Chevy Astro Van Regulator?

[Ryan]

I had the engine replaced with a remanufactured engine 2200 from Discount Auto(not a rebuild) 7000 miles ago with new plug wires, fuel pump (with the little filter in the tank) and main fuel filter. I will start with first symtoms leading up until now. About six months ago the van would misfire on the interstate and "hick up" a bit at about 80mph. It was a bit annoying but wasnt a problem at that time. It then started to have a problem durring the summer after it rained on a first start. I replaced the cap and rotor, nothing changed. The symtoms would go away when the engine warmed up at this point. I bought another set of wires and a coil to check and see if it was bad wires and such, nothing. so I returned them. later it got worse, everytime I started it, the eingine would misfire like crazy until it warmed up. I replaced the plugs, samething still in happening. One of the o2 sensors was bad so I replace it. When it got to opperating tempurature and felt like it was running fine I erased the P0300 code and drove it around for a couple hours doing erronds and check the codes again. It showed no codes. The next morning I got in it, it ran like crap for a while so I check the codes and the P0300 random mutli misfire came up again. I took it to chevy and they checked the fuel pressure and it was good. I took the egr valve off and check for build up, but there was none and it seemed to open and close when I press on it. There are no other codes of any kind that show. Chevy said it may be a possible fuel pressure leaking and to check the compression. Its a remanufactured engine but I will check it this weekend anyway since it will be out of warranty in 6 months. Does anyone have any info on changing this regulator. I know its in the intake and requires some time. Is there any way to test this or see if its leaking or faulty with out hours of work. I also sprayed carb cleaner around the intake to see if there is a leak anywhere, but there was nothing. It runs like crap all the time now. It missfires so much that it is embarassing. Sometimes it will continue to missfire if I hold the gas pedle at the same depth and it will not go any faster or change to the next gear. at this point I can "floor" the gas pedle and the misfiring will decrease to nothing then it will misfire right before the gear changes to 2nd, then accelerate great through second, then begin to misfire before changing to 3rd, then accelerate fine and misfire before 4th. and of course accelerate good on until about 90mph, and at that point I am speeding and its time to slow down. I have checked all the vacuum hosed and they are in good condition. There is a small amount of oil leaking from the top of the distributer under the cap. I cleaned 2 days ago, and the drip mark is about an inch long. I have done regular maintenance. It is not over heating or anything. I am leaning toward cheing out this pressure regulator leak. Is there anything else that I should replace or check while the intake manifold is off. I would appreciate any info or advice. Also for those reading: you dont have to sign up for a an account, just type it in. Thanks, Ryan

[Ryan]

I guess alot of people dont use this forum or noone has or has had any problems with there chevy 4.3. I think I may have narrowed it down some. I tested the spart the old school way. I connected a screw to the spark plug wire and let it arc against the frame. When the the van was at idle the spark was consistant. when I reved the engine the spark would randomly miss. I have pretty much replaced everything but the distributer. I dont thinkd the van has a condenser in the cap and I dont think it has points. so.....

[Ryan]

I did votage test at all the sensors and found that they were all inthe correct range. I replace my distributer and it fixed all my problems. van runs normal now.

[char]

I had the same problem with a 97 Astro AWD. My problem turned out to be a fuel tank that had a lot of silt in it and was making the pump run very hard. Clean the tank out and replaced the pump and my codes went away.

[Char]

I had the same problem with my 97 Astro AWD. It turn out to be a fuel tank that had a lot of silt and water in it. I replaced the fuel pump while it was out and clean out the tank while it was out and the codes went away.

[Justin]

I have had this type of problem for about a week now. It is a cargo work van so i do not pay for the repairs, thank god. This year alone the bill for repairs and tows on my 99 Astro Van have topped $5,000. It is currently in the shop where the mechanic is under the impression that the catalytic converter is stopped up but I have to second guess that. It only does it in the rain and in the early mornings when there is a lot of moisture in the air. The codes from the diagnostic show a current 3 Way Catalytic Conveter Code, whatever that means, but in the history it showed a Misfire Code. The van completely died on me about 10 minutes after taking off. It only seemed to be doing it at around 25mph until I went to get on the interstate. At which time it completely died. From there I putted down the interstate shoulder at a mind blowing speed of 18mph tops. With the gas floored this was te top speed until I let off the accelerator. It would then shift gears and hit a speed of 25mph. It would not shift anymore after that. How does this lead to a catalytic converter problem? It did seem to misfire at a cruising speed of 60 to 65. I'm still waiting on the problem to be solved. Also it has about 255k on it. Thanks, sorry this was so long.

[andy]

i was wondering if you guys could help me out in something .. i'm struggling in finding the fuel pressure regulator... do you know where is it located on a 97 chevy astro van 2 wheel drive?... your help will be much appreciated .. thanks!

[Dan]

andy wrote:

i was wondering if you guys could help me out in something .. i'm struggling in finding the fuel pressure regulator... do you know where is it located on a 97 chevy astro van 2 wheel drive?... your help will be much appreciated .. thanks!

Try asking your question at this forum.

[chris]

what does the feul pressure regalater do

[chris]

i have probloms my van sometimes my 99 astro van wont start i changed the fuel pump,pressure sencer, filter,i havent changed the feul pressure regulater what do u think.

[amjr]

oil pressure switch isconnected to your fuel pump relay.if your oil pressure is low or nothing it could be that switch.

