Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

90's Chevy Astro - Writer Needs Advice for Fiction Story


  Email This Post



MontanaWriter
New User

Jan 12, 2015, 9:37 PM

Post #1 of 6 (1290 views)
90's Chevy Astro - Writer Needs Advice for Fiction Story Sign In

I'm writing a fiction book, and I need some advice to make sure it's accurate.
I need a mechanical issue in a Chevy Astro, maybe mid- to late-90's, that would require a mechanic to get into the vehicle to either diagnose or repair it.
In the story, a suspicious character brings his van in to be repaired, but he doesn't want anyone inside the van. If it isn't realistic that someone would have an expectation like that, I'd love feedback on why it doesn't work and what might work better. Thanks for any responses.


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Jan 13, 2015, 2:34 AM

Post #2 of 6 (1281 views)
Re: 90's Chevy Astro - Writer Needs Advice for Fiction Story Sign In

If the weather is cold or wet, and your character has non-working heat or windshield wipers a tech would need to get inside. GM uses a multifunction switch on the steering column. Its the turn signal arm, wiper control and cruise switches all together. A tech could verify the wiper motor had no power to it from under the hood, but would need to get inside to troubleshoot. Same goes for the blower motor for the heater.

Any engine driveability problem the first thing a tech would do is hook up his scanner to look for codes. The plug the scanner hooks into is under the driver's side of the dash.

The 4.3 engine in those is known for the intake gasket leaking coolant. You have to remove the doghouse inside the van to get at everything.

A simple one would be the oil pressure light coming on and leaking a bunch of oil. The sending unit screws into the back of the block behind the intake and to the left of the distributor.Big pain to try to get at from under the hood of an Astro. Your character would need to fix it or blow his engine. Once again, the tech goes inside and removes the doghouse to get access. Its a pretty common part to have go out on an older GM vehicle.

Hope some of these suggestions help. Glad you are trying to get the right info now instead of taking artistic license to make something up that a reader who knew about cars would notice right away. Best of luck on the book.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 13, 2015, 3:11 AM

Post #3 of 6 (1280 views)
Re: 90's Chevy Astro - Writer Needs Advice for Fiction Story Sign In

Engine access is from inside the van so about anything that would require access to the engine would require removing the engine cover from inside the vehicle.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 13, 2015, 4:36 AM

Post #4 of 6 (1275 views)
Re: 90's Chevy Astro - Writer Needs Advice for Fiction Story Sign In

Ahhh - Don't most all Astros have a hood for engine outside?



^^^ Dang pic was there,



Still - there are and would be countless reasons to be inside a vehicle to check, diagnose and fix a problem if nothing more than to turn the key to start it and if it didn't start then diagnose why not,


T

(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Jan 13, 2015, 4:41 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 13, 2015, 4:39 AM

Post #5 of 6 (1271 views)
Re: 90's Chevy Astro - Writer Needs Advice for Fiction Story Sign In

I guess you have never tried to access anything more than a radiator cap or drive belt from there.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Jan 13, 2015, 5:29 AM

Post #6 of 6 (1267 views)
Re: 90's Chevy Astro - Writer Needs Advice for Fiction Story Sign In

Make sure the van is piled with garbage and smells like dirty diapers. Nothing like removing the doghouse from a roach infested hoarder's van. Oh, and also make sure the mechanic gets a lollipop stuck in his hair when he reaches under the dash for the doghouse's latch.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jan 13, 2015, 5:38 AM)






  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap