what to look for in an AWD

[patgizz]

with baby coming in april, i am attempting to save some money to buy another late 90's van. something in the $1500-2000 range, which around here can get me a really nice 120-140k mile van on a good day. sometimes they even dip to $1000. the 96 4x4 3/4 ton project is almost complete, and admittedly it is cool as hell, but i never intended to drive it daily, with the carbed v8, lift, heavy springs, etc... it was meant to be an exercise in assembling something out of all the crap i had laying around and turning it into a cool toy that could go in the woods to get firewood or tow the boat up the ramp out of lake erie.

this begs the question though. what do i look for in a used AWD? i am not looking specifically for 2wd or awd, but i want to be armed with knowledge on problem points of the awd system should i come across the right van. i already know about astros in general, but all 4 that i have owned have been or at least started life as 2wd.

[mdmead]

with baby coming in april, i am attempting to save some money to buy another late 90's van. something in the $1500-2000 range, which around here can get me a really nice 120-140k mile van on a good day. sometimes they even dip to $1000. the 96 4x4 3/4 ton project is almost complete, and admittedly it is cool as hell, but i never intended to drive it daily, with the carbed v8, lift, heavy springs, etc... it was meant to be an exercise in assembling something out of all the crap i had laying around and turning it into a cool toy that could go in the woods to get firewood or tow the boat up the ramp out of lake erie.

this begs the question though. what do i look for in a used AWD? i am not looking specifically for 2wd or awd, but i want to be armed with knowledge on problem points of the awd system should i come across the right van. i already know about astros in general, but all 4 that i have owned have been or at least started life as 2wd.

Up to '98, there aren't really any concerns with the AWD system. Lower miles the better. I'd just make sure to take the van on a slippery surface to ensure it works. Visual inspections for a leaking t-case and front diff. Check the fluid level and consistency.

On the newer electronic t-cases, make sure the ATC fuse isn't blown. Again, take it somewhere slippery and check its function.

Personally, I'm a bigger fan of the viscous AWD system vs. the newer electronic unit. They seem to require lesss repair, probably due to the fact they don't have any pesky electrical parts to deal with!

[MountainManJoe]

The electronic AWD (99+) gets you better fuel economy.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I don't know about that...my 98 and 2003 AWD's got the same mileage with the same gears and stock tires running the same roads.

[mdmead]

The electronic AWD (99+) gets you better fuel economy.

I don't have any experience with that, but my '96 Hi-Top routinely got 18-20 mpg. I think the sticker showed 21 mpg highway when I bought it and I hit that on one trip in Nevada cruising at 75 mph.

[MountainManJoe]

How can that be? The pre-99s are driving the front wheels all of the time.

[Meterpig]

It seems both version drive the front wheels and the e version simply connects the two at various times.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Meterpig is correct. The front end axle components ALWAYS turn in an AWD Astro or Safari. There is no axle disconnect and that is why there is no difference in mileage between the 2 different AWD systems provided all other factors are the same.

[patgizz]

my uncle gave me an 02 s10 transfer case the other day, that might come in handy if i do pick one up, eh?

i like to be able to select 4lo when not on pavement or gravel.

[MountainManJoe]

I guess you're right. Even though NV136 doesn't directly drive the front axle on dry pavement, the motor still pushes the front wheels along road thereby rotating all that mass.

BUT, the older Borg Warner 4472s are filled with that viscous material and perhaps that would rob some of the power.

[mdmead]

I'm not sure what the difference is between older (96-98) and newer vans... doesn't appear to be anything on paper (excluding the t-case on later AWDs)... but it seems the later vans just don't get as good as mileage. And I don't just mean AWDs. It seems the 2wds suffer as well. I have nothing scientific, but just in reading mileage results posted on this site. My guess is... assuming I'm even right... is that it is due to different computer calibrations. (And it seems some of the older vans do even better on mileage than my favorite years. But there are engine and transmission differences on those models.)

[Meterpig]

I wonder if the newer vans get worse mileage for the same reason as many engine that don't change design over the years-emissions.

Motors nowadays are lightweight and snazzy to deal with emissions requirement (run on less fuel).

My 5000lb dodge truck with giant tires, full time locked front monster axle and crappily tuned motor gets 15. To get 15 with the van, I have to work at it even with FI and full ECU.

[patgizz]

well, no AWD for me. will just have to get my monster 4x4 done.

we went pretend car shopping online as we have kinda been waiting for the right deal to fall into our laps for the wife to get a nice newer car(her 02 cavalier has 140k miles and is kinda beat up). we found a listing that looked great, went to take a look at it, and came home with a 2005 buick rendezvous with 60k miles, so there's the new baby hauler. and my sister gets the cavalier which is leaps and bounds better than her 97 lumina that i bought as a $200 wreck a few years ago.

works out in the end, the payments are next to nothing, 0 down, and i can concentrate on the big astro.

[Ozarker]

Hmmm, I'm looking at an 04 with 1074XX on it. I have been seeing those 20 mpg figures, does this mean an 04 won't get near that? What should I expect.....as if I have not asked this question elsewhere...what do you guys think? And, electronic gizzmos, are they a problem?

Thanks!

[LiftedAWDAstro]

To get 20 mpg in an AWD is hard to do in the area I am at which is central New York. If you live in a relatively flat area I see no reason why you couldn't get 20 mpg. As far as electronic gizmos...the M/L vans are pretty reliable in that area. They didn't come with all the new fancy electronics like reverse sensors, navigation, rain sensing wipers, auto dimming mirrors etc. No need to worry about them.