Possible Vapor lock

Tiny
BK507
  • MEMBER
  • CHEVROLET ASTRO
I have a 2000 Chevie Astro Van. Yesterday, after driving in a lot of rain and having made several stops, when I tried to start the van, it would not start. It sounded like it wasn't getting any gas. I tried several times over the next 1/2 hr and no go. (It usually starts on the first try). 3 hrs later, I was brought home by a towing company. ( He thought I had a vapor lock, since it's done the same thing both times during a rainy period). An hour later, I started it and backed it into the garage. It died 7/8th of the way into the garage and I pushed it the rest of the way. I told the towing co guy about how it had done thiis same thing 7 weeks ago, which was also during while driving in heavy rain. The only difference then, was that the "service engine" light had been going on, so I replaced the throtle position sensor (TPS) which I had with me. (The parts house checked the cars computer previously and it said that was what I needed it but this was before the van stalled out). I thought the problem had been fixed, till yesterday.

The towing co. Guy noticed that there was some coolant leakage on a hose above the altenator (which was new a few months ago when I had a new fuel pump put in.)

This morning I started the van and it ran fine. I also checked the anti-freeze level in the resv. And it was down close to the bottom but still had about 2 or 3 inchs of anti-freeze in it so I filled that up. It is getting expensive being towed home and hoping you might have some idea of what my problem is. :

Hope someone can give me some ideas.

Thanks in advance,

Bob
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 AT 3:30 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
What was the code? Something is getting wet if it only happens in the rain! Vapor lock if that's what it is, and I doubt it, can be solved by keeping the gas tank full! It usually happens in hot humid weather!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 AT 5:36 PM
Tiny
BK507
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
There was no code yesterday. If I remember, the first code was 22 for the TPS. Yesterday, it took 3 hours to be brought home by the towing company and I don't have a code reader here. (It took so long for them to get me because of the holiday and the weather. Also, the check engine light never went on yesterday either.

Bob
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 AT 6:05 PM
Tiny
BK507
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
See the second half of my responce to the post just above yours 99 Astro Missing Under Load/ Low Gas Mileage.[/Quote:d442c2e57d]

Techman 4

Thanks for the information. Yesterday, I took the engine cover off and there were the ignition wires, right up against the metal frame. I wedged a piece of 1/2 inch styrafoam in between the wires and the frame of the astro. It worked fine but it will take some rain for me to see the final result. What you said seems to make a lot of sense, since both times it happened, it was or had rained.

Thanks

Bob
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, September 8th, 2007 AT 7:56 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links