When you do a trans service you can add a drain plug in your pan. Makes future service easier. Also allows you to put some miles on the van after the service, drain it and top it off again. Since you only get about 5 quarts out on a service. Also some good videos on KZfaq about draining the trans pan with a shop vac. I love that technique. One thing we have in common is we both have money pit vans. 😂😂♥️🇺🇸

Hey man!!! Thanks for the shout out! I will be doing a 2 inch lift on mine. I have a lot of content coming up regarding the van. Stay tuned!

One trick on the fuel pump is to replace the cheap plastic hose with a rubber fuel hose and the fuel pump will last just as long or longer than a factory $300 pump

Hey Bro thanks for all your Astro videos.. help me a lot with my project. Recently I bought one and I don’t miss any video on your channel.. ✌🏽

Thanks for being transparent about Astro ownership!

If you want to see more, I do post a bit on my Instagram: instagram.com/buildsunited_/ I also started a patreon and would love your support: www.patreon.com/BuildsUnited Few issues I failed to mention: The Rear roof light does tent to leak, and you can use the same green silicone to stop that from leaking The ABS module tends to have an issue where a wire gets disconnected resulting it abnormal braking issues and locking of the brakes. You can simply pull the ABS fuse, but you'll have to re-solder that broken wire to have a functioning ABS system, or simply by a replacement.

Chris, I have a Safari 05 love it. Yes there's a number of things I to have replaced also $$$ . With that said I was thinking about that today as I admired my neighbors KIA 2017 Van. All fine and good then he mentioned he paid about $40 grand on when new. Ok! 5 yrs later it's $25 grand + now. Point is our vans can be worked on and for the difference in spending we still have a great bargain in our vans. Just saying. Keep up the good work buddy.

Loctite PL Black roof flashing urethane is perfect for leaks, it's the best I've ever researched and used. It's exactly like windshield urethane. I even replaced a rear jeep glass with it

Chris is spot on the money when he CUT an access panel to replace the fuel pump. Absolutely the way to go as the pumps on all GM 4.3 Vortecs fail constantly. It'll be a $750 repair if you drop the tank. Always pull the carpet and cut a hole. I like the way he did his with a gasket, knowing he'd be right back in their. I did three pumps on one Bravada I owned.

Good luck with the van. I love them and currently have an AWD, RWD, and an 87 Astro class C motor home project. I’m a fan of the hillbilly hole for the fuel pump change as well. I put a set of helper springs on the rear of my AWD and they work great. They were only like $50 but really stiffen it up. Got them at my local auto parts store. GO ASTRO!

Wise advice on replacing thermostats : Always test it first ! Nowadays, it't very common to buy a new auto part that is defective straight out of the box ! btw great video ! very useful info.

I have a 2002 Astro with 273k miles and it still runs good. The back door handle is a common problem as the bend in the metal rod straightens over time, allowing less leverage until the handle breaks. New door handle is only $13. The main reason I keep this van is that it’s so cheap to fix and that engine is hard to kill. Plus, I have 5 kids. If the engine goes out, I was quoted $4k to replace it.

This video was SO helpful! Thank you!! I have a 97 Astro, and I have a few of the issues you mention. I subscribed to your channel and I will definitely check out your other videos! I have never taken care of my vehicle on my own, but I want to learn all about it and be independent this time around. I am SO OVER mechanics telling me whatever they want because they know I don't know. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and being a bit of a goofball! I learned a lot and was entertained!

I have a garaged 2000 Safari AWD near mint. I just retired so now it's my daily driver. It has 86,000 miles on it.

You made a statement about 'grabbing the doohickey and attach it...' I have been told that a doohickey is apparently not a technical term, but more people seem to understand what a doohickey is, than if you were to use the proper term. Maybe the word lacks usage in the professional world, but in the real world, doohickey satisfies most people's curiosity, since most people don't want to know the technical end of what we do, about as much as we don't want to know about theirs. I like the floorboard access u made to access the fuel pump... I suspect that will also be my method of attack when my client's van's pump finally packs it in! Thank you for the video.

A 2003 Astro was the worst vehicle I've owned since the late 1980's. I had that van from 2013-2016 and it was a money pit. Among its problems were rear brakes, ABS sensor, transmission linkage and cold starting. The rear brake disks and calipers needed replacing every 6-8 months. The antilock brakes were too anti and not enough lock. After replacing the system twice I disconnected it and went back to the days before ABS. At least I knew the brakes would work when I stepped on the pedal. I had to replace the whole steering column to fix the transmission linkage. Last of all if the temperature was below 10° F I couldn'r predict if it would start in the morning. I should have stopped spending money to repair that thing after the first year of problems but I knew too many people who loved their Astro vans. It had me believing there must have been a point when I would have fixed its problems but the same problems kept resurfacing after fixing them.

