1990 Astro starting problem?

[artnheart]

Hi to All! I am new and know nutin, here's my story... While driving all of a sudden my Astro starting back firing, then lose power, pumped the gas and hit and miss power and kept going. Then huge back firing and a bunch of it. It did stall and restarted. I managed to get her home and it would not start again... Dead dead! Did the charge on her and changed the one fuel filter under van. I was told there is two of them? The second one at the gas tank area and hard to get to. Now she trns over and it is strong, Almost now and again will sound like she will make it and actuually turn over and dose not. Pleas help me, If possiable tell me the most simple and cheap things to look at first. I have gotten giped on the deal... Seller put stop leak in the transmission, So only driving her 48 miles after sale the transmission was kaput! I have had to fix near everything.... So much $$$$ into her,nd I still love her! Blessings Karen

[Motegi]

Fuel Pump.... 75% probability... drop the tank (pray it's on 1/8th of a tank or less otherwise it gets heavy...) it's a pain, but straight forward, it's on top (but inside) the tank, get the strainer too, should cost about $50 all together, dealerships will charge about $400+ goodluck...

[JLS1]

Before you drop the tank, make sure your electrical system is up to snuff. My experience with fuel pumps is they work or they don't. There is no half-way. Backfiring and misses would make me suspect a bad cap, rotor button, and/or wires. hope this helps. Jessy

[Motegi]

>>Before you drop the tank, make sure your electrical system is up to snuff. My experience with fuel pumps is they work or they don't. There is no half-way. Backfiring and misses would make me suspect a bad cap, rotor button, and/or wires. hope this helps. Jessy

That could be true also, but generally speaking, in the 5 astro's I've had, even fouled, beyond nasty plugs, cap & rotor condition, they've always seemed to find a way to start up & run well, but my last astro ('93) the day the fuel pump died out finally, wow! it was running horribly! it did back fire a couple of times, no get up, jerk! jerk! jerk! putter! putter! jerk! putter! go... and finally when I pulled into a parking spot, no start! if you can, have someone else turn the key while you sniff around the engine to smell any fuel or the exhaust pipe, if you don't, more than likely that's you're problem, (fuel pump). Thus far in my owning the Astro's I've had, the most common problems have been: fuel pump, vaccuum leaks in the heater directional output (vent, heat, or the default defrost), low & medium speeds of the heater fan, power door lock/window wires broken inside the jacketing at door-jams, door handles (I think I've replaced a door handle on every van I've owned), water pumps leaking, slop in the sterring columns, and transmissions. (ouy vey!!!) otherwise, minor things hear & there, but still pretty solid. a lot more reliable than other vans, and at least I'm getting familiar with their quirks. good luck!

[shroom]

yep motegi, i have replaced the darn same things, got kids break the handles alll the time, well i agree, cap and rotor first, mine is set 180 out and it still starts, as for the tank, one side has short bolts, found that out the hard way, and ya pump and new sock if you replace it, as for fuel filter, my 90 has only one, watch your OIL PRESSURE, those 4.3 are notorious for going out, and any oil leaks of any kind fix it now, crank case oil seal in the front is a good one, right now i have a crank bearing to replace. good luck...also if you get shaking when you put the brakes on or pulsing on the brake pad when pressing down, 2 things, warped rotors or an idler arm, have replace both in mine, not all astro's have two, but my 90 does, i have the enine vin Z it was suppose to go into sonoma's and blazerss, but it wound up in astro's, so sometimes when you get parts they will be too small, not many just a few

[handykap]

Can you smell gas when you turn it over? I have a similar problem, but I don't think it's the fuel pump because I can smell gas. But when it's cold outside and the engine is cold (like NOW!) the engine cranks fine but won't turn over. I don't think it's moisture in the line, but it could be.
I've got the 1990 Astro 4.3l with fuel injection. Any ideas?