Questions and Answers

Chevy Astro Van DOA Q. I have a 1988 Chevy Astro van 4.3 vortex, 68,000 miles, automatic all power, rack and pinion. Really a great running van. Never had any problems at all except every now and then while in park running there is a regular miss every few seconds, not constant, but once in a while knocks off at traffic lights. Well the other night while riding around, van running great, stopped and turned around in a driveway and it knocked off.

Would not crank back. Tried to jump, no luck. Will not do anything like no power to the van at all. The battery has plenty of fire. Might get a small dim light around the section of service soon or oil and water but nothing else. Everything is still completely dead. Pulled cover off engine but all looks as fine as always. Well, had to pull it home, no lights or nothing.

Can you please tell me what could be wrong with my baby. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Kenny

A. First thing is to check the connections at the battery! Take off both cables and polish them real good. If still no start, follow those cables to where they go. Clean the ground at the radiator support and engine block. Also the positive cable at the starter. If that still won't help you may have a bad connection at the ignition switch or a bad ignition switch. Also check the fusible links. They are wires running off the starter or a junction block behind the battery.