She goes by the nick Phil my bride gave her because of the escapade my son and I went through to bring her home. My oldest works for a towing company so he got me a deal on a flatbed to go get the '93. $500 for the truck and fuel out to Lancaster PA and back to Danbury CT. Seeing as it was going to be a daytime run he got the new truck not generally used unless they are overwhelmed with calls or they want to make a showing like at the Porsche dealership. A few weeks ago they got new GPS systems, fancy stuff that deals with dispatch and call management, which is cool, but this one had not been set-up for the truck yet and all the avoidances were set for default values. Toll roads, parkways, underpasses less than 14',,,, we found ourselves driving through downtown Philadelphia. Not fun on potholed one-way streets that were originally built for the width of two horses butts. That's how she came to be known as Phil.
Phil is now registered, passed emissions w/ a new gas cap. I did an oil change and air filter beforehand. The truck sat more than drove, does the puff of smoke at startup and the oil smelled like fuel. I used a qt. of Lucas, a stop leak they sell for oil, a qt. of Duralube and topped off w/ 5w30.
The trans needed fluid, topped that with the Lucas trans medic stuff till I can get to a proper flush and filter.
CT doesn't do a safety inspection any more but I changed the wipers, found the washer hose needs repair and the headlights need to be aligned. All the other lights are working and the rubber is good.
Lots of little things need be done. The FSM came in today all I need now is the weather to co-operate and a little time to get started.
A full tune up, plugs, wires, cap and rotor. I'm a little up in the air as to whether I'll try any aftermarket performance parts like the MSD ignition or not but the bare minimum will be AC Delco.
The stereo is relatively new but needs to be wired properly. (Confused speakers)
The steering is a touch loose. I'll give the box an adjustment and see what happens, having a spare van it won't be a big deal if it goes south and I need to wait for parts.
The steering column is loose, the four bolts at the bottom of the tilt and the part the gearshift rotates with are flaky., not bad but they won't improve on their own. I've been in there on an S10 so I'll manage. I've got a new 14" 3 spoke wheel to go on so that can't wait.
The oil cooler lines leak so those need replacement.
Hey CM, I'm hoping you would be so kind as to post up info for HPTuners, which software, where to find the cable any notes you may have made sure would be helpful.
In the hotrodding the 4.3 thread someone posted a riser for the throttle body and a "shim" for the jets, any idea where to find these goodies?
I think the EGR is sticking because the SES come on on the highway and shuts off at restart I'll try blocking the EGR on this one and see if it throws a code. If it does I'll do like my '97, clean screen and any other goodies that run to the intake get capped at the intake and vented down and out.
With luck I'll be able to afford paint this year, we'll see what the summer brings. Things like the visors are old and stiff to move, bits of interior that need attention but it's all there plus a little more that Scott picked up and gave me in the deal, to say the least I'm very happy with the deal we made. Scott was aces and I hope the cash makes parting with this gem a little easier.
I'm sure I'll find more as she's an old girl but she's mine.
Did I mention cup holders??? They stink but I have some ideas,,,, Stay tuned.
Timing adjustment and TBI spacer are going to be your cheapest easiest power gains. Here is where mine is at. Take the doghouse off and brake torque it and adjust to where it runs the best. Then drive it a little. If it goes into limp home mode just back it off a hair.
Thanks Randy, I appreciate all. The timing adjustment you speak of is just the dizzy clamp, no?
Raz, the cup holder is simple. I saw one here for the gen 1 van not too long ago. I'll use piece of 3/4" oak cut to fit the profile of the stock shelf, holes drilled where the cup holders are now with a tray cut-out in the center. All very similar to what is there now.
Can't say what if anything I'll do for a console, I'm going to run without for awhile and see how it goes.
Yea just the dizzy clamp. Night and day difference there.
If your going to use the stock cup holders. Just save time and throw your drink upside down on the floor. Usually ends up on the mat and in the footwell. Floor consoles are where it at. I got the Big Bubba coffee cup. I can do anything it hasn't spilled yet.