I considered making a panel for my pump too. I ended up going to a byop shop to do the work but I kind of wish that I would have gone somewhere to have a access panel welded on for me. Easier to fix issues on the road that way.

Real quick tip. Did roof racks and aftermarket roof racks can have aerodynamic issues that can cause noise and vibrations. I spend an annoying amount of time chasing what I thought was a drivtrain vibration until someone told me try to take off your ladder rack and see if that's it. And it was

Great Video :O) The Access Door Over The Tank Is Brilliant Because The Engine Lasts So Long You Will Change It A Few Times During Its Life And Not Dropping The Tank Each Time Is EZ As Hell! I Only Have 60K miles On a 1995 AWD So I Will Do That While My Tank Is Out For Its First Fuel Pump Change And Paint/Undercoat The Tank While I'm At It! Plus Undercoat Or Change The Rear Break Line To Stainless Because That Is Where The Line Rots Out On all 8 Of Our Astro/Fari Vans! Would Be Nice If Someone Had A Template Exactly Where You Need To Cut The Floor For The Access Hatch!! As Bad as These Vans Are And All The Countless Problems They Have Think About New Cars And All The Junk They Put Into Them Yet ZERO Effort Or Engineering To Prevent Them For Rotting Out, 60-80 Thousand Dollar Vehicles and All Raw Steel Like Astro Fuel And Break lines! Stopping Is A Nice Feature But I Guess An Extra Camera That Records You Smashing Into A Semi-Truck That You Can See On Your Cell Phone Is Better? Cars: The Worst Investment On Planet Earth! One Guy Is Selling a Red Dodge Sprinter Like Van (Craigslist) With 60K Miles That Dodge Charged Him $12,000 To Fix But Didn't Says It Needs An Engine $8,000.00 More Dollars, Common Problem That The Engine Warps He Says! 5 Astros And 400-500K Miles Each I never Had That Problem and Not One Used A Drop Of Oil! Some Never Needed Really Anything But Regular Maintenance, Your Issues Other Than Fuel Pumps And Window Motors I Never Had. Just Keep It From Rusting Out Because That's What Killed All My Vans Living In New England! 2 Got A Wherr in The Rear Diff But Super Thick Industrial Gear Oil Helped Fix That If You Do It Fast Enough Before It Gets Warn Much More! One AWD Needed A lower Ball Joint And Oh Man That Is A Huge Job Took Me A Few Weeks Because The A Frame Needed To Be Removed And Drilled Out On A Bench So Never Let Dirt/Sand Get In Those Boots While Greasing Them, Never Had That Happen Again! GM Said It's EZ You Just Cut The Ball Joint And It Comes Right Out So I Said: So Cut The New One In Half To Put The New One In? Morons

Hope you resolve all of the issues.😞

For your year water leak on your gutter, try removing the rivets that hold it, remove the gutter, clean it, and then apply the sealant between the gutter and the body. Finally install new rivets. It worked for my 2002 Astro van.

well done you explain everything about the astro van one thing to solve you rear door gutter change the rubore and problem solved good job j

Good video, perfect touch for paid for vehicle, I bought my ‘97 Safari for $500, on C/L, no R, fix was another KZfaq channel. That was almost 10 yrs, 160k ago. Next layer deep for irritating weak spots that GM kept in production for decades, 1/ composite intake gaskets, deteriorate, send out all sorts of puzzling symptoms. 2/ weak trans, internal part, Fix involves $35 Chinese replacement, consisting of duplicate part that started with .020 thicker plate steel stock. Again GM allowed continued production, including genuine parts, of flawed design. Fix on that one, a bit more complex, but, watch a couple KZfaqS, you can tell if it’s within your personal scope. Prevent on this one, Would seem to me to not shift into D while still rolling in R. Good video, helpful. Keep doing so. RockOn!

Good job!! Very informative, especially how you got the bullseye with the darts!😀 I used 40 oil due to high mileage. Also could not get the shorter screw sparks here in Costa Rice, so had to bring em in from the States.

Beware because every part related to the power steering-hydroboost system will leak. Swapping out an old part will make an older part in the system begin to leak. If you have to replace the hydroboost I strongly suggest you get a new one, not remanufactured. And replace the all of the powersteering lines.

