What did you do to/with your van today?

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LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
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Location: New Haven, NY

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

The only thing you can do is start looking for broken wires in the door loom. And if those are good, you may just need to open the door up and clean and lube the lock mechanisms. They may be sticky due to old grease and the cold weather.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by HPbyStan »

Changed oil & filter today. 5qts of Mobil 1 10W/30 and a Wix 51036 filter.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....

safari kev
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:13 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by safari kev »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:The only thing you can do is start looking for broken wires in the door loom. And if those are good, you may just need to open the door up and clean and lube the lock mechanisms. They may be sticky due to old grease and the cold weather.
Took it to the mechanic. 160 dollars later, they work again. Apparently the wire that comes out of the power lock relay was broken, so a new one was ran. Also, my drivers power lock actuator is weak (got another one today at the junkyard and will try to replace that this weekend.)
00 safari high top explorer conversion. "shagfari" 235xxx miles on body. 242k on junkyard Jimmy motor.
94 safari hi-top explorer limited. 132k miles.
95 ASTRO choo choo conv. RIP @115K
97 safari slx "surfin' safari" 145k miles RIP
91 safari shorty Tiara conversion. RIP
86 cadillac fleetwood brougham. 67k. It thinks its a hot rod.
83 lesabre limited. 71k miles
66+68 toronados
66 Riviera

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Washed it today! It wasn't white when I started. It was brown! Wasn't too bad except for the wind and 30 degree temps!
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

97CargoCrawler
I sleep in my van
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Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:50 pm
Location: Near Los Angeles, CA
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Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by 97CargoCrawler »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Washed it today! It wasn't white when I started. It was brown! Wasn't too bad except for the wind and 30 degree temps!
I'm surprised that works! Do you need warm water? As you know, in SoCal it doesn't really get all that cold ...but one morning I had a light layer of frost on my window so I decided to wash it off with a hose. I ended up with 1/2" of ice that I then needed a chisel to get off!

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

The vehicles were still warm as it had been near 50 during the night and the air temp was still in the upper 30's. The wind chill was definitely below freezing. When they are frosted or snow/ice covered we just use the remote starts to let them warm up for 5 - 10 minutes.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

JonnyAWD
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Location: Eastpointe, USA

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by JonnyAWD »

Got alignment done :supz:
02 safari awd. 5.3l custom 4 in lift dual 3" exhaust firefighter package. 31 in tires
95 astro 4.3 sts turbo. 3in duals. Trutrac locker monster trans
88 jag
77 Porsche
00 M5

Red sled
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:25 am
Location: N Van. BC

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by Red sled »

Drove along the icy roads to pic up the new Tru-cool transmission cooler.

So nice to have a AWD Safari, almost wish it would dump a foot of snow in town so I didn't have to go up the mountains to test the G-80 and AWD.
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2002. GMC, AWD. Passenger, stock for now. (Lift received, not installed)
3.73, G-80. Tow package/hitch

JonnyAWD
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Location: Eastpointe, USA

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by JonnyAWD »

Got my jet programmer today. Works nice
02 safari awd. 5.3l custom 4 in lift dual 3" exhaust firefighter package. 31 in tires
95 astro 4.3 sts turbo. 3in duals. Trutrac locker monster trans
88 jag
77 Porsche
00 M5
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justice
I sleep in my van
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Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 4:00 pm
Location: Keeping a good eye on all you yahoos

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by justice »

new Sylvainia Silver Stars head lights isntalled.
I have a ban hammer and I ain't fraid to use it!


Current - 2004 Astro Cargo


Former
95 Safari (money pit - sold)
93 Astro Cargo (totaled)
85 Astro - (Bought for parts and scrapped)
92 Astro Conversion (sold)
87 Safari Shorty (sold)
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doyoulikeithere
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Location: Misty Mountains of Cowichan BC.

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

<Squinting into Justice's Sylavnia Super Brights =; >

I Popped a rusty brake line, above the fuel tank in my Safari GT. :(
Drove home 30 kilometers on the highway with a brand new washing machine in the van, and no brakes :yikes:
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

infinite.chris
I get chills without my van.
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Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:46 pm
Location: Holland, Ohio

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by infinite.chris »

New tires this weekend, Goodyear Wrangler SR-A's, and wow. I guesss $700 is cheap for peace of mind :)

Not going to Sears again though, they diagnosed idle arm and rear brake failure. Idle arms didn't move up/down at all, and I just had the rears done, they claimed they were locking up. I've NEVER had them lock up or squeal on me.

That place is seeming more like Jiffy lube these days :/
[SCRUFFY 95 RWD Astro Cargo :: 227k ]

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doyoulikeithere
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Location: Misty Mountains of Cowichan BC.

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

Decided to pay the garage to fix my rusted out brake line above the fuel tank.
130 bux. Coulda been worse I guess.
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
User avatar

HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by HPbyStan »

Yesterday it was so cold here my '04 Cargo AWD would barely move when I was ready to go to breakfast. I have Mobil1 10W/30 in the engine and Mobil1 synthetic in the 4L60E but hadn't even checked what was in the two differentials. I had my friends shop drain, clean, and refill them both with Ams/Oil 75w/140 synthetic. It wasn't nearly as cold this morning so I don't know how much it helped or not. Years ago Bob Huber was ice racing my 250 BSA in Wisconsin. It was so cold that even with screws in the tire it would skid across the ice when you were trying to push it with the BSA recommended GO90 in it. One Sunday it friction welded 3ed gear right to the transmissions mainshaft. I had a heck of a time even getting the transmission apart to fix it. The next week I had Ams/Oil 70/90 in the thing and while it was even colder out the rear wheel spun like summer time. That was my 1st experience with synthetic lubes and it sure was an eye opener.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....

safari kev
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:13 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by safari kev »

Replaced the door lock actuators in my front doors. I still have a broken wire in my drivers door, as it will not unlock with the power unlock/ remote. My rear hatch does not work below 35 degrees. My power drivers seat does not work anymore either.
I also discovered a rust bubble on the left rear wheel well peeking out from under the running board. I'll have that fixed (along with any other rust on that side) this spring.
Also, I had to haul an old water heater in it today, and ended up putting a 1" rip in the piece of fabric above the rear door (the normal roof height part). Looks like I have an excuse to reupholster the vans interior come spring. It was toast when I got it (had 10+ years of rips/ stains) but its not getting any better.
I already got a complete set of nice wood to put in it during the spring. Looks like I'll be overhauling the complete interior next spring (except for the seats because I replaced those last year).
00 safari high top explorer conversion. "shagfari" 235xxx miles on body. 242k on junkyard Jimmy motor.
94 safari hi-top explorer limited. 132k miles.
95 ASTRO choo choo conv. RIP @115K
97 safari slx "surfin' safari" 145k miles RIP
91 safari shorty Tiara conversion. RIP
86 cadillac fleetwood brougham. 67k. It thinks its a hot rod.
83 lesabre limited. 71k miles
66+68 toronados
66 Riviera
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