Is It As Reliable As You Think? Chevrolet Astro Van/GMC Safari 1985-2005

[@krisp3981]

Owned one for 20 years. Here's a few tips. Door actuators fail due to not lubing the moving parts within the door. These things like a regular once over with some Deep Creep. Fuel pump should be replaced every 200,000 km. My factory one failed at 180,000 due to me not keeping enough fuel in the tank to keep the pump cool. Spark plugs are easiest to do through the wheel well. Installed a Spectrum distributor at 300,000 km. Idle improved immensely. Change transmission filter every 60,000km. At 30,000km I use a mighty vac and suck out 3 liters through the dip stick. Use trans tune by seafoam to keep the valves shifting properly. There was a recall on the valve body on these things. Use Sylglyde to keep the rubber seals fresh. Pretty amazing results. I just sold my 98 astro 2wd with 467,000km on it. Original transmission, fuel injectors, and engine. Don't forget to replace the oil cooler lines when they start to weep. Don't want to loose the bottom end. I was on my third diff on that thing. Seems to be a weak point. But doing doughnuts in the snow isn't always the best thing for them. Good luck and have fun. I did.

[@YZER19]

My 01 Astro 2wd with 404.000 km has trouble to fire up right away. And after she does she misfires but once she's running she's doing great. I asked everywhere but Noone can help me or has a suggestion. That distributer part from the video and from your comment has got me interested. Cheers

[@pujabelgian]

@@YZER19 I had an occasional 'no start' with my 99 when it was left for a week, wouldn't start at all when it was quite rainy.. I finally replaced the dist cap and rotor. Bingo! Now it runs beautifully.

[@dironizareyes596]

I have 2 of these vans and they both do the same thing. It will start and then stall then sometimes it will stay running then later it will start and stall again. It has to be a common problem please help. I’m about to junk both of them and my mechanic can’t figure it out

[@coopstripes]

I have four of them. I have an Astor with 470,000 miles on it original motor and transmission take care of them they will last forever

[@AutoMotivate]

Hoping mine will last that long 🙏 previous owner neglected it pretty badly.

[@Sink_Bodymodification]

This makes me so happy I'm going to be buying one

[@Sski85]

Do anything special for maintaining the transmission? I was thinking of going with an external oil cooler to help keep it happy

[@shawnames5302]

@@Sski85 I did a tranny cooler and it’s really helped keep the temp down

[@XroorX]

I’m at 315k with original motor and trans. However, I’ve noticed the trans “holds” the gear too long on 4-5 min hill climbs. Should I step on gas to “force” the shift or is there a larger underlying problem? Thanks

[@1gglywggly580]

I love my Astro. Everyone tells me its junk but I have 6 years with it now and Im still not giving up on it. I wana pull the subframe clean out all the gunk and restore every inch of it.

[@Yezir760]

They are reliable as long as you dont do burnouts with them and dont frig around with the gears like I did. Fuel pump was the only problem I had. We bought our Astro van for a $100.

[@nsfw6110]

I got lucky and bought my 98 Safari slx in 2007 for 1800$ . A lady ran into my bumper and I got 1600$ in 2009, I've only replaced the water pump, fuel pump, total tune up and tranny filter. So at this point in 2021 this thing is paying me lol, and I have not been easy on it, I drive like a nut.

[@robhersey1796]

I'm restoring mine also. There's no other van it's size that compares. I also have a dead one that I'm cutting the front off and making a matching trailer.

[@nsfw6110]

@@robhersey1796 I had one of the expected failures on these vans yesterday, fuel pressure regulator. I knew it was going but put it off and it cost me a 400$ tow for a 32$ part. The regulator is in the intake and starts leaking internally, not really a hard job just a pain in the restricted working space.

[@1gglywggly580]

@@robhersey1796 its the perfect size. i understand the space advantage with econolines and sprinters but theyre longer and taller. its cool having a buncha space but id just get a shorty bus instead.

[@dl2.504B]

My 97 GMC Safari has 539336 miles currently. Still running great. These beasts live amongst the afterlife. I turned mine into a camper.

[@nsfw6110]

Safari especially, I gather the sle, slx 8 passenger van types were built in a bus factory and have better parts to be mini buses. For example some Astro have fiberglass leaf spring ans Safari doesn't.

[@dl2.504B]

@@nsfw6110 I'm not sure. But they are very reliable, damn near bullet proof

[@AutoMotivate]

Does it have the originals motor and trans??

[@hectorteran990]

The biggest issue you missed was that, once you own one, is to hard to let go, it becomes an extension of you…

[@LeFraudHasChokedInSIXFinals]

I've had my Astro since 1990, 500,000 miles. It's a family member.

[@jltaco85]

That's deep and depressing at the same time.

