87 Astro just stopped running HELP!!!

Today is Wednesday. On Saturday my family and I were driving home and our van started missing then quit. Had it towed home and did some troubleshooting and found out it was the fuel pump. Figured since we had to replace it why not just do the fuel pump, fuel filter and the fuel strainer. Done that. Was heading over to my mothers (at 1am cause my sister didnt know how to go down and check if a breaker was blown). Had the radio on, headlights as well. Driving fine, then I heard a noise, turned off the radio to see what it sounded like. As soon as I turned off the radio the sound stopped then the battery light comes on. Next thing I know all the lights come on like when you are getting ready to start the it. Lost power steering and brakes, which I know if the van isnt running I dont have those anyways. I managed to get into a parking lot. Shut everything off and tried to start it again. It bogged like it didnt want to start but started on the third crank. Ran wonderful, until I took my foot off the gas, then it quit again. Even though the headlights, dome lights, radio and everything had power and the lights werent dim. I figured I would go ahead and see if maybe the battery cable might have came loose for some strange reason (had that happen to me before but another vehicle). Wiggle the cables to see if they were tight and tried to start it again. Third crank, started great, until I took my foot off the gas. Then it died. Got out to close the hood and smelt something like something was burning. Desided I wasnt going to touch it anymore and called my husband to come and get me. We have no clue whats going on. Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are at a loss here. Only vehicle we have that runs at this point in time and now after sinking $62 into fixing it, its down again. GRRRRRRRRRRR

Sounds to me like one of the accessories has locked up. Mostly likely the alternator. Take the belt off and start the van. If that let's it start and rev freely then shut it off and try spinning each of the accessories to see which is locking up.

My bet is it's the alternator.

well I went out and tried to start it today. Battery was low so it wouldnt start. Jumped the battery to see if it would run. When it started smoke started pouring out. Well to make this simple, you were right. :wink: it was the altinator. Locked up tighter than a wedge. Now I'm hoping that once I get the altinator on which my wonderful husband is outside doing now, its going to run fine. I'm ready to blow this thing up at this point. Had it for around 6 months and a month and a half ago, while driving down the road the drive shaft literally dropped out. Got that fixed. Saturday the fuel pump went out and last night at 1am, the altinator locked up. shewww got almost as much money sunk in this thing as we paid for it. But with four kids and two adults not having a van is not an option. Thank you for your help and keep your fingers crossed for me. :licka:

Sure hope that is the problem.

I've had some guys from my hometown tell me about a dealership working on a Highway Patrol Camaro that stalled after a high speed episode. The car wouldn't start or even turn over. The dealership hacks had the motor out of the car before they realized it was just a locked up alternator.....

Let's us know how it all goes!

welp that worked.. even though it ran down the battery that we had to have my sister in law come over and jump the battery. The altinator was locked us so bad we could barely turn it after we had it out. But it runs good now. For now lol That sounds like a garage. We usually either work on it ourselves or have someone we know work on ours because anymore a garage is all about the money and wanting to screw everyone over. Thats just a shame. I understand they need to make money but its still not right. We have a '66 Dodge Coronet that is my husbands pet project. He got an edelbrock carb and wasnt sure how to set it correctly and was having trouble with it. Took it to a local garage to have them tune it. The guy gets in the car, goes to pull it into the garage, gets out to move something and dont (obviously) know that on the old Dodges you have to give it a tug to the left to get it all the way in park. After he got out it kicked into reverse, the door hit the side of the garage and almost folded against the front finder of the car!! Then the guy said it wasnt his fault and didnt want to pay to have the door and front finder fixed. Said it was the tranny that slipped out of gear. It wasnt the tranny cause we had just had it service just a week before. Took us calling a lawyer and them calling the garage before their insurance agreed to come and look at the car. Had the paint job on the car less than a month. Pretty bad it takes a lawyer to get someone to stand up and admit they done something wrong.