2001 Chevrolet Astro service brakes, hydraulic problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE AND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 160,000.”

“2001 CHEVY ASTRO VAN ABS SYSTEM . I HAVE REPLACED EVERY PART AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM OF THIS VAN. I THINK THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE VANS BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. *TR”

“ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT SLOW SPEEDS CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS ISSUE IS SPORADIC, AND APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN COOL OR HUMID CLIMATE CONDITIONS. *TR”

“1) NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES WOULD "PRESSURIZE" WHEN COMING TO A STOP AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE ACTIVATING. I'VE EXPERIENCED NORMAL ACTIVATION BEFORE ON ICE, SNOW, AND LOOSE GRAVEL SO I KNEW WHAT IT WAS DOING. IT BEGAN HAPPENING A LOT SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (BASIL CHEVROLET, WELLSVILLE, NY) ON 9/24/07. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS, PADS AND TOLD ME "ROAD TEST OK...ON ROAD TEST DID EXPERIENCE ANTILOCK PROBLEM. ONLY ONCE FELT - UNABLE TO VERIFY". 2) TOOK MY VAN HOME AND WAS SEEING THE PROBLEM AS MUCH IF NOT MORE SO THAN BEFORE. WAS QUITE UPSET THAT AFTER SPENDING OVER $400 DOLLARS ON THE AUTO, I STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED THAT I TOOK THE VAN IN FOR. COMPLAINED ABOUT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD BRING IT IN TO "CLEAN THE SENSORS" FOR ME BUT COULDN'T GET ME IN UNTIL "NEXT WEEK". THE VERY NEXT DAY THE PROBLEM AROSE WHILE PARKING MY VEHICLE AT WORK. I LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY AND SMASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A TRUCK. NO DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK AT ALL BUT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. SMASHED GRILL, BUMPER, HOOD, HEADLIGHT, AND POSSIBLY MORE THAT I HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED YET. GOT STOPPED BY THE LOCAL POLICE FOR THE HEADLIGHT…”

“2001 CHEVY ASTRO -- DOES NOT STOP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. JUST KEEPS "SLIDING". ONLY WAY TO FIX IS TO REMOVE THE FUSE FOR THE ABS BRAKES. IF FUSE IS IN, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERS AND GROWLS AND JUST CONTINUES TO SLIDE AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEEDS SUCH AS COMING TO A STOP OR PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES. ---VERY DANGEROUS--THANK GOD HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND REALIZED THAT TAKING THE FUSE OUT WOULD STOP THIS PROBLEM, BUT CAUSES IT SO THAT THERE IS NO ABS. *NM”

“TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS A OF COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE DRIVER DROVE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND FAILING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VAN AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VAN IN REVERSE ,AND NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL'S PLACEMENT WAS IN AN AWKWARD POSITION, IT SEEMED HIGHER THAN USUAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN A STORM AND EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH THE BRAKES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED DECEMBER 28, 2006 WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VAN DIDN'T STOP. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED HE SCHEMATICS AND NOTED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM COULD BE AFFECTED BY A FUNCTION IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND IT COULD LOCK. THE CONTACT USED A HYDRAULIC JACK, AND WHEN HE STARTED THE CAR THE WHEELS SPUN; HOWEVER WHEN HE PUT THE VAN BACK ON THE GROUND AND APPLIED THE…”