[@PORTEDLEAF]

Same bro. They serve so well they are hard to part with.😂

[@gregsly1247]

Had an 02 Safari awd that got totaled, finally replaced it with a 97 Astro. Replaced shocks , springs and AC compressor and road tripped it from Oregon to Indiana and back. Averaged about 18 mpg. We pulled out the rear seats and put in a double bead on risers. We stayed at KOAs along the route which saved us on hotels. It's been a great rig and is my wife's daily. Looking forward to more road trips soon.

[@largotokyo6286]

Had one of these vans at a parts delivery job, it was there before i started, Had 2xx,xxx miles on it when i started and ran like a champ, put about 100 miles on it a day, sometimes more sometimes less. All we ever did was change the oil regularly (the owner of the business was really cheap so didnt go above and beyond) had almost 500,000 miles on it when it got retired, however went through 2 transmissions at that point (I was told) overall a really killer van, and the AWD kicks ASS in the snow. Never got stuck and would take off the line faster than 90% of the vehicles on the road.

[@XroorX]

This guy has become my goto Haynes guide! All the issues he described are what I struggled with in my van ownership!!

[@buckgonsalvez384]

Great video ! My parents owned a 1996 Chevy Astro we racked up over 250000 miles on it and she kept on trucking before we gave it to my sister who drove it for another few years . CHEERS ...

[@Alan-xz6yg]

I also Love my Astro. First Astro bought new 1999, die from rust in 2019, Second astro 2000 , came from California, no rust, good for another 20 years.

[@roxxymesa6705]

I got one with like 300,000 mi and I blew the heads because I didn't change the water pump when it was leaking and the thermostat went out so the heads went but it was just the gasket so it was now okay

[@douglasparise3986]

I see severalastro vans every day. Many are 25 years old. I see no ford equivalent

[@remcovanderheide9318]

This guy's dutch accent is really comforting!

[@k0edby22]

I have a 2005 GMC Cargo van with 220k kms and RWD. No windows, fully enclosed. I love how reliable it’s been for me as a business owner who runs a daily mobile detailing operation during the spring/summer/fall months. I spent $2000 buying it, gave it new plugs and wires, and off I went with my business after I sold my retired Mazda5. Options wise, pretty basic. No cruise, roll up windows, am/fm radio and your heating/ac options; I figured the less options I have less problems I would have to deal with. Now for the issues... Trans slips a bit in overdrive, has trouble staying locked and transitions from shifts 3-4. Fuel pump is going bad, but expected given kms. ABS censor light is on, and check engine light cuz of cat delete from modified exhaust. I love these platforms, I would not be surprised if the cargo vans with/without windows, RWD/AWD, well kept models start going up in value (if they haven’t already). As of today, my $2000 initial investment provided me with $60,000+ worth of sales, reliably and comfortably. :)

[@chriscoralAloha]

Change out distributer completely for an upgraded performance model. Get a monster coil and plug wires. Change the plugs out for premium plugs. This is a must for all astro vans.

[@bradh6185]

Why is that?

[@chriscoralAloha]

@@bradh6185 distributor and cap are faulty. Replace with performance model.

[@bradh6185]

@@chriscoralAloha Thanks. If I get one , I will do that.

[@Bryan-Hensley]

@@bradh6185 Get an an Accel distributor cap, blue streak button, 8mm wires and she'll start right up on those high humidity times

[@bradh6185]

@@Bryan-Hensley Thanks.

[@taylorpowell6]

Bought an 04 AWD on 3 inch lift kit with big beefy off road tires, it's been a blast driving it, I had half the issues above. I love this van.

[@AutoMotivate]

I’ve owned mine for about 6 months, and I’ve already had a lot of the problems too 😂

[@AutoMotivate]

But agreed, love the van too!

[@oby-1607]

I picked up a GMC Safari cargo a couple of months ago and use it to haul my fruit to the market. Love it. Lately, I picked up a Chevrolet Astro AWD cargo for $400 and the only thing wrong with it is the intake manifold leaking a little coolant. I think I am becoming a collector of these.

[@OutdoorsybyNature]

I'm extremely jealous of the folks who are finding Astros under $1k. They're priced between $4-10k in my area, regardless of mileage. JEALOUS!

[@AlY-jv2ew]

In decent condition it's pushing 10K, low mileage 12 to 17k

[@Vaney168]

I've driven a few Astro's and Safari's over the years and put tons of kilometers on them for work, I'd seen one that had near a million before it went to scrap. I love them they are very comfortable, the seats have never hurt my back on long drives compared to my BMW.

[@bjewell01]

Yes! Mine's so comfortable for driving on long trips!

[@Mdudeman13]

Don't forget the lower intake manifold gaskets, they're made of plastic and will eventually leak either into the intake, lifter valley, or onto the ground. If your coolant keeps disappearing without a trace, that's most likely the problem.

