Chevy & GMC Vans

Couldn't find a topic to post about an issue I am having with Safari van. Wanna see if someone knows what to do or send me in the right direction.

SS

It would help if you gave us a hint about your issue.

Depends what the issue is, so just ask it here...and if we need to move it into a more suitable forum then we will.

Thanks. Kept looking for some topic similar to other forums, but nothing caught my eye.
Having vibration problems with the Safari. NO CHECK ENGINE light. Just a in park, or stopped. Started like all of a sudden shortly after install of new belt. AC on or off makes no difference. Had alternator checked a while back to just see how it was holding up and they said it was getting weak and probably should changed out.
The van is a '93 with 136,000+ miles on it. Just wanted some ideas before I started replacing plugs, wires, egr, vaccuum lines etc.

Thanks again,
SS

Since the belt was just replaced, that might be a clue. Was a new tensioner installed? I'd start by checking the new belt for defects and if the tensioner wasn't replaced, I'd replace it. (Having one fail can leave you stranded - mine failed long before 100K miles.) Hopefully you have the old belt as a spare, (tensioner too if it was replaced), and you could try swapping one or both back.

Never ever heard of replacing tensioner at the same time, But I will. I will also reinstall the old belt to see if it is the belt. Thanks

SS

Could be motor mounts. When the rubber fails, they will transmit vibration and it will be most noticable when idling in gear. My 1993 "W" motored van had this issue and it would rattle everything on the dash at red lights.

rlsllc wrote:Could be motor mounts. When the rubber fails, they will transmit vibration and it will be most noticable when idling in gear. My 1993 "W" motored van had this issue and it would rattle everything on the dash at red lights.

Oh great. Was gonna ask about how to pull the tensioner off and saw this post. Y'all please standby cause I am gonna need some help with that one I am sure.
I put the old belt back on and still a similar vibration. I wouldn't of thought a Gates belt would be bad. But I know it can happen. Looked at the tensioner and not sure even with the manual how to replace it. Is the tensioner that gets replaced the actual portion that the belt rides on? Or is it the cast aluminum part it is attached to that has load and an arrow in it?

Thanks


'93 Safari
'06 Taurus SEL
'99 Yamaha Road Star Silverado (81,000 miles she ain't no trailer sissy)
'08 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe (20,000 miles)
'63 Lone Star Skipper 16ft aluminum v hull with a '61 40 HP Evinrude
CMA and PGR
USAF '69-'73

I think if I was in this circumstance I'd chill a bit. If the spring in the tensioner was bad, the belt would be slipping. If the pulley was wobbling the vibration would be small and the belt would probably squeek. Unless the belt has an unbelievably huge malformed section in it, it is not going to produce a vibration you could feel. Problems in older vans have a way of manifesting in twos and threes. My gut is saying you have an idle problem. first place I'd look is at the EGR valve, to make sure there isn't a chunk of carbon that has stuck the pintle.

speedy wrote:Or is it the cast aluminum part it is attached to that has load and an arrow in it?

You got it.

Tensioner= 1 bolt, really easy. It is do-able but sucks with the shroud on the van, but is cake with the top section of the shroud (7 or 8 10mm bolts) removed. I pull the shroud for almost every front-of-the-van under hood repair. It takes less than 10 minutes and saves me tons of swearing.

Edit: I agree with Kings-X post, check that stuff out before changing any other parts. Always try to diagnose (sp??) before changing parts.

Roy makes a good point on the worn motor mounts. Slide under the van and check them out. At one point my Safari motor mounts were worn so bad that the upper part was riding on the frame. The vibration was terrible. I replaced them with aftermarket mounts and it was a bit better but the aftermarket rubber was so stiff there was still a noticable vibration. Soon after that I replaced them with factory mounts and the vibration was gone.

+1 for motor mounts.

Thanks for the help. I am climbing under there before it heats up outside.
Thanks again, SS