Nice ride Scott, Detroit is trying, the camaro and mustang both have caught my attention, I wonder if they won't at some point in time replicate the astro,,,
Leann, CT gave up the saftey a long time ago, they still make you get a temporary plate, take the emissions and pass or fail you go back for the hard plate, if you fail the emmisions you have 60 days to make repairs and retest. :shrug: Why bother with the temp?
No code, I haven't had the chance to try to read it. I'll need to learn how yet. Got a link somewhere?
I wonder what the imagineers were thinking when they designed those cupholders anyway? wait a minute,,, first astro came out in '85 right? let's see, 4 or more years college, puts them about my age,,, we had some good weed back then.
Thanks Leeann,
I was searching as your post popped up, I found several old links some good some not so, but I found this linked in a thread, so I copied and paste here if anyone searches they'll find all the info in one place, not just a broken link. It jives with the one you gave plus has the definitions.
With the engine off and the ignition key turned to the 'Run' position insert a paper clip or small jumper wire into terminal's A and B - the top two furthest to the right.
The check engine light will start to blink. The first code will be 12 - one flash of the check engine light followed by a short pause and then two quicker flashes of the check engine light. How do we know you'll have this code? All vehicle's with a working Check Engine Light will have this code! It is a diagnostic test to make sure the light is working. If there is no blinking light - the light does not work.
All codes will be shown 3 times in a row before the next code (if there are any) will appear. How do you know when all the codes have been shown? Code 12 will be shown again. The codes will keep cycling until the "jumper" is removed from the A+B terminals.
If you have not retrieved codes this way before do not become embarrassed if the flashing Check Engine Light leaves you a little mixed up - it's kind of like Morse Code but in a much easier way. If you get confused you can re-start the whole process by removing and then re-installing the jumper. You'll catch on within a few minutes of doing this.
3) What do the codes stand for?
Trouble Code
SYSTEM
Indicating
12
Diagnostic Checking for operation of CEL bulb
13 Oxygen Sensor Circuit No signal to computer
14 Coolant Sensor Circuit Excessive HIGH temperature indicated
15 Coolant Sensor Circuit Excessive Low temperature indicated
16 VSS - Vehicle Speed Sensor Signal Loss
21 TPS - Throttle Position Switch High Signal Voltage
22 TPS Low Signal Voltage
24 VSS Set when in motion only - disregard if set in park
32 EGR EGR system failure
33 MAP - manifold absolute pressure sensor MAP sensor voltage high
34 MAP MAP sensor voltage low
35 IAC - Idle Air Control Motor Idle speed above/below desired idle speed
36 Idle Speed Control Actuator Open or Short Circuit
42 Ignition Control open/short/component failure
43 ESC - electronic spark control ESC module not receiving knock sensor signal
44 Lean Exhaust Low oxygen sensor voltage
45 Rich Exhaust High oxygen sensor voltage
51 PROM (Memcal) Faulty computer chip
53 System voltage high Carging System is over 17.1 volts
54 Fuel pump relay Low voltage / short
55 ECM Computer (ECM) failure
The Following only apply to 1994 +
28 Transmission range pressure open in one of these pressure switches
37 Brake Switch brake switch stuck ON
38 Brake Switch Brake Switch stuck OFF
39 Torque Converter TC clutch solenoid stuck OFF
52 System Voltage High ignition feed voltage over 16 volts
I'm certain phil has posi or limited slip but the compnine does not show G80. When I put her on ramps for the oil change I thought it odd there were 2 ruts from the rears in my gravel drive. Today leaving the house on the road I laid into the gas and left 2 long ruts behind. (dirt road) Still not quite beleiving my good fortune a little later I hit it on dry pavement. Yup, two strips. On the asphalt I could hear both tires grabbing so tell me did I miss somethine on the compnine sheet? What are the codes that I would look for in the glovebox?
Here is the compnine.
Vehicle: VAN SAFARI
Year: 1993
Build Date: 1993-06-03
Found 52,970 vehicles matching that year and model in our database.