[@stephsweden5623]

Exactly. I just replaced this gasket on a 2003 GMC Safari utility van. Was leaking like a sive.

[@davidemming8444]

I had 5 of them. Still have two awd. My daily drive is a 94. Yes I have see the some problems.

[@rafaelgarcia7586]

I love my 2002 astro van but I have had a lot of these issues in this video. However, im close to 200k miles. We are the original owners of the van from the dealer so they do last a long time and are great for road trips.. Thank u for the videos keep them up because they do help out.

[@michaelmaddy278]

I had an Astro van, wish I still had it, I really liked driving it.

[@ronblack9615]

I miss my 94 Sonoma bought it with 39000 in 98 guy totalled it out at 298000 in 2005 ran like a sewing machine would still have it if it didn't get wrecked

[@georgefunes4535]

Have a 2000 Astro overland build. Turns heads everywhere I go. Guys at work give me crap about it but I don’t care I love it

[@nickonickster1]

These vans are great..best work van ever

[@mrrustygray]

97 Astro EXT was used to haul 5 kids all up and down the East Coast. Pulled a boat, pulled a trailer. We built a huge roof top cargo box as the kids got older into their teens, they needed more room. We put a 13" color tv in from and RV that ran on 12V. We added a DVD, Play Station, and extra monitors so the older kids could play video while younger ones watched movies. Sound wired to run through all speakers. We added power charge points and headphone adapters to the ashtrays. We sold to a younger family, and they loved it also. Zero issues. had over 250k on it.

[@totallyleftfield]

I have a 2000 awd Chevy Astro van, and I had to change my Blower fan twice, plus it has regular barn doors in the back that have a leaking problem as well, besides that It's a real champ! Cheers! =D

[@AutoMotivate]

If you fix that leak, I would love to hear your method! Hope you are well 🙏

[@totallyleftfield]

@@AutoMotivate Thank you,.. it's hard core winter where I am now.. so no leaks of course ! so I have not done anything yet to fix the problem, when it warms up I'll be on it, Cheers and take care =)

[@objuan6]

I had a problem when I first got my '97. Cleaned out all the growth, debris around weatherstrip, drilled a couple drain holes, each corner. Been 7-8 yrs, dry as a bone. Problem would show as wet carpet, all the way forward to mid seats. For a while, I also took to parking other side of street, pointing the other way, away from the bay, made rear doors lower, relatively, drained much better. I eventually quit paying attention, still dry. I'd say the drain holes is what did it. For those aghast @ the thought of drilling holes, standing water, soaked carpet gonna get you a hole, as well, only not as tidy. All that, still better than a payment every month.

[@verdellparentaaawink268]

Rear window seal

[@tradmanmike3360]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!!! VERY HELPFUL!!! THE LINKS ALSO VERY HELPFUL. WHOLE VIDEO JUST EXCELLENT WORK, NARRATION, NO SCREAMING GUITAR MUSIC (OLD FART ALERT!) NEW SUB. FROM THE 641..

[@desbrand3585]

My grandma 1989 van was a trunk and a house on wheels power couch Real wood trim and a TV

[@erosmontesinos9646]

Conversion van

[@originalosanchez5549]

I have a 94 gmc safari is old but I love my van, I replace the transmision at 4 months I bought it broke I dont know why but always doing the job .

[@nouseforaname.1364]

That 4.3 was pretty reliable. I had an '89 s10 with that motor. I sold it with 300,000 on the odometer.

[@leadnsteel1428]

problem is everything else on it lol.... actually i had an 05 Canyon with the stright 5 and loved that motor

[@PORTEDLEAF]

Yes. They are that reliable. Its honestly amazing.

[@alienbob8256]

Thank you for sharing your well earned knowledge. They are fantastic vehicles o e that deserves to be maintained and kept going.

[@randymartin8354]

After watching this I changed my mind on getting this van lol

[@AutoMotivate]

Honestly, most 2000s vans will have some sort of issue. If you fix all the issues before they leave you on the side of the road, you will be good.

[@TrailToughTrailers]

I bought a 1986 2wd drive shortie at the end of 85. It had 26 miles on it from others test driving it. I kept it until 2003 and then gave it to my nephew, telling him two things. First, because it had 303,000 "original" miles on it, don't expect to last much longer.... and second, register it in YOUR name ASAP... because if it broke down I darn sure didn't want it coming back to haunt ME. As I recall in was a 3 day weekend. I left to visit a friend 400 miles away in my NEW Astro and he left to hang out with his a buddy about 100 miles in another direction. When I got back home I noticed it wasn't in the parking lot at work so I asked him... Okay what happened? He informed me as he drove to his friends house it, the engine, caught on fire and he wasn't able to get the hood opened as it had melted the pull wire that unlatches the hood.... so it was burnt from the wiper/windshield to the rear bumper. Not much survive other than tires down. Once I told him the L.A. doesn't let you just park on their freeways and that it must've have been towed to a storage yard... "WE" found out that there was a $300.00 impound fee on it. So, begrudgingly we went and got it with a tow dolly after "I" paid the $300 dollars. What's CRAZY was he asked me how are we going to get it up on the dolly and I said forcefully, but joking, "Heck, that thing has NEVER let me down, just jump in it, start it up and drive up on the dolly." Now, again I was joking but he put a trash bag over the burnt seat, started it up and drove it about 8 feet onto the dolly at which time it stalled. We chained it down, pulled the drive shaft and towed it about 80 miles back home where it sat for 6 months while I debated whether or not to rebuild it from the ground up, in which case I did NOT. Instead I sent it to be crushed.... it was a very sad day for me. Here's what I had repaired on it... again with ONLY 303,000 miles on it. 2- radiators 2- heater cores 4-5 sets of brakes/rotors Oil changes EVERY 5,000 miles until 220,000 by then it leaked so bad at the rear main I never thought it would keep going so (But it did) so I changed it every 10-15,000. 1-Tune-up at about 50K and the last tune up at 107,000miles. 1-trans service at 130,000k Door latches at least one if not twice. The driver's was replaced 4 times. Many sets of Tires 1-set of Belts 1-set of Hoses 2-Altenator 2- sets of headlights/bulbs 3-Starters Muffler/Catalytic converter twice I did have to replace sliding door rollers once. And last, but not least.... ignition resistor Never did the engine or trans have any work done on them.... what a wonderful beast. I STILL love that van and every time someone sees a Silver Astro drive by they say.... "do you miss your old one still?" and the answer is YES. My new one had a lot more problems though I loved the extended length I never liked the AWD or the Dutch doors as they always leaked. Got rid of it a few years later.... but ohhhhhhhh if I could find one that someone had completely went through and it was 4X4 I would LOVE to build the interior into a camper van!!!!

[@stephansmith3642]

Niiiiiceeeeee

[@bonespur2728]

Great vid, I would eliminate the slide in between each tip that shows your logo, the sound was kinda annoying after hearing it so many times. It's obvious you put in a lot of research for this video, and I've sent it to a friend who was looking for these exact problems! Good job bro

[@dvsaproducts]

413,000+ miles on my 05 safari. lot of wear and tear but still kicking strong. motor mounts and wheel bearing in the very near future.

[@astromann7449]

Had two of these, towed all kinds of trail toys with them, camped, hauled building materials you name it. Unfortunately my 97 is no longer salvageable, the lower body and underside are disintegrating thanks to winter and salt. I envy those who can find southern Astros that are still solid. I saw a 2004 with 100K on it selling for $11,000, thats how rare these are in the rust belt. For that price it should have been show room condition, but was far from it.

[@marklennox2151]

Yeah I paid $9000 for a 2000 AWD cargo w/141K on it. It was owned by a utility in Georgia and garaged every night so there's not a speck of rust on it. Prices are definitely going up on these things. I'm happy though.

[@crankybastid2197]

I loved my Safari. Bought it 5 years old, used for 10 years - 1 Used transmission, 1 frost plug, 1 radiator. Tires, oil changes, brakes and a tail pipe. AWD models had a bad review and bearing parts were crazy expensive. So stayed away from that. Have 4 kids and needed a family truckster. A/C finally stopped working and upgraded to a Montana (Loved it too). Tip for plug changes - passenger side plugs from inside van through cowling and drivers side plugs from outside by jacking up front of van and removing drivers side wheel. sooooo much easier. Did all my own repairs and maintenance. Now on my second GMC pick up truck and love(d) them both. Wouldn't touch GM cars but love their trucks.

[@blackstorm86]

I had one of these vans from 1996 to 2010 (bought it new). I replaced the fuel pump once, I don't remember the mileage. I drove it all over the U.S. Put 212,000 miles (340,000 km) on it and gave it to a friend who drove it for 2 or 3 more years. He got rid of it because, after 17 years, it finally started to rust out. The engine and drive train were still perfect. We both hated to see it go.

[@jameseroh6544]

We still have a 2004 ASTRO that we bought new. It only lasted 8 years before the cam walked. And ate the distributor gear. This is a common problem with roller cams on Chey small blocks v8 & v6. We previously had a 2002. It ran much better. We bought the '04 to get 3.73 ratio and 4 wheel disc brakes. My wife wished she had kept the '02. With 3.42 ratio, it got up to 22mpg on the open road.

[@ebill66]

Should also mention the stock intake manifold gaskets on these often fail, as they were made of plastic, not metal and rubber. Mine failed on my 1996 at about 100K miles. A real pain to repair, as being a van, space is limited above the engine.

