Multipurpose project

[6door74]

And it begins.......went to start the van this morning so I can move it aaaannddd....no start.

It cranks but won't turn over. Tried a little starter fluid and still no go. Fuel pump sounds like it's kicking on and i swapped the relay just to see but still nothing. Good thing I didn't order the lift kit last night. Looks like that money will be going elsewhere for now. I don't have time to do much diagnosing today so I'll read up on other threads to see other people with similar issues in the meantime.

[sixsix]

I can only help by saying:

Diagnostics is easier when all parties know the Subject Matter / Object in Question / Model and Year.
Thought of putting a little more than " AWD " in your signature?

If not - Okey-Dokey



Mike

[6door74]

I forgot to update that when I got the van. However I figured since my post was in this build thread, those details are already known. As for the subject matter/issue at hand, I figured my post kinda laid it out though admittedly slim on details.

As I mentioned, I didn't have time to do much diagnosing today. Once i have the time to do that, I'll update this build thread with what I found, did, fixed, broke, can't figure out, etc. I wasn't necessarily posing a question looking for answers just yet. However I'm always open to other people's comments on what they may know based on their own personal experience with this van specifically or just suggestions based general mechanical knowledge. By similar issues others have had i just meant no start. I would read different threads about that issue to see how people diagnosed and fixed it or if there is a known common issue. On another forum I went to when my other car wouldn't start, I was able to find out about a known issue with a fuel pump module.

I'm hoping this wet dreary day is just causing some moisture affecting the ignition. Here's to wishful thinking!

[sixsix]

Well, I guess there are SOME people that will go back to the first page and read thru it.

But ... if I were asking for help... however ... had I only known ...

... drive by ... damn ...



Mike

good luck getting UNK started

[6door74]

Surely if i can read 30 pages and multiple threads on doing a lift you can look back 1 page, right? I wouldn't dare ask a question that was answered on post #156 of 589 (I just made those numbers up of course)

Jokes aside, I did update my signature so that those details are more readily available. Thanks for the suggestion because I did forget.

[sixsix]

Surely if i can read 30 pages and multiple threads on doing a lift you can look back 1 page, right? ...

Haha



Mike

[6door74]

On another note, thanks to the heavy rain yesterday, I see my wet headliner is more widespread than I thought. It's running up and down both sides. That's part of why i wanted to move it from where it was this morning. Looking at the windshield as others have recommended, I see I do have gaps on both sides. Would water run backwards and wet the headliner if the car is just sitting as opposed to if I was driving in the rain?

Both corners of windshield

[Leeann_93]

It depends how it's sitting. My '02 never leaked really badly at the windshield if the nose was up, but if the nose was down and it was pouring, you got to see Niagara Falls. If it was up too much, there would be a few damp spots well back from the windshield. Water is amazingly annoying - it'll follow just a little line and make you think your leak is here when in fact it's well away from there.

Took 4 guys, baby powder and a hose - and an hour - to find the roof leak at our office. The damn water ran 25' along a rib until it found just a little cut spot - barely enough to feel with a finger - where it decided to drip and pour onto the drop ceiling. The roofers blamed the HVAC guys, the HVAC guys blamed the roofers....the HVAC guys won the fight.

[Wiley]

On another note, thanks to the heavy rain yesterday, I see my wet headliner is more widespread than I thought. It's running up and down both sides. That's part of why i wanted to move it from where it was this morning. Looking at the windshield as others have recommended, I see I do have gaps on both sides. Would water run backwards and wet the headliner if the car is just sitting as opposed to if I was driving in the rain?

20191202_130154-picsay.jpeg

Get that headliner down and see what is going on. My windshield was cracked and leaking, I went to get it replaced thinking nothing of it, but the whole top was rust!! You need to address it ASAP. They guys replacing my windshield "addressed" it, but in hindsight I wish I had gone in myself and seen what was really going on, as they probably just slapped some paint on it and called it good. I had to jam a bunch of black roofing sealant up there after they replaced the windshield to stop the leaking which was so bad. I am sure it is still rusting away, but do not want to deal with the sealant so am turning a blind eye. I will follow up with a pic they sent me on my phone....its dark but there was a lot of rust, so you really should take a look, or have someone take a look. And while I think you should take the headliner down and see what is going on, I will note that there is no visible damage on the roof with mine down. The rust can only be seen behind that black rubber seal you posted a pic of.....but you don't know where your issue is, so I think it's worth taking it down.