RPO Description Matches
UM6 RADIO,AM/FM STEREO,CASSETTE,ETR,CLOCK (EXPORT,CANADA) STEREO CASSETTE & CLOCK(UM6)(EXPORT,CANADA) 31,137
UQ1 RADIO,PROVISIONS FOR STEREO STEREO RDO PR0VISIONS(UQ1) 50,868
UY7 TRAILER WIRING,7 WIRE,2 LEAD FRONT HARNESS,5 LEAD REAR HARNESS 7 WIRE TRLR HARN(UY7) 5,103
U73 ANTENNA,FIXED FIXED ANT(U73) 52,015
VE6 STRIP,FRONT AND REAR BUMPER IMPACT(COLOR) PAINTED BPR IMP STR(VE6) 13,636
VP6 NOISE LEVEL CONTROL NOISE LVL CONT(VP6)(EXPORT) 10,354
VR4 TRAILER HITCH(WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM) EQLZR HITCH(VR4) 5,103
VXS VEHICLE - COMPLETE 46,425
V08 COOLING SYSTEM,HEAVY DUTY HVY DUTY CLG(V08) 6,167
V73 VEHICLE STATEMENT - US/CANADA US/CANADA VEHICLE STATEMENT(V73) 51,741
XCF Unknown 2,293
YCF Unknown 2,293
YD3 AXLE FRONT (BASE EQUIP) FOR SCHEDULING GVW PLATE FRT AXLE(YD3) 52,970
YD5 SPRING,FRONT(BASE EQUIPMENT) FRT SPRING(YD5) 52,970
YD6 SPRING,REAR(BASE EQUIPMENT) RR SPRING(YD6) 50,210
ZJ7 WHEEL,HUB CAP AND TRIM RING(SPECIAL) RALLY WHL(ZJ7) 32,113
ZL7 Unknown 725
ZP8 SEATING ARRANGEMENT,EIGHT PASSENGER SEATING ARRANGEMENT(ZP8) 32,285
ZQ2 DRIVER CONVENIENCE PACKAGE DRVR CONVENIENCE PKG(ZQ2) 40,068
ZQ3 DRIVER CONVENIENCE PACKAGE II(MERCHANDISING OPTION) DRVR CONVENIENCE PKG(ZQ3) 47,911
ZW6 GLASS PACKAGE,COMPLETE BODY GLASS PKG(ZW6) 42,222
ZY1 COLOR COMBINATION SOLID SOLID PAINT COMBO(ZY1) 34,574
Z82 TRAILERING PACKAGE(SPECIAL)(REESE TYPE HITCH) PROVISION FOR HD TRAILER EQUIP(Z82) 5,103
Z88 GMC TRUCK G M C(Z88) 52,970
1SB PACKAGE-OPTION 02 (1SB) 12,343
1SZ PACKAGE OPTION- (1SZ) 46,448
57P WHEEL COLOR,LIGHT BEECHWOOD (57P) 3,900
6PT COMPONENT FRT LH COMPTR SEL SUSP(6PT) SUSP(6PT) 28,184
64G TRIM COMBINATION CLOTH, LT BEIGE (G) (92) (64G) 5,399
64I INTERIOR TRIM,LIGHT BEIGE (64I) 6,760
7PT COMPONENT FRT RH COMPTR SEL SUSP(7PT) SUSP(7PT) 28,184
76U EXTERIOR COLOR,PRIMARY,DARK GARNET RED METALLIC (76U) 4,032
AJ1 GLASS,DEEP TINT(REAR SIDE WINDOWS AND REAR DOOR WINDOW) DEEP TINTED GLS(AJ1) 39,395
AJ3 RESTRAINT SYSTEM,FRONT SEAT INFLATABLE DRIVER SI INFL RST SYS(AJ3) 1,973
AQ4 SEAT,REAR CAPTAINS BKT R/SEAT(AQ4) 40,277
AU3 LOCK,SIDE DOOR,ELECTRIC(EXPORT,CANADA) ELEC S/D LK(AU3)(EXPORT,CANADA) 44,257
AV5 FRONT HIGH BACK BUCKET SEAT FRT HIGH BACK BKT ST(AV5) 46,483
AXP VIN IDENT POSITION, MULTI- PURPOSE VEHICLE MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE VIN POSITION(AXP) 42,089
A07 WINDOW,BODY GLASS BODY GLS(A07) 42,222
A08 WINDOW,BODY GLASS,RH SIDE RH BODY GLS(A08) 42,242
A31 WINDOW,ELECTRIC OPERATED,SIDE ELEC SI WDO(A31) 40,068
A78 ADJUSTER,FRT ST BK MAN RECLINING,PASSENGER AND DRIVER MAN RECL ST BACK ADJR(A78) 38,584
BAL PLANT CODE BALTIMORE, MD, GM T&B BALTIMORE,MD PLANT CODE(BAL) 52,970
B37 COVERING,FLOOR MATS,FRONT AND REAR AUXILIARY FRT/RR AUX FLR MATS(B37) 31,152
B88 ORNAMENTATION,EXTERIOR,BODY SIDE MOLDING(EXPORT) CUSTOM BODY SI MLDG(B88)(EXPORT) 30,212
