Retire a van that needs too much work? WWGRMD?

My Astro van has a major power steering leak and a whole host of other annoying problems. Took it to a shop for an estimate. They called me when the estimate started going above $3k. The van isn't worth that much. Trying to decide the best course of action

I have my S2000 as a DD for 2/3 of the year. I would rather not drive it in the winter here, not because I think the car couldn't handle it, but because I'd rather not abuse it with all the salt that gets thrown on the roads here. Although no reason I couldn't get a good chassis coating and a set of snow tires.

Obvious answer is to replace the Astro with another winter beater/light workhorse. Some sort of wagon, hatch back, or mini van. Although I have not raced for a while and will very likely sell my bike in the spring since I just don't ride that much anymore, so a full size van or truck with towing capacity probably isn't necessary. So I'm thinking Subaru, Mazda6 wagon, or Honda Element. Something I can put a plastic bed liner in and shove two kegs in the back.

Thoughts?

As for maintenance the car needs: break booster, multiple power steering hoses, most of the cooling system, intake gasket is leaking, plugs and wires, tires and brakes, and the ball joints are starting to go. That's just more than I really feel like tackling, and I could replace the whole vehicle for what it would cost to pay someone to do the work for me. Not to mention all the annoying quality-of-life things like the power locks not working properly, soiled carpet from hauling kegs, and driver's door handle breaking free of the door.

Sounds like a bunch of cheap parts ordered from RockAuto.com and a few weekend's worth of work with some buddies with beer at the end.

Also are you sure its the booster and not the master cylinder or just the vacuum hose for the booster?

Take that money you saved and put it towards a V8 swap, dropped spindles, air bags, lowering shackles, a nice set of wheels and tires. Shampoo the carpet, lube the power door locks and enjoy it a bit longer. Astro's are pretty decent rigs and share a lot with S10's so they aren't bad to maintain and upgrade for reasonable money, but you do need to perform the work and not let it pile up like you have.

Sell it to a GRM Challenger for pittance!

In reply to Stefan (Not Bruce):

Took it to a professional shop. Their rundown says "POWER STEERING LEAK; booster on both hoses". I have a shop manual, and it looks like that's a fairly involved job, especially in something with an engine bay that is difficult to work on like the Astro.

I just retired a van. It had 415000 miles on it and needed $5k in repairs. Intake gaskets and rear axle rebuild being the most expensive. It was replaced with a $5K truck with 120K miles on it.

I don't miss the van.

At some point, it's time to move them on down the road. Sometimes the financial reasons are secondary.

Oh, and after selling the van for $1500, the truck was even cheaper.

GRM challenge with theme of "van or Astrovan"

Another factor for the decision: We're closing on selling a parcel of land my family owns. I'm going to clear over $100k on that. $5k for a decent car wouldn't be a huge pain out of all that.

This is what worries me about the typical full-size dog-box van. They are a royal pain to work on. When something as minor as a power steering leak or brake master cylinder determine if you'll keep an otherwise trusty vehicle around, it tells me that those types of job are a such an issue that it may be worth looking else-where.

I still go back and forth between a Suburban, Montero, or AWD AstroSafari, and it's things like these that make the Suburban (despite trans issues) look more appealing.

In reply to PHeller:

Yeah. In theory, the Astro is a great vehicle that ticks all the right boxes. In practice, everything is shoehorned in waaaay to tight, and why the berkeley does an '03 have so many berkeleying vacuum lines?!?

I'm watching a video on what it would take to replace the booster. I'm picturing the cursing and frustrated tears if I try to do this job myself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YELeC2xG20Y

Kinda why I like the idea of a Transit Connect or Fiat, er Dodge ProMaster. They are vans with underhoods like cars.

Or the Nissan NV2500, that is a modern panel-truck.

In reply to PHeller:

I really liked the ProMaster City, but I couldn't get past the 9 speed automatic. I know of two in fleet service. I'll be keeping a eye on them to see how they hold up.

Craigslist or grmer and move on. You're not all that interested in it for a project and don't really need/want it. Someone else can throw their time, cash and energy at it.

It's not all wheel drive is it?

That has a hydroboost brake booster in it, doesn't it? So the power steering leaks and bad booster could all be the same issue?

I'd start with a good pressure washing of that portion of the underhood and see just how big a project four hoses and the booster really are.

Wall-e wrote: It's not all wheel drive is it?

if AWD and you want a grm'er to get it, i'm looking for an awd astro driveline donor for a top secret project.

Replacing that booster and associated lines is miserable. Deepened my hatred for hydroboost and vans at the same time.

Perfect time to sell it here for next year's minivan class at the challenge.

My astrosafari has a huge power steering leak too, but I can't see from where. Tempted to throw a bottle of stop leak into it and cross my fingers...

bgkast wrote: My astrosafari has a huge power steering leak too, but I can't see from where. Tempted to throw a bottle of MOLOTOV COCKTAIL into it and cross my fingers...

FTFY

-J0N

Van is AWD.

Booster is hydroboost. There is a bunch of crap around it. A bit of exploration showed that fluid is leaking out from where the booster mates with the master cylinder. So, internal leak somewhere, not a hose or pipe fitting with a bad O-ring.

Van also needs a new intake manifold gasket. This will require taking apart interior stuff to open the engine access panel. No idea how much more work past that. This is the cause of my coolant leak.

patgizz wrote: i'm looking for an awd astro driveline donor for a top secret project.

Top secret, eh? Tell us lots more about it.

None of this sounds good.

It's a shame too because there really aren't any easy to work on, cheap, easily available AWD vans that can be lifted.

If you are not needing the space and utility of the van and you personal time is short, sell it. Might as well get it in the hands of someone has the expertise to fix it (or will use the parts for top secret projects).

Then get a generic Accord (since they made in Marysville, I am speculating they abundant in Columbus) or midsize GM FWD cruiser for winter salt duties.

Set it free, one mans trash is another mans treasure.

I figure I have the expertise to fix it. I'm just more daunted by the time and frustration to do this job (some tasks are less fun than others). I'm guessing I'm looking at 4-6hours for the brake booster and 10-20hours for the gasket. That's at least three days worth of work for a car that I'm not particularly emotionally attached to.

I've like having the functionality of a decently sized AWD van.