need help and advice 97 awd ls

[1iwilly]

hello to all new to the forum
i just bought a 97 awd ls can any one tell me what is the most common problems if any.?? also been that i live in florida can i disconnect the front driveshaft to save fuel or does it make any different. my check engine light just cam on saying code for mass airflow sensor voltage is high
since the light came on i'm burning more fuel at idle or does these van burn burn at idle.??? thanks

[Blue Bowtie]

Welcome Aboard!

Aside from regular scheduled maintenance (adhere to the factory schedule) there are not a lot of nuisance problems with these vehicles.

Changing the transfer case oil to synthetic EP oil is important to prevent engagement shudder found on many of these vans whose maintenance has been neglected.

The hard nylon vacuum tubing/hoses on the engine tend to become brittle with age and should be replaced. A common symptom of this is lack of HVAC controls.

The idlers arms on Astro/Safari vans tend to wear quickly if not lubricated regularly. The heavy weight of the vehicle places a lot of stress on the steering, and the idler is often the first item to exhibit wear and create a sloppy or soft steering feel.

Repair whatever is causing the MAF error. It could be an electrical connection, vacuum problem (EGR or PCV), dirty MAF sensor, intake duct leaks, or any number of other problems related to the MAF. The MAF itself may not be the problem, and simply replacing a $300 sensor without diagnosis is a waste of time and money.

[1iwilly]

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

Welcome Aboard!

Aside from regular scheduled maintenance (adhere to the factory schedule) there are not a lot of nuisance problems with these vehicles.

Changing the transfer case oil to synthetic EP oil is important to prevent engagement shudder found on many of these vans whose maintenance has been neglected.

The idlers arms on Astro/Safari vans tend to wear quickly if not lubricated regularly. The heavy weight of the vehicle places a lot of stress on the steering, and the idler is often the first item to exhibit wear and create a sloppy or soft steering feel. .

ok thanks i was told about the idle arm issues. also what oil exactly do i need for transfer case and how much.??? i already fix the mass it was bad got a use one for $40.00 runs fine now.if i disconnect the fron drive shaft for the summer would it help my gas miliage???

thanks for the reply

[Blue Bowtie]

You can't remove the front driveshaft without leaking transfer case oil.

It wouldn't help mileage much anyway, since the additional rotating mass of the driveshaft is negligible. The front differential is still being pulled along and spun by the vehicle motion. The transfer case is disengaged by the AWD most of the time.

The transfer case on your '97 is probably a Borg-Warner, and not the NPG 136 type. The shudder problems experienced on teh later transfer cases may not apply to your vehicle.