The case of the weird-acting Chevrolet van

Wheels: Candie W. writes by e-mail: “This is what has happened with my 1997 Chevy Astro van. The problem started out with the automatic transmission acting up, and it is very sluggish. It would work if I put it in second gear and shift up manually. The mechanic said he replaced something; cost me almost $300. Within a couple of weeks after getting it back, the transmission seemed to be OK. Then one day we tried to start it after church and it would not start. It would try and try but not turn over. That is when I got a bill for almost $1,400 for what I was told was a new brain box.

Within a few days, the brakes started pulsing. The van would stop OK but you could hear the brakes whining and the brakes just felt weird. After a few minutes of that, then the anti-lock brake light would come on, the brakes seemed to be OK but then the transmission would act up, then the speedometer would either stop working or the needle would fly back and forth between the fastest to 0 miles per hour.

Finally, the last thing to happen was that it would not move over a couple miles per hour and it spit and sputtered something terrible. We got it home after turning the ignition off and restarting it. The next morning, it could not be driven and had to be towed back to the mechanic.

Do you have any idea what could be wrong because I’m not sure my mechanic, who has serviced this van since day one, has a clue. He was willing to work with me on making payments for the repair work and since he is the only one that has ever serviced it, I chose him.”

Halderman: It sounds as if there is more than one fault occurring. The default position for the transmission is second gear so the vehicle would feel as if it were accelerating very slowly when accelerating from a stop. As with any problem, the best approach to take to find the root cause is to ask the technician to perform a series of tests and procedures that will help pin down the cause. The usual procedure includes the following steps:

• Step 1 — Verify the concern (This appears to be easy with the troubles you described.)

• Step 2 — Check for any stored diagnosis trouble codes. For example, if there is a wheel speed sensor code, this could cause the antilock brake system to start to release the wheel brakes, causing some of the brake-related faults you described.)

• Step 3 — Perform a thorough visual inspection. (Look for obvious faults with the brakes, engine or transmission.)

• Step 4 — Locate and repair the fault. (This is the hardest step as the electrical system, such as a bad alternator, can cause weird problems as you describe and still charge the battery. Ask the technician to check for excessive AC voltage and have the alternator replaced if over 0.5 volt is measured at the battery with the engine running and the lights on.)

• Step 5 — Verify that the problem has been corrected.

James D. Halderman is an ASE-certified master technician, a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the author of 12 textbooks. Submit your automotive care questions to Halderman via e-mail at jhalderman2@juno.com, or write him in care of: Wheels, Marketing Publications Department, Dayton Daily News, 1611 S. Main St., Dayton OH 45409.

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About the Author

James D. Halderman