2001 Chevy Astro van died while driving

NEW-BELLOIS

MEMBER
2001 CHEVROLET ASTRO
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
102,000 MILES

Hi, guys first all thanks for this fabulous website and keep up the good work. Few days ago while driving my van to work it sudently died on me. I had it towed to the mechanic who is also my friend. After inspecting the vehicle he determined that the coil packs was bad, so we replaced the ignition control module, the coil module and more so the wires and the spark plugs and in the process of doing that we found out that the round metal at the top of the distributor shaft was shattered and so we replaced the entire distributor shaft as well as the cap and the rotor.
Still the car didn't start, can anyone please tell me what could be preventing this van from starting?
Thanks in advance for your response

1 Reply

MATHIASO

MECHANIC
1,209 POSTS

when looking at the system in picture similar to yours, it is only the cranck position sensor that was not replace and could cause that problem .
Does the car cranck? is there any code(s)?
if yes, what is or are the codes?
if no codes, the problem may be mechanical, check all fluid, does the engine turn in full revolution?
do you have compression.
Let go back to what you said" the round metal at the top of the distributor shaft was shattered "
It was good to replace the distributor shaft, but what could cause it to shatter?
broken timing chain?
zero compression could comfirm that.
Rotate engine by hand, is the distributor shatft rotating too? if no, you have broken timing chain.
That could have happened while driving, causing the distributor shaft to shatter. there may be bend valve too.
I'm confident that your friend( mechanic) is doing his best to get your car on the road.
Check those things and let me know.