Engine shuts off after running twenty to thirty minutes

1995 CHEVROLET ASTRO
170,000 MILES • 4.3L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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DOUG STRATTON
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My van will run a good while but will shuts off after 20-30 minutes of just running on its own. When I think it's going to run just fine, I hop in, put it in drive and get about a block away then it will shut off and not start for a day or two. New pump and filter. I'm at a loss.
Jan 10, 2020 at 5:43 PM
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KASEKENNY
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When it cuts off, does it restart right away or do you have to wait a bit?

I am thinking we need to monitor fuel pressure while this happens just to make sure it is not dropping. Then I am thinking the Idle Air control valve could be your issue.

Also, this could be a PCM issue but we need to start eliminating things before we get there.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/idle-air-control-valve-service
Jan 10, 2020 at 6:37 PM
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DOUG STRATTON
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It will start right away but then hit shuts off sooner than it did the first time and it only does it twice and then it won't start for quite a while.
Jan 11, 2020 at 1:20 PM
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DOUG STRATTON
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I am right now going to try to my best to give it a fuel pressure test I wanted out I went out and rented a kit and hopefully I can get some from that. Because I got nothing.
Jan 11, 2020 at 1:21 PM
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DOUG STRATTON
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Also and not this has anything to do with what's going on for sure, but I do have a disconnected but seems to be vacuum hose coming from the transmission from top of transmission. I don't know if that's an issue or not, but it's not connected to anything. looks like it's been cut off and I have no idea where it goes.
Jan 11, 2020 at 1:21 PM
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KASEKENNY
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If by vacuum hose, you mean a rubber hose that they use for vacuum line, then more than likely this is a vent line.

I looked for any vacuum lines that may come off the transmission but didn't find any. Plus transmissions don't require any vacuum lines so I am sure it is a vent.

If you want to get a picture of it, maybe I can recognize it. Let me know what the fuel pressure is and we can go from there. Thanks
Jan 11, 2020 at 7:24 PM
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DOUG STRATTON
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I will send you a pic of that tomorrow. I didn't get to do the test because of a drained battery that is only 2 months old.
Jan 11, 2020 at 10:17 PM
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DOUG STRATTON
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I'll be back there tomorrow morning and then the battery should be fully charged. I think it has something to do with the alternator, and the fact that the van was sitting (stored) for 10 years.
Jan 11, 2020 at 10:23 PM
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KASEKENNY
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Oh my. Yes. If it has been sitting that long then we would need to start there. Let me know how you make out and we can take the next step.
Jan 13, 2020 at 2:00 PM