1995 Chevy Astro Astro starts late, rides rough, smells, ba

1995 CHEVROLET ASTRO
76,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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SDINEEN
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1. Starting - I've already had to replace the starter as it takes a good 30 seconds to start it and burned through one (although starts GREAT in the freezing cold).
2. Mileage - FIgure I'm around 5-8mpg. IT was never great, but man.
3. Smells - Exhaust smell is prevalent, and it's a very fuel heavy smell. People complain about me. One lady said I was killing her baby as I idled next to her.
4. Rough - Idling is horrible, definitely sounds like it's gonna die any second, but actually never does, just runs crappy.
5. Kicks back - when driving sometimes it's kicking back like crazy "pop, pop, pop". Have to gun it to clear it out and get it moving.


What�s been done/checked

Massive amounts of fuel injector cleaner (over time)
Tune up replacing all wires, cap/rotor, plugs, oil
Replaced MAPP sensor
Took apart and cleaned carbon from EGR
Ran Seafoam treatment (all three ways)
Tweaked up Idle
Mar 10, 2010 at 9:49 PM
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SERVICE WRITER
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What is the fuel pressure?

The 4.3 motors had issues with sticking poppets in the fuel injection system. Sometimes refered to as an octupus or spider, the fuel injectors are not always resolved with a cleaner as it looks in your case. The regulator is part of the system and it and or the lines in the assy. tend to leak and give symptoms you have.

Are you burning oil?

Is there any blue smoke when you start it?
Mar 11, 2010 at 5:09 AM
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SDINEEN
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I am not burning oil. The car is really good on oil actually and no blue/white smoke, clear, but heavy gas fumes (smelly). Is there an easy way for me to check the full presure you can recommend (or thread you can direct me to). I think I'm competent, but ignorant. Thank you!
Mar 11, 2010 at 10:13 AM
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SDINEEN
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Thanks. Failed fuel pressure test. Looks like failed fuel pressure regulator (clean inside manifold around it). Replaced fuel return lines, spider and gasket. Runs like a champ.
Jul 1, 2010 at 8:20 AM
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