PSteering Brakes and Tranny all went out

[shaggymc]

Ok guys I appriciate any help


I have a 2001 Chevy Astro

So Im driving down the road.. all the sudden it won't shift up gears (3rd to 4th I think it is automatic so Im not sure) So I pull off the road and realize my power steering ain't working... then realize the brakes have little to no pressure.

When I get the car up in RPM the power steering and brakes come back a bit... but at low RPM's I have nothing.

The transmission has gotten worse and I only seem to have 1st and 2nd gear

I took it to the chevy dealer and of corse they wanted to throw away everything and get new everything (tranny, Power steering pump, master cylinder totaling about $3500) I can't believe these problems aren't realated since they all happened at once.

A buddy of mine told me about a problem he had on a buick with a vacuum line coming off and causing transmission shift problems... the mechanic at Chevy assured me this couldn't happen on the astro van.

Any thoughts or suggestions on what might have gone down, and how to fix it?


Thanks all
-Shaggy

[lportersr]

[quote=shaggymc]Ok guys I appriciate any help



Same thing happened on my 96 Astro except I did not have a transmission problem. I lost both steering and brakes at the same time. Most cars have a vacuum assist for the brake booster. The Astro has a hydraulic boost that comes from the power steering pump. My power steeering pump seized after a thump sound when I was trying to start her up. I took it to a dealer and they said I needed a new power steering pump which I authorized to replace. I immediately received a call back and the dealer said after they replaced the pump my brake pedal immediately went right to the floor. They then had to replace the power boost. This is a small cylinder just next to the master cylinder toward the middle of vehicle. All told it ran around $1300. Bad problem to have. Both Power Steering and Power Brakes run off the Power Steering pump.

[Kings-x59]

true, your booster is hydraulic. The older model astros did have the vacuum hose. $3500? Problems on these vans have a way of arriving in twos and threes. Have you checked the transmission fluid level? unless you have driven your van untold miles in the past four years, I wouldn't think the transmission would be gone already. One, find a better mechanic. Two, it may be nothing more than some worn seals or O rings in the transmission.

also, replacing a booster and master cylinder is not rocket science. On a 2001 I wouldn't think the master cylinder had crapped out. the booster maybe. first thing I'd do is replace the power steering pump. if memory serves, the hydraulic pressure for the booster is fed off the power steering pump. I think your problem is not as global as your mechanic suggests.

[Kings-x59]

true, your booster is hydraulic. The older model astros did have the vacuum hose. $3500? Checked the power steering fluid resevoir for fluid level?
Problems on these vans have a way of arriving in twos and threes, unrelated to boot. Have you checked the transmission fluid level? unless you have driven your van untold miles in the past four years, I wouldn't think the transmission would be gone already. One, find a better mechanic. Two, it may be nothing more than some worn seals or O rings in the transmission.

also, replacing a booster and master cylinder is not rocket science. On a 2001 I wouldn't think the master cylinder had crapped out. the booster maybe. first thing I'd do is replace the power steering pump. if memory serves, the hydraulic pressure for the booster is fed off the power steering pump. One simple thing comes to mind, check for power steering flued leaks.
I think your problem is not as global as your mechanic suggests.

[Kings-x59]

pardon the double post, went to edit and have no idea what I did wrong.