When the ignition key turns, you expect your Chevy Astro to hum into life, eager for the road. But what happens when this trusty beast of a vehicle begins to stutter or refuses to start? The culprit could be hiding within its heart, pointing towards Chevy Astro ignition coil problems.
A malfunctioning ignition coil can transform your smooth ride into a stuttering nightmare, leaving you stranded at the most inconvenient times. Therefore, understanding these problems is crucial for every Chevy Astro owner out there.
Whether you’re an experienced mechanic seeking to understand this persistent issue or a frustrated owner searching for solutions, we’ve got you covered with comprehensive insights and expert advice.
Related car: Chevy Aveo Ignition Coil Problems
Chevy Astro Ignition Coil Problems
Ignition coil issues often slyly announce themselves through increased fuel consumption or a sudden drop in engine performance, surprising characteristics coming from a powerful beast like Chevy Astro. Let’s see what issues are most commonly troubling Chevy Astro owners.
The vehicle Doesn’t Start in Wet Condition
Numerous 1999 Astro Van owners reported their vehicles failed to start, usually during rainy weather or after washing, despite changing various parts. Primarily, the issue lies in the two main ignition cables that connect to the coil. Once you’ve taken off the engine cover and started the engine, these wires need to be jostled about. These wires need to be replaced.
The air conditioning hose is situated on top of these wires and over time, their internal structure breaks down due to constant vibration. Detach the primary connector from your ignition coil. Remember that one wire connects to the Ignition module while the other extends into the wiring harness. Also, keep track of which wire connects where.
Trim off 2 inches from the end of the wire leading to the ignition module – make sure you leave 2 inches attached to work with later on. Track down where this second wire leads into your wiring harness and open it up about 5-6 inches so you can access and cut this second coil lead, again ensuring that you leave 2 inches of wire.
After detaching your primary coil connector, use a small screwdriver (like those used by jewelers) to free up terminal locks on this connector and pull out these wires from it. Open up these terminals to remove old wires.
You’ll need high heat-resistant wiring for this task; slide one rubber seal onto this new wire, then solder roughly 12 inches of this new wire onto a terminal. Bend back your terminal lockout before sliding it back into its original place within your connector – ensure it’s securely locked in place. Push your rubber seal into its spot within your connector, then repeat all steps with your other cable.
Remove the insulation from the wire ends and then reattach them to the car’s wiring harness and ignition module using solder. Next, immerse the soldered wires in a silicone solution. Fill a crimp cap connector with silicone, then use it to secure and cover your spliced connections.
It’s crucial to ensure that all splices are sealed tightly against water penetration. Apply silicone to the wires leading into the coil connector as well. Arrange all your wires neatly. Once these steps are completed, you can confidently start using your vehicle once more, enjoying its reliable performance.
No Spark
Numerous Chevy Astro owners have reported encountering a ‘no spark’ issue. Despite attempts to resolve the problem, including replacing the entire distributor, ignition coil, ignition module control, and crank sensor, the issue persists. The only time a spark is observed is when the ignition key is turned on; it sparks once but fails to do so during cranking.
If the check engine light illuminates when the key is in the on position, or if there’s a ground signal trigger on the ignition coil, you need to perform a test. Connect the alligator clips of a test light to the battery’s positive terminal and touch the signal wire of the coil with its tip. If there’s a signal, this should cause the test light to flash while you’re turning over the engine.
However, if your setup aligns with this instruction, and you’ve correctly identified and connected to the right wire, yet your ignition coil isn’t being triggered to fire, it suggests a problem. Despite receiving all necessary inputs, your ignition module isn’t firing up as it should, indicating that it might be defective.
In cases where everything seems correct except for an input from your computer into your ignition module not triggering the firing of your ign coil, it’s time to examine what’s going into your computer. This implies inspecting wiring systems for any discrepancies.
By referring to an ignition coil wiring diagram, you’ll observe that this faulty ignition module controls its firing. The signals from both cam and crank sensors are critical here.
You should then proceed with checking for a square wave pulse from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) at the White wire on the Ignition Module. If there’s no pulse present, ensure that the check engine light is functioning properly along with PCM data.
The next step involves checking the power supply and ground connection at the crank sensor, along with its toggling signal during the cranking process. In the absence of any signal output from the sensor, remove it for tone ring inspection and also check the grounding of the signal wire.
Lastly, if good square wave output is received from the crank sensor at PCM but still no sign of any signals indicates the issue lies within the sensor wire itself.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Chevy Astro Ignition Coil Issues
If you’re experiencing issues with your Chevy Astro ignition coil, here’s a step-by-step process to troubleshoot and fix them.
Firstly, ensure your car is in a safe and suitable location for work. Gather all the necessary tools, which may include a wrench, spark plug gap tool, as well as replacement parts if needed. Also, be sure to disconnect the battery before proceeding.
Next, visually inspect the ignition coil for any physical damage such as wear or corrosion. If it looks in decent shape, use a multimeter to test its electrical signals.
Now comes the troubleshooting stage, where you’ll check if there’s voltage coming from each terminal of the Chevy Astro ignition coil. If one side isn’t producing voltage adequately, then that could indicate an issue.
If you find any defects during these checks, replace the faulty part promptly. Keep in mind not to force parts out when replacing them; rather take your time getting them properly installed.
Final Words
Chevy Astro ignition coil problems can turn into a disheartening nightmare. Misfires become the order of business, resulting in poor fuel economy, reduced power, and subpar acceleration abilities.
Even worse? If you continue to ignore these Chevy Astro ignition coil problems – it could inevitably lead to costly repairs or full-on engine failure, turning your dependable reliable ride into a literal roadblock.
Note that understanding these symptoms early and making necessary replacements promptly helps prolong the life of other components in your vehicle’s system, too. Hence, don’t forget to pay heed to what your Chevy Astro tells you.
