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2004 Chevy astro van wont start


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chris1961
New User

Jan 19, 2013, 1:42 PM

Post #1 of 8 (5693 views)
2004 Chevy astro van wont start Sign In

I have a 2004 chevy astro van 4.3L engine. I parked it on Friday, it was running fine. On Monday morning went to start it and the battery was dead. Bought a new battery and installed it drove about a mile and a half and it spuddered like it was out of gas. Fuel gauge showed a quarter tank. Engine will turn over but will not start. Towed home and parked. tried today Saturday to start it and the battery is dead again, it has a dead short on battery, battery was checked at auto part store. Got new battery but can not find the dead short. Anyone have any idea where to start? Need to get it running to get to work Monday.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 19, 2013, 1:55 PM

Post #2 of 8 (5678 views)
Re: 2004 Chevy astro van wont start Sign In

You don't have a short, you may have a parasitic draw or you may just have a connection problem somewhere.

First test your battery, then test the charging voltage and if they check out, follow the procedure below to check for a draw.


You will need a digital ammeter and a jumper wire with clips on the ends to do this.
First rig any door switches so you can have a door open without triggering the interior lights and unplug the hood light. Remove one battery cable and attach the meter in series between the battery cable and battery post. Take the jumper wire and also attach it the same way. Leave the jumper wire on for at least 10 minutes to expire all the automatic timers. Now remove the jumper wire and read the meter. Anything over 50ma is too much draw. The way you locate this is to start removing fuses one at a time until the meter drops to normal level. This will be the circuit with something staying on. Determine what components are part of that circuit and check them individually until the problem is isolated.



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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.



chris1961
New User

Jan 20, 2013, 3:52 PM

Post #3 of 8 (5606 views)
Re: 2004 Chevy astro van wont start Sign In

I did this and nothing was too high. I am still stumped. Van still not running. Have any more suggestions?Frown


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 20, 2013, 3:56 PM

Post #4 of 8 (5601 views)
Re: 2004 Chevy astro van wont start Sign In

If you measured less that 50ma draw, then you have eliminated that as a possibility and you're on the wrong track. Check your battery, battery connections and charging system.



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

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.



Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Jan 20, 2013, 5:04 PM

Post #5 of 8 (5594 views)
Re: 2004 Chevy astro van wont start Sign In

Is this a No crank/no start or Engine cranks/no start?


chris1961
New User

Jan 20, 2013, 5:24 PM

Post #6 of 8 (5584 views)
Re: 2004 Chevy astro van wont start Sign In

engine turns over but wont start. If battery is left connected it will have a dead short. Have already checked charging system. Have changed fuel filter. It is like it is not getting fuel, replaced fuel pump back the beginning of November. Need to get it running.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 20, 2013, 5:39 PM

Post #7 of 8 (5579 views)
Re: 2004 Chevy astro van wont start Sign In

No, it doesn't have a short. You don't even understand what a short circuit is. It would take a draw to kill the battery and according to you, it doesn't have one.



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

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.



Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Jan 20, 2013, 6:24 PM

Post #8 of 8 (5571 views)
Re: 2004 Chevy astro van wont start Sign In

Lets forgot about the short for right now......

Find out what you are missing??? Spark? or Fuel?? Pull a wire & check for spark. If you have spark, shoot a couple shots of starting fluid down the throttle body & see if the engine starts......It would be great if you had a fuel pressure gauge to take a reading....






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