[@ohhansel]

Thanks for putting together a very helpful and quality video. I'm looking the build a small camper van. Now you have me considering a Chevy Astro as I recently found one for sale near me. I was kind of sat on a Toyota sienna but hey.

[@Zentinel_85]

Friends Safari had almost 2,000,000 miles on it before he passed away. Bought it in the 90’s, never had another vehicle, never needed one.

[@chrisgraham2904]

I've owned my 1999 GMC Safari SLT (RWD) for 16 years and the odometer has just passed 532K. Over the years I've probably replaced everything that's attached to the engine. (Water pump, alternator, power steering unit, rad, fan clutch, thermostat, belt tensioner, fuel pump, ignition coil, distributor). Plus normal wear items like brakes, belts, battery, shocks and tires. A/C compressor failed 2 years ago and it isn't worth the cost of replacement. The engine, transmission and differential are all original and none have been opened for any major repairs. The 4.3 Ltr. Vortec engine is bulletproof. The van likes original AC Delco replacement parts, which I highly recommend over third party chinesium. Running synthetic oil for the past 10 years and it gets changed very 3,000 miles. Doing much of the work myself, I've averaged less than $1,000.00 per year to keep it rolling down the road, which is minor compared to other vehicles or normal depreciation costs. There is no equivalent to these vans in today's market. The closest replacement that would suit my needs is the Suburban, which sells for 3X+ what these vans sold for new.

[@AutoMotivate]

Man, love reports like this. Over 530k miles, that’s insane! Keep her chugging 🙏

[@meyawabdulaziz3863]

what ever you went through it ...i went through it as well and more .,. engine is super solid even after 20 years....dont go cheap on oil and cooling system replace entirly for peace of mind .....everything fan cluch hoses thermostate and radiator....all of it , dont relay on old plastic and rubber components

[@MrFasteddie8897]

Don't forget the frame bushings. When those go bad the frame start to move and make a loud thump when braking

[@buslifewithmel7934]

I have a 94 Chevy Astro we travel all out west with ours the only problem I have is water leaking around back hatch

[@AutoMotivate]

Heck yeah, I love the box styled headlights. Try to add a beefier gasket around the door seals. If that doesn’t work, try to pinpoint exactly where it’s leaking and reroute the leak some how. Easier said then done. I wish you luck 🙏

[@fishingmojados1121]

@@AutoMotivate how do you pinpoint the leak?

[@nsfw6110]

@@fishingmojados1121 you basically just need new seals.

[@fishingmojados1121]

@@nsfw6110 I replaced them but then I found out the water is coming from the bottom od the door. Theres no seal just that plastic hold down tray for the carpet, I'm adding some silicone to it now

[@OldSchoolNoe]

I recently bought a 97 Safari "Explorer High-Top." It has been an electrical nightmare. Drove it for about 5 hours, now it is sitting, crank no start condition.

[@AutoMotivate]

My guess would be the distributor.

[@johnndavis7647]

I had the crank but no start problem. It turned out to be the security system. They put a resistor in line to fool the thing so it starts. Replacing the security sensor is really expensive.

[@RustyJeepHole]

sold my AWD with 386,000 on it was running strong. kinda wish I kept it. happy with the k1500 instead

[@Turbo2Pete]

Had a 93, now a 2002 AWD.... 340K on the 93 when it was rearended and totaled. Have had most of these problems! Brake hard lines are a PITA, but when one goes DO THEM ALL front and back. Worst thing about these is the mileage they DON'T get. 11-12mpg on the awd, 13-15 on the RWD.

[@TVCAVEMAN213]

Where did you get your roof rack, and side mount ladder ? I have a 1996 Chevy Astro Van, Will be moving into it ASAP. Thank You in advance for your help, Your videos have helped already.

[@shaunmckenna1923]

Great video I am just about to buy a 1998 Astro AWD weekend conversion van from Japan so all this info is very useful thanks for posting.

[@AutoMotivate]

That is awesome Shaun! Hope you enjoy the van. I also have a playlist full of videos of my Astro Camper van conversion, as well. (not done, but more then half way there) Thanks for watching!

[@shaunmckenna1923]

@@AutoMotivate Thanks for your reply I will check out your site as I am sure there will be a few jobs to be done ,I am waiting to pick the van up from Vancouver they are doing some work on it first so I hope to have it by the end of the month.

[@basil1674]

@@shaunmckenna1923 How did that go? Did it end up being a good van? I ordered one from Japan and hoping for the best! Won't arrive for a month or so...

[@shaunmckenna1923]

@@basil1674 Yes I got a great van the only this I had to restore was some of the woodwork it had faded in the hot sun , I did a few upgrades that I wanted but I kept it simple as it not a van I will be living in .

[@basil1674]

@@shaunmckenna1923 Good to hear! I hope mine is in good shape too.

