GVWR: Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb (3,175 - 3,629 kg)
Make: CHEVROLET
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Manufacturer Id: 984
Model: Express
Model Year: 1997
Other Engine Info: CPI, 90 Degrees
Plant City: Wentzville
Plant Company Name: GM Truck Corp
Plant Country: United States (USA)
Plant State: Missouri
Trim: 1/2 ton nominal
Vehicle Type: TRUCK
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
1997
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. *AK WHEEL HUB BROKE AND ROLLED UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED ALL BALL JOINTS. *YH
1997
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN DEVELOPED A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES EXTREMELY ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND ONLY PRODUCES THE RAGGED SHIFTS AFTER THE VAN HAS THOROUGHLY WARMED UP, AS WHEN ON A 2 HOUR TRIP. IT ALSO TURNS ON THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT, WITH A P1870 ERROR CODE STORED. MY CHEVROLET DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS NEEDING A NEW "VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY" IN THE TRANSMISSION. COSTS 1,000 WITH LABOR. AROUND TOWN AND SHORT TRIPS, ALL SHIFTS ARE NORMAL AND GOOD. HERE'S THE HOOKER - THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WILL NOT PASS THE VEHICLE EMISSIONS TEST, IF THERE ARE ANY ERROR CODES OR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATORS. THE VAN HAS NOW FAILED THE EMISSIONS TESTING 3 TIMES, SO IT NOW APPEARS THAT I WILL BE FORCED TO DIG UP $1,000 JUST TO PASS THE EMISSIONS TEST. OF COURSE A TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEM REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EMISSIONS, BUT GM SAW FIT TO TURN ON THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ANYWAY. *NM