C49 DEFOGGER,REAR WINDOW,ELECTRIC ELEC RR WDO DEFG(C49) 11,790
C60 AIR CONDITIONER,FRONT,MANUAL CONTROLS A/C MAN CONT(C60) 51,091
DA3 GVW RATING(5700 LBS) 5700 GVWR(DA3) 9,306
D44 MIRROR,OUTSIDE,BELOW EYELINE(PAINTED)(9.5 X 6) O/S PAINTED MIR(D44) 23,512
E54 REAR DOOR,W/LIFT GATE LIFT GATE(E54) 15,443
GT4 AXLE,REAR,3.73 RATIO 3.73R(GT4) 5,243
JM4 BRAKE SYSTEM,POWER FRONT DISC,REAR DRUM,ANTI-LOCK(CAST IRON) ANTILOCK DISC/DRUM BRK(JM4) 52,970
K34 CRUISE CONTROL,AUTOMATIC,ELECTRONIC CRCONT(K34) 47,911
K60 GENERATOR,100 AMPERE 100 AMP(K60) 38,494
LB4 ENGINE,(4.3L),V6 90 DEG GAS TBI, DIRECT SALES ONLY 4.3 (LB4) 34,169
MX0 TRANSMISSION,AUTOMATIC,OVERDRIVE(MERCHANDISING OPTION) A/TRANS PROVISIONS(MX0) 52,970
M30 TRANSMISSION,AUTOMATIC 4 SPEED,4L60E,ELECTRONIC 4-SPD A/TRANS(M30) 52,970
NA5 EMISSION SYSTEM,FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FEDERAL EMIS(NA5) 42,572
N33 STEERING COLUMN,TILT TYPE TILT STRG COL(N33) 47,911
QCF TIRE ALL P205/75R15/N RWL R/PE ST TL ALS TIRE(QCF) 2,293
R6K CONTROL - SALES ITEM NO. 11 658
R9S CONTROL - SALES ITEM NO. 93 15,090
SLM SALES PROCESSING - STOCK ORDERS 31,490
TFE SALES INCENTIVE - COMMITMENT PLUS 22,775
TL1 GRILLE,SPECIAL(EXPORT) SPECIAL GRL(TL1)(EXPORT) 30,331
I didn't see the Posi in your code, but it's a 20 year old van, who knows what a PO could have done. Or like CM's van, the factory could have slipped it in there w/o marking it down. But if you do have it, score!
It must still have the good composite rear springs instead of the tin ones if a G80 can spin both rear wheels without wheel hopping the thing to death.
Yes, it does have the fiberglass springs and both front and rear seem very fresh, I don't think the van has ever really been loaded or ridden hard. As for the wheel hop there still is a dusting of sand on the roads from the snow last week, not so much to see but if you you're on a bike you'll know it's there!
Scott said he bought it in '98 and kept up on the maintance. The last few years he put very little mileage on it yet those wheels have zero rust on them. He kept it parked outside and we all have seen what happens to chrome wheels if you don't wipe them weekly.
I didn't think I missed anything when I read that list but what do I know? I was thinking there may be a different number in the RPO codes in the glove box, something other than G80? :shrug: is "RPO" the right term?
I dunno, another item on the mystery list. I'll have the differential open this summer to change the oil so I'll find out for sure then.
I may be forced to as the site I used seems to be down. For years I used a small site with no advertisment supported by donation. Could be his pickings got slim and walked away. I sent him an email out of curiosity but I expect he's closed up shop.
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