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1993 Cevy Astro Van won't start
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Indian Lady
New User
Feb 28, 2009, 6:13 PM
Post #1 of 4
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1993 Cevy Astro Van won't start
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 Need advice! 1993 Chevy Astro Van AWD 4.5 Ltr engine 339K Miles (long distance)
Battery is fully charged and had it checked for CCA etc. at auto store. Good battery. All connections tight and secure, neg post grounded to frame tightly. Replaced serpintine belt. Tried to start...no noise. Dash lights, front lights bright, turn signals all work.
Funny thing tho, a red blinking light above stereo in the middle of front dash and the front & back lights blinking off & on and the dash lights blinking on and off then stops for a few seconds and then comes back on. Never done this before. Do I have an anti theft device that I don't know about and if so how do I turn it off? I had to unhook the battery to make it stop.
History:
engine wouldn't turn over so thought the battery was low. jumper cabled off another car last night and it tried to start but didn't quite get there (the negative battery cable ground nut was loose which I did not notice until this am). Put another charge on battery overnight and tightened neg cable to frame. Now I get no engine start noise at all! I know the alternator is going out but I can't afford to replace it now. Shouldn't it at least start with the battery even if the alternator is bad?
What should I check next??
(This post was edited by Indian Lady on Feb 28, 2009, 7:16 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 28, 2009, 6:56 PM
Post #2 of 4
(3253 views)
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Re: 1993 Cevy Astro Van won't start
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Starter/Battery:
Cable from neg battery was found loose as you said. It should be on the block of engine somewhere NOT the frame or at least not the larger of two if that cable has two leads from it.
Block of engine must also ground to body metal thru straps here and there through out vehicle some you'll see underhood I think and chassis vehicles ground frame to body too. You can add plain ground straps to assist in vehicles or when it's hard to get at a broken one - just leave them out of harms way.
Once known good power is available by cable to the starter test for the trigger wire from the key that it gets its 12v temp shot to engage starter. You can do that directly for a test also if you know how if not - don't.
At a glance this may be a weak starter or poor wires even if they look good in the casings. When starter tries weakly I would think a weak spot in main wire would show heat damage to its insulation.
You can add temporty extra grounds and power with jumper wire or if room allows and you know where to connect good jumper cables used just as extra connection for ground or power to bypass existing or add to existing wiring/cables.
Lot of miles on this pup!
T
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Indian Lady
New User
Feb 28, 2009, 7:45 PM
Post #3 of 4
(3250 views)
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Re: 1993 Cevy Astro Van won't start
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T
Thanks for responding!! Please read my edited report. I went out and found my lights blinking...As for the large battery wire grounded to the frame it is seperate from the smaller #8 wire assembly coming from the neg battery post. This smaller assembly has red plastic sheathing (the auto store said resembled stereo hook ups) which slips over the battery post and plugs into a 2x3" plastic box that has a 20 amp flat fuse inside. This box has a cable leading off towards the firewall, I can't tell where it ends up. (This same assembly is on the positive side of the battery also.)
As for your comments about mileage, the engine uses no fluids. In the 2.5 yrs I've owned it only put 1/2 qt. oil in it (and I've had it professionally checked because it worried me)...yes the oil has been changed regularly! It does need other repairs tho and I'm trying to decide if its worth it. Any thoughts??
Needs: idler arms, shocks, alternator (maybe new belt fixed this?) and master cylinder is leaking.
I can do most of this myself with help from my son. In better times I would've sold and bought another but I'm on a limited disability income and can barely afford living expenses. If the transmission goes I know it's not worth fixing ( I replaced one on my old 1977 Chevy van and vowed never again!) but is it worth trying to keep it running until I'm better financially?
Any thoughts you have would be considered and thanks so much for helping. You can't imagine how much I appreciate this input!!!! Are you a Red Sox fan?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 28, 2009, 8:17 PM
Post #4 of 4
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Re: 1993 Cevy Astro Van won't start
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I can't know what alarm if any it has or what to do about it. Most will react if battery power is disconnected.
Back: It tried to start when jumped and you tightend one cable you found.
GM battery side posts cables are not so great especially over the years on this - miles shouldn't matter for that alone.
The jump is really usually only a weak connection to the little 5/16th also 8mm cable bolt there and not much to the cable itself. Might need new ends or take them off and really clean them up - use a wire brush or new cable ends if bad enough and put some grease on those so it doesn't happen too often. If you need new ends look for the better ones not just the small ends that may or may not say "temporary" on package. Whole cable may be unnecessary but that certainly comes with new ends - both ends or all in the case of one of them.
OK: It should at least crank with power to the main battery cables and if ground to body is intact. It may be tight but not making a good connection too so must be cleaned up - wire brush again, sandpaper etc. If you see the white corrosion at the battery do use baking soda to neutralize acid and cleans up better with that stuff.
Alternator isn't involved with plain starter cranking. Let that be another issue and post on its own along with other items as you are ready to do them.
Do you have a test light? If you can get to the starter you can see if power gets there and see if the one (hope just one) smaller terminal with maybe more than one smaller gauge wire(s) is lit when key is turned to "start" position. If that lights test light then the solenoid should trigger the starter to engage and turn engine. If not let's go from what you do find.
The main thing now is it did something while jumped suggesting connections are the issue since you seem pretty sure battery is ok. Try that again but the fix is still needed. Jumpers on these frequently need to be fiddled with to even get a worthwhile jump with the little post bolts.
If you think an alarm is the issue now or part of it and have NO information on it then look for a tiny usually black button or a tiny switch hidden - sometimes in ash tray or not easily visable under dash or perhaps in glove box. Some had an override with little switches like that hidden at the installer's descretion.
Forget the alternator for now until we get this going or at least cranking. I'm not sure but it's possible that a red wire to back of alternator needs be clean and snug too. Careful there as that's hot so don't let a tool hit anything ground if you touch it with battery connected. It's usually under a rubber cover that may be missing now??
T
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