# 1998 Chevrolet Astro van will not start **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** astro, chevrolet\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610 "2009-06-08T22:12:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tlaxixinca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@tlaxixinca](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tlaxixinca)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/1 "2009-06-08T22:12:26Z")
Hi there I have a 1998 Chevrolet Astro van. 4.3 L. When the van is cold it will not start unless a put starting fluid in the intake. I put new plugs, rotor,fuel filter, a new fuel pressure regulator, a new temperature sensor and the van will not start. Could someone tell me what the problem may be. I’ll be grateful. My e-mail address is: [estebanv@verizon.net](mailto:estebanv@verizon.net) Thank you. Esteban ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/2 "2009-06-08T22:57:12Z")
Engines that run on priming fluid only should have their fuel pumps checked. ---
**Author:** ![budd2049](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@budd2049](https://community.cartalk.com/u/budd2049)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/3 "2009-06-08T23:09:25Z")
It would’ve been a good idea to check the fuel pressure before throwing all these parts at it. It’s still a good idea; that’ll at least give you an idea of whether the fuel pump is still up to snuff. ---
**Author:** ![tlaxixinca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@tlaxixinca](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tlaxixinca)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/4 "2009-06-09T01:24:29Z")
Once the van stars it runs fine, if it seats for two hours or more it will not start without the starting fluid in the intake. I feel that it the problem were the fuel pump it may not work for more than a few seconds (while the starting liquid burns), but once the car stars it runs fine. Anyway, how do I checked the fuel pump? Thank You. ---
**Author:** ![tlaxixinca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@tlaxixinca](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tlaxixinca)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/5 "2009-06-09T01:25:44Z")
Once the van stars it runs fine, if it seats for two hours or more it will not start without the starting fluid in the intake. I feel that if the problem were the fuel pump it may not work for more than a few seconds (while the starting liquid burns), but once the car stars it runs fine. Anyway, how do I checked the fuel pump? Thank You. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/6 "2009-06-09T21:32:45Z")
It sounds like the fuel is running back into the tank after the van sits for a while. There is supposed to be a check valve near or in the pump to keep that from happening. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/7 "2009-06-09T22:27:47Z")
These instructions should help you do the various fuel pump checks: [http://www.aa1car.com/library/fuel\_pump\_diagnose.htm](http://www.aa1car.com/library/fuel_pump_diagnose.htm) The test you would do first is the static check. This will indicate, to you, if the fuel pressure is adequate for starting. ---
**Author:** ![tlaxixinca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@tlaxixinca](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tlaxixinca)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/8 "2009-06-09T23:22:54Z")
Thank you very much, this weekend I’ll work on it, hopefully I’ll get it to start. ---
**Author:** ![tlaxixinca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@tlaxixinca](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tlaxixinca)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-chevrolet-astro-van-will-not-start/31610/9 "2009-06-09T23:23:58Z")
Thank you very much, this weekend I’ll work on it, hopefully I’ll get it to start.