2005 Astro AWD test drive question
- Thread starter fritz
- Start date
labbe66
Observer
My Astro feels pretty smooth most of the time. There is some binding feel when I am trying to turn really tight on pavement. Sort of like the AWD clutch isn't releasing as much as it should. I also have a check engine light that indicates there is transmission slippage so that could be some of it.
Give us more description of the feel, what speed, turning or not, accelerating or braking, etc.
Give us more description of the feel, what speed, turning or not, accelerating or braking, etc.
fritz
Traveler
At any speed- faster it was louder. Didn't notice anything (feel or pulling) in the steering wheel or any problems or strange feel with braking or accelerating.
Did check the operation of the overdrive button on the shift lever and did not feel it downshift. No tachometer so couldn't definitively tell if it was shifting in and out of overdrive or not.
I sounded and felt (in the feet) just like it had very aggressive tread tires on it- but they weren't.
labbe66
Observer
There are a lot of things that could be. You might want to have it checked by a mechanic. At the very least you should try to jack up the front wheels and inspect some things. It could be:
- Wheel bearings (shake the wheel top and bottom)
- CV joints (slowly rotate wheel and listen for grinding noise)
- Tire imbalance (hard to diagose by hand but it will shake the steering wheel at speed)
- Lots of other things that could be more complex...
Again, I don't know how mechanical you are but sometimes an inspection by an independant mechanic is great fodder for negotiating down a buyer if you know what is wrong.
- Wheel bearings (shake the wheel top and bottom)
- CV joints (slowly rotate wheel and listen for grinding noise)
- Tire imbalance (hard to diagose by hand but it will shake the steering wheel at speed)
- Lots of other things that could be more complex...
Again, I don't know how mechanical you are but sometimes an inspection by an independant mechanic is great fodder for negotiating down a buyer if you know what is wrong.
fritz
Traveler
Thanks for the input Mike. If I pursue this further I will ask them to put it on the lift so I can check it out. I am just wondering if this sound is "normal" for the AWD Astro as I have never driven one before.
Hey labbe66. My friends sister had the same issue on her van. Although it was worse than yours sounds. Just an fyi. I frogot the exact years of the awd astro but there is a TSB for flushing of the tcase to help with a shudder during slow tight turns. Ie parking. Figured itd be good info for the op aswell. When I drove it it felt like the whole driveline was binding. Flushed the tcase twice and she said problem is gone. You gotta use the special blue gm tcase fluid aswell.
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T.Low
Expedition Leader
Sounds like a good answer, Nely.
Otherwise, it's a question for http://astrosafarivans.org/bb2/search.php?search_id=active_topics
Otherwise, it's a question for http://astrosafarivans.org/bb2/search.php?search_id=active_topics
ihatemybike
Explorer
That does sound out of the ordinary. My first thing would be to check the fluid in the front diff, they often go neglected. Also, the front diff's axle shaft seals might be getting close to end of service life. Check for leaks near inboard CV joint.