[AstroWill]

Definitely take a look, rust doesn't just stop it will just keep getting worse. I have seen them leak at the front windshield, pretty common, also have seen the back side windows leak as well.

[sixsix]

... I did update my signature so that those details are more readily available. Thanks for the suggestion because I did forget.

The INFO or signature data I was referring to is located:

- in the USER MENU ( over to the right, at the top )
- select 'User Control Panel'
- under the 'Profile' tab.
- then 'Edit profile'
- toward the bottom is:

Van Model Year:
Select the model year of your van.

Van Make/Model:
Select the Make & Model of your van.

Extra Info:
Space for Stuff about your Stuff


You already added items there - so should come as a big surprise that there is more room for more important data that we all clamor to look for... falling all over each other.

... but I digress



Mike

[AstroWill]

Took 4 guys, baby powder and a hose - and an hour - to find the roof leak at our office. The damn water ran 25' along a rib until it found just a little cut spot - barely enough to feel with a finger - where it decided to drip and pour onto the drop ceiling. The roofers blamed the HVAC guys, the HVAC guys blamed the roofers....the HVAC guys won the fight.

Yep, water is a PITA. I would trust an experienced HVAC guy approximately 10000% over any roofer that I have ever met.

[6door74]

On another note, thanks to the heavy rain yesterday, I see my wet headliner is more widespread than I thought. It's running up and down both sides. That's part of why i wanted to move it from where it was this morning. Looking at the windshield as others have recommended, I see I do have gaps on both sides. Would water run backwards and wet the headliner if the car is just sitting as opposed to if I was driving in the rain?

20191202_130154-picsay.jpeg

Get that headliner down and see what is going on. My windshield was cracked and leaking, I went to get it replaced thinking nothing of it, but the whole top was rust!! You need to address it ASAP. They guys replacing my windshield "addressed" it, but in hindsight I wish I had gone in myself and seen what was really going on, as they probably just slapped some paint on it and called it good. I had to jam a bunch of black roofing sealant up there after they replaced the windshield to stop the leaking which was so bad. I am sure it is still rusting away, but do not want to deal with the sealant so am turning a blind eye. I will follow up with a pic they sent me on my phone....its dark but there was a lot of rust, so you really should take a look, or have someone take a look. And while I think you should take the headliner down and see what is going on, I will note that there is no visible damage on the roof with mine down. The rust can only be seen behind that black rubber seal you posted a pic of.....but you don't know where your issue is, so I think it's worth taking it down.

Looking to do that now. Can't find any threads, videos, or pics of removing the headliner though. Only thing I found on youtube is of a gen 1 astro van. I've been known to tear up trim so I want to know the exact places to unfasten and unscrew before I just start pulling on a spot thinking it just needs a little tug

[6door74]

by the way, went to start it up today after it's been dry and sunny. What do you know, started right up. Guess the moisture was affecting the ignition system. I was going to replace the components anyway so that's a relief. At the moment I'm trying to hunt down this leak. The molding along the windshield is basically doing nothing along the sides and in the corner. I don't know if it's the cause but it's obviously something that needs to be addressed.

[6door74]

Since I haven't figured out the headliner yet, i decided to check the roof. The roof rack is a silicone mess so it seems the previous owner was trying to solve this leak problem. As you'll see in the pics, the whole roof rack was a mess! It had to have been changed, removed, repaired, or something. Mismatch bolts and silicone in the bolt holes which was a pain in the ***.

Passenger side

These were on the driver's side

Hodgepodge of bolts

I ended up sanding the area around the holes and covering them plus putting silicone for now. I'm going to find something to plug the holes and maybe my leak issue will be solved. I'll worry about a roof rack later. Might even go ahead and get some bedliner paint now and just hit the roof with it.

[sixsix]

Forgot and been meaning to ask...
- did you or do you own - that '74 with the (2) rear disappearing/sliding doors?
Manual or electric?

Huge car! One of the longest ever produced.



Mike

[6door74]

Forgot and been meaning to ask...
- did you or do you own - that '74 with the (2) rear disappearing/sliding doors?
Manual or electric?

Huge car! One of the longest ever produced.



Mike

Still got her.....

1974 Pontiac Catalina stretched by Armbruster Stageway and used as funeral home family car. I've had it since 2009

[sixsix]

Wow - cool car there. Great shape / condition seems, too.

Not at all what I was thinking, but unique just the same.
Thanks for the Pics!



Mike

[scorean]

Holy cow, that thing's awesome!

[ericstg]

Super cool!