My Astro also have the fuel pump issue, I did it your way , is perfect for me, your video is helpful😂😂

Thanks for this channel I’ve been watching your Astro van videos for about 5 months now when I bought my 1st Astro. 03 4.3l awd. But needs work

a very good bus. I want to buy the same one, but I haven't saved up money yet... we have a price of $14,500.... Greetings from Russia!

ATS suspension, 4 you to replace your leaf springs contact Bob or ask for his son Bobby let them know you have whatever year Astro van or GMC Safari they will give you options, for example you can do a OEM replacement or, upgrade to HD leaf springs, or step it up for xhd leaf springs just depends what you're trying to do with your rig

I saw a video where the girl uses a strip of magnet, maybe 2-3 inches wide, placed over the upper edge of the back doors and that stopped the rain water from leaking in. She just sets it on the roof when not raining.

Awesome content man! Great information and delivered well. Rock that leather jacket!

Looks just like my van with that color scheme!

I have 2000 astro van have 450.000 miles same motor and trans,I never change oil I use only transmission oil in the engine I never change oil transmission runs perfect Spark plugs every 100,000 miles

Try to use flex seal for the leaks

Fix it right the first time!!

Great video and info, Thanx, I needed this !!

Thanks

Thanks for the tips with Astro issues. I have one and have had some of those same issues. You mentioned that your AC didn't work which could be a number of things. But you should say what it is as I have one $10 tip that could solve your problem if it's that. Message back and I'll let you know which one I'm referring to.

Just found your chanel, totally like your chill vibe! _ Might want think about getting a spare ' Ignition' module' if you haven't done so already? From experience- If the stock part gets a lot of prolonged 'air moisture' or hard rain conditions _ they forget how do thier job' ie 'no start' till the connections, or the internals dry out' ' they dont seal so good after many years. So maybe having a spare' _ Stock'$30 ish' _ Accell 35462#(super hero power)$60 _ might be easier then sitting under the hood with a blow dryer ?_ just trying to be being helpful, stay safe' 🇺🇸👍✌

I have low oil pressure at tickler for the last 50k miles. The engine is still going strong so I've no idea whats wrong . I had the pressure measured and the gauge is correct

you’re a great help man thank you

Thanks for sharing!

Great info! Thank you!

The two gram type looking bars that bolt on the front from under the front bumper and go back about a foot and a half and bolt up just under the front of the motor… I was told they are called carrier arms or front drain rails. I want to change them . My buddy says it’s a big deal and they’re expensive and it’s a large job and it looked to me like it was just a couple of metal bars about a foot and a half each that would bolt on and it wouldn’t be a big deal, even if it does hold up the truck, I could put a jack under the bumper and change the bars one at a time. This is new to me, so I’m not sure if I am describing the right part name but if you know what I mean, any help would be much appreciated.

97 astro van transmission quit pulling clean fluid no burn smell had driven van 100 miles w no problems?

do you know anything about ABS brake lights mine came on and i got a hard brake peddle

Oil cap came off my astro van 98...and now it leaks antifreeze and the whole dash shakes when started but leaves when driven sir...whats my problem???

Replace the door seals.. they shrink over time and don't seal good anymore. And it only takes like an hour,, As they have little plastic push clips to hold it in...

All this makes me wonder "Why do I own an Astro"?

I think the biggest issue not mentioned in this video is that astros are a death trap if you crash. The HTSA videos are a wild sight.

disney adds? congratulation. the side door rollers, yes go to a junk yard to get a replacement the fuel pump/module, fix it correctly the first time. i had a repair shop drop the tank, clean the tank, replace the pump module and fuel filter. the gas mileage is great. if you only paid $500.00 bucks for it, then ok. thanks for the vid.

I have alot these problems also

I’m getting either 2003 or 2001 Astro

I cut a hole in the floor but I wish I would have dropped the tank.

I have Airbags on the rear of my Astro... 0 Sag

Thanks man, I think I still want one 03-05 awd

Mine wont take gasoline

Flextape

I’m a Irish American settler and the southern accent combined with the Irish accent it’s pretty cool to me though it’s rare where I live no Irish lots round here say Mostly Florida maybe Charlotte network but not many in South Carolina North Carolina

Engine is know to last how many miles?

What year is this Astro ?

even the name brand pumps are junk last one lasted 5 tanks only they could have done better

Nice vdo

Bro mines at 270k and it didn’t sound as bad as ur start up 😭😭😭

30 thousand miles are ya talking oil that should be changed every 3000 miles

Don't ever do a video on how to paint your van.

Great clip.