Chevy & GMC Vans

Went for another test drive in the 92 Astro today and I have a few questions. First off the odometer is reading a very respectable set of numbers for it's age. I'm looking at the paperwork from when the van was purchased off a lot in August 2006 and it reads the mileage at 53K

Here is a photo of the odometer from today...


It looks as though It hasn't done much traveling in 3 years not to mention since 1992 so I'm curious, I don't know of any way the numbers could have been reset/changed do any of you?

Another thing I'm sat here thinking about is the power or lack of in regards to the engine. She starts with no problem and smoothly idles but it feels as though there is no real power like I would expect a V6 to have. Now this could be because the BMW has a straight six and is diesel but I just don't know. I need this van for towing so it's got me a little worried if it's up to the job.


It's been a while since my last ride in a Chevy but it feels sluggish to me... what say you?

It's not going to "pull" like a 6 cylinder BMW diesel.... but it should be adequate to pull that small BBQ trailer. Those are nice low mileage numbers.

AFAIK if the instrument cluster was replaced then the odometer would be at zero on the new one other then that i don't know any way to reset the digital odometers

Thanks guys I was thinking the same thing but figured I would ask. I am swayed my the low mileage and figure it has a good life span ahead as a work play and van.

The documents are plentiful in the way of MOT inspections and repairs...

Immobilizer installed- Jan 2008
New alternator-Mar 2008
LPG (Zavoli) installed-March-2008
New exhaust system-Sept-2008
Steering drag link-July-2008
Ball Joints-May 2006
Steering Idler- May 2007
Brakes= shoes, pads,2 Cylinders- Oct 2006
Battery- Feb 2008


She feels a bit heavy/ sloppy on turns, I suspect that's normal for it's age though.

that's pretty normal if the shocks are worn out and the rear leaf springs are past their best before date. It's not hard to made it feel more stable though

Cool. I'll have to see about finding some adjustable Ranchos and/or helper springs but I don't hold much faith on geting them locally. Looks like I may have to send back home for them.

AFAIK if the instrument cluster was replaced then the odometer would be at zero on the new one other then that i don't know any way to reset the digital odometers

Not so if replaced by dealer.
I purchased a used 92 Safari conversion years ago with what I thought were very low miles for the year but after driving it for some time I noticed the milage wasn't what I thought it should be for the time I had driven it. Let that situation slide a couple of times and told myself I was mistaken but after at least a year I realized when the milage reached at certain point it would reset itself back to earlier milage. Went back to the dealer in town where it was bought new and he researched their shop records and found there was a problem at some point as the milage was not what it should have been after an earlier service. We worked out a money refund and he ordered a new digital unit but I remember him saying we need to agree on what the milage should be and calculated that by an earlier service a year or so before and added around 24,000 to the new unit. So milage can be run up on a new unit and can also run backwards on an old one.lol
AFAIK if the instrument cluster was replaced then the odometer would be at zero on the new one other then that i don't know any way to reset the digital odometers

If at all possible check with the dealer or your service manual for service and corresponding milage and see if you run across any issues. In other words, if it went in at 30,000 in early 1994 and then back for service in 95 showing less or 31,000 you may have the same problem I was having.

Funny enough I did notice a error with the milage on the paprwork when the LPG was installed. The numbers are way TOO high not to be a mistake.

... that and it's not a Ford.lol

best ford i've every seen

so does that mean the mileage is at over 1 million and it reset or they just made up the number...?

Cobra wrote:best ford i've every seen

so does that mean the mileage is at over 1 million and it reset or they just made up the number...?

that just looks made up. Like the installer did the install went into the office and did the paperwork after it had left or after he lost where he wrote all the info down.

I have an '04 Sierra that had a rattle in the dashboard, so as it was still under warranty I took it into the dealer and they ended up replacing the gauge cluster with a used unit. The used cluster had 4800 less kms. on it than the original.
Peter