'91 Astro Van Problems
Marine Vet
08-04-2006, 06:22 PM
New member here. I am having the following with my wife's 1991 Chevy Astro Van.
1. Check engine light stays on
2. Brake light stays on
3. No dash lights. Sometimes when the wires under the dash are jiggled, sometimes the dash lights come on, but she loses the radio, cigarette lighter, and the horn.
Any idea's? Thank you for your kind responses.
1. Check engine light stays on
2. Brake light stays on
3. No dash lights. Sometimes when the wires under the dash are jiggled, sometimes the dash lights come on, but she loses the radio, cigarette lighter, and the horn.
Any idea's? Thank you for your kind responses.
old_master
08-04-2006, 10:26 PM
Welcome to the forum!
1. Autozone and Advance Auto will scan the codes at no charge. Write them down and post them here.
2. Is the vehicle equipped with ABS? If so, again, post the codes here.
If it is not equipped with ABS, is the pedal low?
3.
a. Dash lights have their own separate fuse fed by the tail light circuit. Do the tail lights operate correctly?
b. The radio has it's own fuse, check for a loose connection in the wiring.
c. The cigarette lighter and horn MAY be on the same fuse, again, check for loose connections.
All of these items, (a, b, c) could be related IF the vehicle had an aftermarket radio/cd player installed. More often than not, when the radio is installed, poor workmanship causes these problems, start looking in that area first. If the factory radio is still in the vehicle, more than likely there are three different electrical problems. Tracking any intermittent electrical problem requires patience, common sense, electrical knowledge. A wiring schematic is an invaluable tool. Hope this helps.
1. Autozone and Advance Auto will scan the codes at no charge. Write them down and post them here.
2. Is the vehicle equipped with ABS? If so, again, post the codes here.
If it is not equipped with ABS, is the pedal low?
3.
a. Dash lights have their own separate fuse fed by the tail light circuit. Do the tail lights operate correctly?
b. The radio has it's own fuse, check for a loose connection in the wiring.
c. The cigarette lighter and horn MAY be on the same fuse, again, check for loose connections.
All of these items, (a, b, c) could be related IF the vehicle had an aftermarket radio/cd player installed. More often than not, when the radio is installed, poor workmanship causes these problems, start looking in that area first. If the factory radio is still in the vehicle, more than likely there are three different electrical problems. Tracking any intermittent electrical problem requires patience, common sense, electrical knowledge. A wiring schematic is an invaluable tool. Hope this helps.
Marine Vet
08-05-2006, 04:23 PM
Welcome to the forum!
1. Autozone and Advance Auto will scan the codes at no charge. Write them down and post them here.
2. Is the vehicle equipped with ABS? If so, again, post the codes here.
If it is not equipped with ABS, is the pedal low?
3.
a. Dash lights have their own separate fuse fed by the tail light circuit. Do the tail lights operate correctly?
b. The radio has it's own fuse, check for a loose connection in the wiring.
c. The cigarette lighter and horn MAY be on the same fuse, again, check for loose connections.
All of these items, (a, b, c) could be related IF the vehicle had an aftermarket radio/cd player installed. More often than not, when the radio is installed, poor workmanship causes these problems, start looking in that area first. If the factory radio is still in the vehicle, more than likely there are three different electrical problems. Tracking any intermittent electrical problem requires patience, common sense, electrical knowledge. A wiring schematic is an invaluable tool. Hope this helps.
Thank you for your valued horse-power on these issues old_master. Yes the Astro Van has ABS. We tried the key to get the codes but the only thing that is happening is "Service Engine Soon" light is "flashing". Yes, someone had the factory radio removed, before we bought the Van and had an aftermarket CD player installed.:banghead: The dash lights did work well at one time. They just went out by themselves.The driver side tail light is somewhat dim, comes on bright when a bump is hit, and other times goes out completely. There appears to be only "grease" holding the bulb into the socket instead of the usual twist and turn lock down for the bulb. Is there some kind of special grease I need to purchase for this bulb to seat into the socket and function properly? Hope I have explained this to your expertise.:)
1. Autozone and Advance Auto will scan the codes at no charge. Write them down and post them here.
2. Is the vehicle equipped with ABS? If so, again, post the codes here.
If it is not equipped with ABS, is the pedal low?
3.
a. Dash lights have their own separate fuse fed by the tail light circuit. Do the tail lights operate correctly?
b. The radio has it's own fuse, check for a loose connection in the wiring.
c. The cigarette lighter and horn MAY be on the same fuse, again, check for loose connections.
All of these items, (a, b, c) could be related IF the vehicle had an aftermarket radio/cd player installed. More often than not, when the radio is installed, poor workmanship causes these problems, start looking in that area first. If the factory radio is still in the vehicle, more than likely there are three different electrical problems. Tracking any intermittent electrical problem requires patience, common sense, electrical knowledge. A wiring schematic is an invaluable tool. Hope this helps.
Thank you for your valued horse-power on these issues old_master. Yes the Astro Van has ABS. We tried the key to get the codes but the only thing that is happening is "Service Engine Soon" light is "flashing". Yes, someone had the factory radio removed, before we bought the Van and had an aftermarket CD player installed.:banghead: The dash lights did work well at one time. They just went out by themselves.The driver side tail light is somewhat dim, comes on bright when a bump is hit, and other times goes out completely. There appears to be only "grease" holding the bulb into the socket instead of the usual twist and turn lock down for the bulb. Is there some kind of special grease I need to purchase for this bulb to seat into the socket and function properly? Hope I have explained this to your expertise.:)
old_master
08-05-2006, 10:22 PM
The "Service Engine Soon" light flashing is telling you what DTC's (diagnostic trouble codes) are stored in memory. DTC's on that vehicle consist of two digit codes. Write them down as they flash. There's a short pause between the first and second digit, and a longer pause between any additional codes. It will repeat the flashes so it's Kind of tricky if you haven't done it before.
Check the connections near the radio, one or more of them are probably loose.
The driver side tail light socket needs to be replaced. The ground in the socket is bad causing the light to be dim, and the bulb to be loose. Auto parts stores have replacement sockets. Make sure you solder the connections and use shrink tube to seal out moisture. Don't use crimp connectors, unless of course, you want to do the job again. ;)
Check the connections near the radio, one or more of them are probably loose.
The driver side tail light socket needs to be replaced. The ground in the socket is bad causing the light to be dim, and the bulb to be loose. Auto parts stores have replacement sockets. Make sure you solder the connections and use shrink tube to seal out moisture. Don't use crimp connectors, unless of course, you want to do the job again. ;)
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