[@cheerdiver]

When the fuel pump starts going out, it has to be jump started (14.5v) to get enough fuel pressure to fire the injectors. Will still start while warm, or by quick start. Certain year models have injector lines under the intake manifold, they become brittle and crack.

[@memyprojectsc3678]

Astro Van is the King of MiniVans...🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@AutoMotivate]

💯

[@Bluecollar_obs_limo]

Best all around van ever!!

[@dynasticlight1073]

My ,third one now is a 95' AWD. Front end issues are common ,as so many moving steering units . Keep em all greased alot. From ,this comes the wear on front tires , from misalignment .Most shops cannot get these aligned very true.. Door Handles are a big one too. Go easy ,or they will pot metal /plastic out on You... If ,You have a Fuel inj. No start cranking issue. It does Not pull a code on some earlier models . The 'Spider' unit ,is cheaply made and costly. If ,on E. coast or wet areas do check alot for rust everywhere . It will surprise You when not looking ..Happy Vanning Bros.

[@claudeskellenger8333]

My 2003 awd has over 285,000 miles and runs great. I pull a camper with it. It's the third one that I've had. I have a low mileage donor for parts.

[@lawrencerasmus]

Man you missed the most common fails . 1 door handles break. 2 fuel injection on 2000 down is old poppit type , needs replacing with new type. 3 all wheel drive motor failure .4 security light , won't start . 5 failed weld on driver door and hinge bushing fail. I have owned 2 astros and all you covered and what I covered will need to be done

[@nuclearcloud9239]

Why does the security light come on? Mine did too then I messed with some fuses but didnt change anything just checked them and then tried again and it started. Why do you think that is?

[@eyannie007]

Enjoyed my van 2003 AWD extended gmc safari...a warped throttle body perplexed like 8 different mechanics they all had their own way of checking systems to come up with I dunno. Thankfully I met a 70 yr old mechanic and just by telling him over the phone sounds and systems and checks Diagnosed warped throttle body. The right drivers wiper motor was actually wired wrong from the factory. My son figured that one out. Once the tension pulley needed replaced. Did brakes idler arms spark plugs. Once the fuel tank. Door handles lol. AWD excellent for winter driving always felt safe n warm heat was good. Gas mileage not so much...great for camping. My bug out van. I would get another one. I let my other son drive it n he rear ended a driving school teacher who slammed on her brakes on the phone n looking for a place to pee, lol he got the ticket tho, sold it for 600.00 The front fender n rad was bent. I thought it was worth fixing after all the repairs over the yrs. it only had 250,000 km. Lol I let my kids sell it for 600.00 n still think it was worth more, saw a really dirty beat cargo van same yr. no nice interior sold for 3,000.00. What are they worth now? Ty for sharing best wishes.

[@traceyrigaud3470]

my Astro 03 can be a family van or a cargo van at any time love it, it serves me well Pierre NYC labor of love.

[@000one]

Thanks. Awesome vid. Very helpful

[@gerlandkent6377]

nice, looking chevy van. Random vanners east coast 2%

[@helicch]

I have a 2000 safari. 347541 miles. Still going.

[@mdrmoose]

Got a 2000 astro 273k miles now. Ive replaced damn near everything in the engine bay except the engine lol. Iron block built to last!

[@AutoMotivate]

I’m on the same boat. 203k miles

[@rj.e.2474]

BUY A TRANSMISSION PANS WITH A DRAIN PLUG! They now sell after market transmission pans that has a drain plug. $40. It's worth changing out as you don't need to change the filter every 30k just the fluid. Makes everything so much easier.

[@jimo2627]

Add the rear coolant fitting on the engine pass side the fitting with break off and the threads will be in the intake

[@AutoMotivate]

Can you explain the process on tackling that job for people who may need the explanation?

[@jimo2627]

@@AutoMotivate certainly you need an easy out that fits the center of the broken fitting remove the broken portion then chase the threads with a pipe tap then replace the fitting I replaced mine with a steel fitting from a small block engine

[@AutoMotivate]

@@jimo2627 Thank you Jim! Hope you wont have to deal with that issue again.

[@jimo2627]

@@AutoMotivate nope I put 300,000 on it and she's still cruising around

[@canadaeast8358]

I had 4 trucks with 4.3 engines the only engine trouble I had was distributor cap and rotor button. And starter and alternator. Really good engines I think so anyway

[@TheInsaneupsdriver]

UPS used the same engines to replace Ford inline 6's that kept punching rods out the side of the blocks. i once filled a "P500" package car with over 7900 lbs of nuts and bolts in boxes. engine had no problems, tires clutch and breaks a different story....

[@audiosmackdown]

Great engine. The transmission is typical GM replace every 100k to 150k miles

[@larryweinberg1191]

my 86 astro has original transmission with near 500,000 miles.

