# '97 Chevy Astro, 132,000 mi, 2wd auto, 6cyl, almost dying

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-astro-132-000-mi-2wd-auto-6cyl-almost-dying/47117>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 7, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-astro-132-000-mi-2wd-auto-6cyl-almost-dying/47117 "2010-04-07T18:15:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![klt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@klt](https://community.cartalk.com/u/klt)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-astro-132-000-mi-2wd-auto-6cyl-almost-dying/47117/1 "2010-04-07T18:15:13Z")

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I have owned this vehicle since new. 99% of time vehicle is great. Recently I noticed that if it was warmed up and idleing it would start to miss. Notice this mainly at stop lights. Almost died this morning. I have replaced fuel filter and done all regular maintenance on schedule. Was tuned up recently, within last 6 months. Have never replaced fuel pump. Any way to test to discover problem before it dies in traffic? Thank you.

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-astro-132-000-mi-2wd-auto-6cyl-almost-dying/47117/2 "2010-04-07T18:30:20Z")

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Put a fuel pressure gauge on it.

At some point when it is idling roughly, pop the hood and give the idle air control valve a good whack with the handle of a screwdriver. See if that does anything - if it does then the IAC may need to be cleaned or replaced.

Did the “tune up” include new plug wires? Or just plugs? Does it have a distributor? If so, how about the cap? If it had coil packs have those checked out.

Is the check engine light on?

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**Author:** ![klt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@klt](https://community.cartalk.com/u/klt)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-astro-132-000-mi-2wd-auto-6cyl-almost-dying/47117/3 "2010-04-07T18:38:44Z")

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It does have a distributor and it had a full tune up, plugs, wires, cap, PCV valve. Engine light has not come on yet but I was surprised it didn’t this morning. It felt like it was running on 4 cylinders and about to die. Never that bad before. I will have to sit in the driveway and hope it does it there. So far it has only happened at lights. I was going to replace the fuel filter tonight just in case.  
Thank you.