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Astrovan Won't Start (Need Help)

1K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  LexTempus 
#1 ·
Hi, everybody. I am trying to get a 2001 Chevy Astro Van to start. It was working fine until I ran out of gas in the front yard, and I put some old gas in it that may have had Water/Dirt/Old-Fuel from 2-3 years ago in it.

So, like I said, I ran out of gas in the front yard and couldn't get it to start. After I put the old fuel in it, it did start enough to get me to the gas station. But after I put more fuel from the pump in it, it stopped working all together and won't start.

Is it safe to say I need a new Fuel Filter? Or any ideas?
 
#2 ·
Always good to replace the fuel filter.

If your old fuel had water in it, it'd be a good idea to put Heet or something like it in there to soak up the water and make it sorta/kinda/possibly usable.

You probably have a little more going on, though. Did it try to start? Do you have good spark?
 
#3 ·
Get the old and new out before it gets further down the line to the injector assy. dispose of it properly and right off the cost to experience and don't do that again!! get a new filter installed AFTER tank is empty. With fresh gas should run fine again. dispose of ALL the old gas containers contents and start over with fresh fuel in ONE only as the gas goes stale so quickly these days.... (since 1966) when the government changed the octane rating and took the lead out. Good luck and don't take any short cut start fresh!!
 
#6 ·
The fuel can't be drained as there is no drain plug. It has to be pumped out. You can either remove the tank(you still have to pump it out or siphon it out even if you remove the tank) or hope the fuel pump will work for you if you remove the filter. Removing the filter and turning on the key might work but be very careful as you could spray gas in you face(bad times). In my opinion, it's unlikely the old gas did any damage to anything other than the filter or the pump. Never assume that what you did was related to why the van failed. Everything breaks and at random times. That's why you should follow the above users advice about checking fuel pressure and spark. Their advice is where everyone should start who has a problem such as yours. It's possible that your problem is not even related to fuel.
 
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