half ton Chevy pickup so I knew to replace the cap and the problem dissapeared. Hope that gives some insight

Messages Page 20 of 22

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