96 Astro intermittently won't start

[jamboiga]

My 96 Astro (108K miles) has just begun to have an intermittent starting problem. Starter engages and cranks just fine, spark going to plugs, but will not start. It may start fine after a 5 minute wait, or even after a 2 minute wait. Then sometimes, it will not start after a half hour or an hour wait. The intermittent "no start" problem occurrs whether the engine is cold or hot. Once it starts, it runs fine, and, so far, I have not experienced the engine quitting once it starts. No faltering or hesitation of any kind when driving it. Just installed a new fuel filter thinking that old one might be clogged. No help. Just bought van a month ago, maintainance records with the van indicate a new fuel pump was installed about 8 months ago. A few hours ago, I tried to start it and it would not start. I turned off the key, then turned it back on and just "bumped" the starter quickly(for no reason in particular!). Then I tried a start again and it started right up and ran fine. I let engine warm up to normal operating temp., turned it off, then tried to start again. It started fine. I turned it off again, tried another start, and it would not start. I have only two possible ideas left--either a faulty fuel pressure regulator, or possibly a bad fuel pump relay. I would hope it would turn out to be relay-- a lot less work and expense. But I really am pretty much stumped. Any and all suggestions are very welcome.

[Droctrebor]

Unfortunately I have no suggestions for you but am experiencing the same exact symptoms. I would really like to find the cause for this as well as I am not mechanically inclined and am stumped as well. I will definately post any possible solutions I find though.

Regards,
Bob

[strunch]

when you turn your key on listen for the fuel pump. You should hear it for about two seconds. If you don't then your pump may be failing. Tapping on the bottom of the gas tank with a rubber mallet sometimes
helps jog the fuel pump into working. The fuel pump is a major issue with these vans. The only way to check if voltage is getting to the fuel pump is to remove the gas tank. Another possibility is a clogged fuel filter. My van actually stalled today and would barely idle...I replaced the fuel filter and it ran fine. I replaced the fuel pump two weeks ago and regret not also changing the filter at the same time.

[jamboiga]

Yes, I have listened for fuel pump and it is running. Replaced the filter, and it didn't seem to help. Also replaced the fuel pump relay. Strangely, yesterday the truck began starting all the time, like normal. It has not failed to start at all in 2 days. It is like a miracle, or something. Problem seems to have disappeared--for now. Anyone have any ideas now on what might have been or is wrong?? It is a real puzzler.

[strunch]

perhaps your truck is haunted? Or perhaps your fuel tank needs cleaning...maybe something was clogging the fuel line or pump and it worked its way through the system.

[bmxdad]

My buddy has a 93 astro that had the same problem and the fuel pump relay was the fix so it sounds like you had already discovered your problem and by the way the fuel pump and its related components are a nagging problem for these vans.

[jamboiga]

Sorry it took so long to post, but the starting problem with my 96 Astro has been solved. Turned out to be the fuel pump. Even though a new one had been put in 8 months before I bought the truck, it apparently was weak, or going bad. Mechanic said the fuel pressure was about 8 lbs low, causing the no-start condition. He still couldn't explain why it ran fine once it started, with no faltering, missing, or quitting. He just said that the Vortec engines needed higher pressures to start than to stay running once they have started. I am not sure if I buy that story or not, but it is working fine once again.

I have noticed all the threads talking about starting problems with Astros. Not very encouraging at all. I think that putting the fuel pumps in the tanks of cars nowadays was the dumbest thing ever done by the car manufacturers. Good for their dealers though, because they make a lot of money dropping tanks and replacing fuel pumps. I also think that fuel pumps are not engineered to be very reliable.

By the way, mechanic says that, even though they are a NAPA shop, they do not use NAPA fuel pumps on GM cars/trucks, because they have had way too many premature failures with the NAPA pumps. They now put in only the GM pumps on GM products.