[rick]

andy wrote:

i was wondering if you guys could help me out in something .. i'm struggling in finding the fuel pressure regulator... do you know where is it located on a 97 chevy astro van 2 wheel drive?... your help will be much appreciated .. thanks!

it is located in the fuel tank its connected to the pump itself

[rick]

it is located on the fuel pump witch is in the tank

[ray ingling]

Ryan wrote:

I had the engine replaced with a remanufactured engine 2200 from Discount Auto(not a rebuild) 7000 miles ago with new plug wires, fuel pump (with the little filter in the tank) and main fuel filter. I will start with first symtoms leading up until now. About six months ago the van would misfire on the interstate and "hick up" a bit at about 80mph. It was a bit annoying but wasnt a problem at that time. It then started to have a problem durring the summer after it rained on a first start. I replaced the cap and rotor, nothing changed. The symtoms would go away when the engine warmed up at this point. I bought another set of wires and a coil to check and see if it was bad wires and such, nothing. so I returned them. later it got worse, everytime I started it, the eingine would misfire like crazy until it warmed up. I replaced the plugs, samething still in happening. One of the o2 sensors was bad so I replace it. When it got to opperating tempurature and felt like it was running fine I erased the P0300 code and drove it around for a couple hours doing erronds and check the codes again. It showed no codes. The next morning I got in it, it ran like crap for a while so I check the codes and the P0300 random mutli misfire came up again. I took it to chevy and they checked the fuel pressure and it was good. I took the egr valve off and check for build up, but there was none and it seemed to open and close when I press on it. There are no other codes of any kind that show. Chevy said it may be a possible fuel pressure leaking and to check the compression. Its a remanufactured engine but I will check it this weekend anyway since it will be out of warranty in 6 months. Does anyone have any info on changing this regulator. I know its in the intake and requires some time. Is there any way to test this or see if its leaking or faulty with out hours of work. I also sprayed carb cleaner around the intake to see if there is a leak anywhere, but there was nothing. It runs like crap all the time now. It missfires so much that it is embarassing. Sometimes it will continue to missfire if I hold the gas pedle at the same depth and it will not go any faster or change to the next gear. at this point I can "floor" the gas pedle and the misfiring will decrease to nothing then it will misfire right before the gear changes to 2nd, then accelerate great through second, then begin to misfire before changing to 3rd, then accelerate fine and misfire before 4th. and of course accelerate good on until about 90mph, and at that point I am speeding and its time to slow down. I have checked all the vacuum hosed and they are in good condition. There is a small amount of oil leaking from the top of the distributer under the cap. I cleaned 2 days ago, and the drip mark is about an inch long. I have done regular maintenance. It is not over heating or anything. I am leaning toward cheing out this pressure regulator leak. Is there anything else that I should replace or check while the intake manifold is off. I would appreciate any info or advice. Also for those reading: you dont have to sign up for a an account, just type it in. Thanks, Ryan

You didn't mention the ignition control module. I too have a 98 astro van a P0300 Code. Replaced nearly everything & still P0300, HOWEVER, you said some of your problem is when the engine is cold. Maybe during damp weather as well? After awhile I got a P1351. Usually points to the ignition control module. Our Van was having troubles starting when damp and rainy and running rough until the engine was warmed up. Replaced the ICM (located at Coil Assembly) and took care of the P1351 & startup problems. Keep in mind it did not show the P1351 till it got real bad. Thought I'd mention that just in case you did not look into the ICM. I still dealing with the P0300 and have started looking into fuel problems myself.

[mathieu]

im having a very hard time whith my astro van the engine perfect on idle but wen u give it gas it boags and will barly reach 3000 rpm. i have replaced the distibutor rotor wire and spark plugs but it still runs the same. then after i saw a cam shat position sensor in the disturbutor i have replaced it and the van ran like brand new for 20 minutes the the van came back like it was beafor. But for one ode reason i went to start it one day and i flord it and she finaly wen to full then the spedomator wen to full speed and the van gave a big backfire so do u think it the coil or the ignition control module on the side of the coil what can it be pleas reply my email is [e-mail] if u want to contact me thanks

[marlo]

after wasting days and more money than i care to discuss. I discovered the clamps on the snorkel, after the air filter housing were loose. This vacuum/air-leak caused my van to misfire, surge at idle, and stumble on the highway. Also check the seal where the plastic intake connects to your engine.

[Reina]

marlo wrote:

after wasting days and more money than i care to discuss. I discovered the clamps on the snorkel, after the air filter housing were loose. This vacuum/air-leak caused my van to misfire, surge at idle, and stumble on the highway. Also check the seal where the plastic intake connects to your engine.

I had the same misfire prob and I was wondering if you could explain the vacuum leak? What if you don't use the AC or Heater or blower.... my compressor needed to be replaced a year ago and I opted to just not use the AC so I'm wondering if a vacuum leak is even relevant.

[Daniel]

I'm having problems with starting 2000 astro 4.3 cap rotor good new brain and it keeps trying to start but just won't . Any suggestion I got fuel spark but no start please help [e-mail]

[joe]

andy wrote:

i was wondering if you guys could help me out in something .. i'm struggling in finding the fuel pressure regulator... do you know where is it located on a 97 chevy astro van 2 wheel drive?... your help will be much appreciated .. thanks!

its under the plastic cover on your intake

[need help i got]

a 1990 astro van with tbi intake have change fuel pump and clean out the tank and change fuel filter i can hear the pump run for maybe 4 seconds then you got to turn the key off and back on and i can hear the pump again. could it be a bad fuel pressure regulator if you put a little gas in the tbi it will run mabe 30 seconds then quit again.i am think it maybe a ignition control module. it misfires when the little gas is put in the tbi .i replace the coil but still no start without primeing it then it runs only 30 seconds. anbody out there that maybe can tell me whats wrong .i replace the fuel pump relay but still no start.whats next to check would like to hear whats wrong thanks