1998 Chevrolet Astro

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THEY CAME ON WHEN THE CONSUMER DIDN'T NEED THEM, BUT WHEN SHE NEEDED THEM THEY WOULDN'T COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO ASTROS THAT THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED. THE FIRST ONE WAS A 1995 CHEVY ASTRO VAN AND THE SECOND ONE IS A 1998 ASTRO VAN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND MOTOR TO THE WIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT GM REPLACED THE MOTOR ON THE WIPERS ON THE MODELS BEFORE THE OWNERS VAN. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE 1998 VANS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2003. THE OWNER HAS NOT HAD THIS LOOKED AT BY A TECHNICIAN. THE OWNER STATED THAT SHE USUALLY SHE PULLS OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, POPS THE HOOD AND TAPS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO GET THE WIPER TO WORK, AND MOST TIMES THIS WORKS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TALKED TO THE DEALER BUT HAS TALKED WITH GM. THE PERSON AT GM SAID THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THE OWNER JUST KEEPS TAPPING ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE OWNER IS TAKING HER VAN IN FOR RECALL WORK ON THE SIDE MIRROR TOMORROW. SHE IS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND SHOW THEM THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM THE NHTSA. *NM

COMMENTS: I READ WHERE NHTSA HAS STARTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 1998 ASTRO AWD PASASENGER VAN WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS (STARTED AT 50,000 MILES, CURRENTLY HAS 67,000 MILES. I PULLED THE FUSE SO I AT LEAST HAVE BRAKES AT SLOW SPEEDS. I NEARLY RAN INTO MY GARAGE AND AM CONCERNED BECAUASE WE LIVE NEAR RAILROAD TRACKS. HAVE ROLLED INTO INTERSECTIONS BEACAUSE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. ABS ENGAGES AT SLOW SPEED WHICH ALLOWS VEHICLE TO KEEP GOING (RENDERS TO BRAJES USELESS) THERE IS A TSB BY GM ON THIS SHOWN BELOW. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. BRAKES - ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS FILE IN SECTION: 05 - BRAKES BULLETIN NO.: 02-05-25-006A DATE: DECEMBER, 2002 TECHNICAL SUBJECT: ANTILOCK BRAKE (ABS) ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS (CLEAN WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE) MODELS: 1999-2000 CADILLAC ESCALADE 1995-1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO (OLD STYLE) 1995-2000 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, TAHOE (OLD STYLE) 1995-2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN, BLAZER, S10 1995-1999 GMC SIERRA (OLD STYLE) 1995-2000 GMC YUKON, YUKON XL (OLD STYLE) 1995-2001 GMC ENVOY, JIMMY 1995-2003 GMC SAFARI VAN, SONOMA 1995-2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO CHANGE MODEL INFORMATION. PLEASE DISCARD CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 02-05-25-006 (SECTION 05 - BRAKES). CONDITION SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS USUALLY BELOW 8 KM/H (5 MPH). UPON INVESTIGATION, THE TECHNICIAN WILL FIND NO DTCS SET. CAUSE THE CAUSE OF THIS CONDITION MAY BE AN INCREASED AIR GAP BETWEEN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THE HUB RELUCTOR RING DUE TO RUST AND DEBRIS BUILT UP ON THE SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE. CORRECTION

WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEED THE ABS WOULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REPLACED. LEFT FRONT WINDOW HANGS WHEN GOING UP. WINDOW TRACKE LUBED. PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. RER BRAKE ADJUSTED. BRAKE PEDAL KICKED UP WHEN ALMOST TO A STOP. REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS/ROTORS/ BACKING PLATES AND REMOVED SENSORS AND CLEANED RUST BUILD UP ON SENSOR AND HUB ASSEMBLIES. BOTH IDLER AMRS AND FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FRONT END PLAY. *TT

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE AT TIMES WHEN SWITCHED ON. WHEN THEY DID OPERATE, THE WIPER HIGH SPEED FUNCTION WOULD NOT WORK. THIS IS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM THAT EXISTED WITH MY 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE BLAZER WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR A FAULTY WIPER CONTROL MODULE, WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. BOTH VEHICLES USE THE SAME TYPE OF WIPER CONTROL MODULE, WHICH APPEARS TO LOSE A CONNECTION ON THE MODULE.*AK

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK....WIPERS FAILED TO WORK BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE WIPER MOTOR PULSE BOARD. VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED DURING A RAIN STORM. THIS PART WAS RECALLED ON PREVIOUS ASTRO VAN MODELS, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE 1998 MODELWITH SAME PART. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IN THE RAIN, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR CHECK UP, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 03V159000 FOR THE 1997 YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. *AK. CIRCUIT BOARD ON WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED-SAME PART AND PROBABLY W/RECALLED VEHICLES. NEW ONE COST $54.00. WHY WAS RECALL NOT EXTENDED TO ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD. *AK