[@summerland6397]

Put a piece of small rope in the fold of the seal to swell it and stop door leaks.

[@brucerobinson337]

People may not be able to remember this but 4.3 is the king of v6s back in the 80s because of its reliabe cheap to operate and maintain has been around a extremely long time thay have powered just about every type of vehicle created by General Motors encluding a the modern turbo version in a C8 Corvette there was even a salt racer that went over 300 mph but it's most famous Turbocharged unit was installed in the Buick Grand nationals

[@JohnSmith-qj4cf]

Thank you for the video a great help 👍

[@AutoMotivate]

Glad it was helpful 🙏

[@JohnSmith-qj4cf]

@@AutoMotivate looking for a awd have the lift kits the 233 transfer case and rims and tires and a motor fully rebuild with some goods and all the good parts in a trans

[@AutoMotivate]

Sounds like a solid build, my friend! AWD is my goal one day!

[@victoroluseye529]

@@AutoMotivate what are the likely problem when using Astro in Nigeria

[@carcasscruncher9354]

Proper lock replacements for manual locks are nearly impossible to find. I haven't found any yet. Distributer cap is constantly needing changed every few months, rear differential has been leaking for a long time, cant find the leak. Changed bearings and races and seals and it still leaks and no trace of a porosity hole anywhere either. About to tackle that job again since I forgot to add oil one day and pitted the bearings again. Pain in the ass I tell ya.

[@Prof.Squarepants]

have an awd 2000 90k love it goes anywhere in the snow just need to fix that rear hatch leak he was taking about anyone else fixed this issue yet? only down fall is during icy conditions can be a real pain to get the lower barn doors open they get frozen shut. also have had many issues with the distributor cap if you guys get one make SURE it has the brass contacts and not those cheap ass aluminum ones had to change a brand new one after just a few thousand miles.

[@marktyson6385]

I would like to know more about the pancake situation.

[@carolmaplesden916]

i would love to see a video like this about my 94 areo star van!!!!

[@jgulla10]

yeah, I have a 1994 also.

[@erik01201]

dont forget they tend to get either a rod knock or cam bearing knocking i had a 96 awd had the knock till it finally blew the motor now i have a 2000 with same issue i just hope it makes it through the winter

[@uzi__6734]

Did she make it😮.?

[@erik01201]

@Uzi __ so far she's still running. But I also for that rear frame rust is present, hope I can find a shop to weld new piece I love my astro

[@thatguy.mp7950]

Mines a 2003. To put in perspective how reliable astro's are, it has 275k miles, has never failed to return home, once broke an axle then proceeded to limp home, skipped second for 4 years, then when 3rd died it limped back home and still added 300 more miles on first gear alone to get to 275k miles, then did 300 more for fun. TL/DR: Astro's are really fucking reliable

[@davidpatrick1813]

Thanks.

[@Alexiotheconquerer]

I’ve seen 5 vehicles burn to the ground on the side of the road. 4 of them were GMC Safaris and the other was a Chevrolet Cavalier

[@bjewell01]

The AC in my Safari has never worked but I wasn't sure why, thanks for the tip. I'm going to be installing a floor next week. Should I think about fixing the AC first? Can I access the area through the bottom, or is it really necessary to go through the floor? Great video!

[@olddoghunt]

Definitely the front end problems idler arm ball joints and tie rods

[@maximusilive4theking986]

We had one as a family vehicle and my dad put over 300k miles with one tyranny rebuild. I did my driving test on that as well.

[@ihaveriffs8261]

Great video! My 2004 has several of these issues... At 133,000 miles I’ve replaced the fuel pump and resealed the rear door. The actuators don’t work but that doesn’t bother me. The ac blows cold but I can’t get heat. It blows warm but not hot enough to defrost the windshield in winter. I think I need a blower motor resistor because I already replaced the motor and the new one intermittently fails. The rear motor blows but not hot either. Thermostat was replaced. Radiator/heater core flushed. Maybe the hoses are cracked? Heat would be sweet.

[@AutoMotivate]

Check that resistor, but the heater core could be so clogged that a flush won’t resolved the clog. I would look further into that, because bad/old coolant can definitely do that. I recently replaced my door locks with cheap new ones and only one actually works 🤦‍♂️

[@clearwater9118]

😀🙏👍Yaaaaaaay you made the video!😍😂

[@AutoMotivate]

Ofcourse, I had to 🙏🙏

[@tommavrakos]

My 92 chevy van beauville. g30 350 motor 4l80e was perfect for 370,000 miles.now it won't shift out of 1st gear and won't start.2 of the best mechanics can't find the problem

[@jimo2627]

Also some Silicon spray in the distributor helps with that issue

[@paularata8145]

You are joking? Silicone is the ultimate lubricant. Forgive me if you know already It does not conduct electricity it will insulate every conductor it touches.

[@jimo2627]

@@paularata8145 idk it works put 300,000 miles on it only changed the cap and rotor 3 times

[@BreezyGamer92]

I never though I would buy a van. But I bought an '02 Astro from the original owner a little over a year ago. I have already had to replace all the brake lines and both the front idler arms which were nearly gone. Also installed all new cooling system on the engine due to a coolant leak. But I enjoy driving it and with only 168k miles on it at the moment I hope it will last a while. I do not know when/if the trans fluid was ever replaced so I am not sure whether to change it now or just leave it.

[@AutoMotivate]

The van should last a very long time my friend. I would definitely replace the trans oil, just to be on the safe side! Hope you enjoy the van!

[@BreezyGamer92]

@@AutoMotivate 2002 Update. Now at almost 188k miles and I am replacing the engine mounts and harmonic balancer this week. My Harmonic Balancer is rubbing against my steering when i am reversing or almost any incline due to engine sag in the AWD models. I will look into adding some kind of spacer when I put the new mounts in. Sadly I have not changed my trans fluid still.

[@dironizareyes596]

I have 2 of these vans and they both do the same thing. It will start and then stall then sometimes it will stay running then later it will start and stall again. It has to be a common problem please help. I’m about to junk both of them and my mechanic can’t figure it out

[@marklennox2151]

I just bought a 2000 AWD Cargo with 141K and should get it in a week or so. The worn engine mount segment is scaring me most but then again I'm paranoid anyway. Did I just waste 9K?

[@Dirtcheapdeals]

Hey nice video, owner of a 2001 awd LS Astro. I think I have a bad ball joint and my encoder motor is going out I get a intermit service awd light that pops up. Sometimes I have awd and sometimes I don't. Anyone else ran into this issue. I love my astro I have had it 3 years it runs like a champ and parts are easy to find.

[@theplaces5267]

Replacing the encoder motor is actually very easy. First check the condition of the plug, mine had gotten gunked up which I believe caused the intermittent issue. I replaced it anyway, less than an hour having never done it before. No more Service AWD light.

[@artint.1519]

I got two of them 98 Astro 380k original engine and transmission ,02 safari 140 and lifted

[@AutoMotivate]

Does the 98 have the original powertrain?

[@artint.1519]

@@AutoMotivate yes , I got it for 18 years

[@mr.e5930]

I had one when I was a kid I thought it was a bus lmao I had good times in it

[@roysaw1711]

Thank you so much! You're a blessing! I'm about to purchase A 2003 astro with 250,000 and now I know what to look for. Any other advise you could give me? The person is asking for 2000$ for it.

[@AutoMotivate]

Thank you Roy! I would definitely try to find out all the parts that have been replaced, test out the trans (make sure it’s shifting properly), if the fuel pump has been replaced make sure it’s the Delphi fuel pump because the majority of aftermarket fuel pumps are garbage, and the distributor has been replaced. 2003 is a good year because most issues have been delt with and it has disc brakes compared to the pre 2000 years that had drum brakes. Very reliable vans and if the van has been taken care of, I would expect it to last around 400k miles

[@mrfixit5404]

Heater defrost door actuator not working correctly. Typically caused by broken vacuum line routed across the top of the engine.

[@FUBBA]

I miss having Astros. I had one or two of every generation

[@dsihacker01]

Doing sparkplugs: do it from the wheels, seriously. Very quick job, other then one

[@iceman125971]

The way you talk is just too cute

[@MrRichardbryan]

The problem with the Astro Vans was the danger of front end collapse even with slow speed collisions causing major injury to legs on both driver and passenger sides. Many law suits developed over the injuries. The Van themselves are great vehicles if maintained. 300,000 miles is easily obtained just remember the design flaw causing safey issues to front driver and passenger.

[@AutoMotivate]

I wonder if there is a test on different bash bars, or weld on modification to prevent that kind of catastrophe.

[@MrRichardbryan]

@@AutoMotivate Have a friend in the higher up management of the old GM. Will ask . However, one of his jobs was to testify as an expert with Astro Van front end collisions.

[@Deucealive75]

In 96 or 97 they added 2 braces from the radiator support to the frame that would help out in a front collision. People in the rust belt should pull the grill and bumper surround off to inspect the bumper underneath. My 97's bumper was completely gone from rust when I checked it. Got a $55 bumper off EBay for it back then. I just had my 05 apart and "rust proofed" it's bumper.

[@mikejenkins4598]

The only mini van you safety tow with because it was a real truck and not a front well drive like the sorry Dodges !

[@YZER19]

got 404.740 km (251k miles) on my 01 Astro.

[@YZER19]

Never let me down going into the deepest Yukon and Alaska.

[@YZER19]

462.500km and counting

[@player2games123]

I have a bad ignition switch in my 1993 astro