Edmunds Answers questions

How to put bearings in rear end on a GMC Savana? Is there a book on it?

mojo2009 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:22:05 GMT

I have a 1998 GMC Savanna conversion van 1500 5.7 liter 99567 miles and a 373 rear end. When driving down the road I recently noticed a howling noise coming from the rear end. when taken to the shop the repair man said I need the rear end rebuilt. After asking around I found out that if it shifts and drives fine the bearings in the rear end may be bad. My question to you is how hard is it to change the bearings in the rear end and what is the proper procedure to go about it (is there a book on it). I was told that if i drain the oil and find no metal shavings the differential is ok. is this true?

1997 GMC Savana 3500 box van Were is the fuse for the fuel pump?

slim13 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:55:17 GMT

I've been told there is an inline fuse for the fuel pump but I can't find it. The relay checks out ok and there is voltage at the relay but there is no voltage at the fuel pump.

I have a 2004 GMC Savana. What is the "hump" behind the passenger seat?

ffrrggyy — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:47:23 GMT

I bought this vehicle new and believe I used to just slide bags in behind the drivers seat. I also used to have passengers on the bench behind the front passenger seat who could put their feet flat on the floor. Last summer when trying to slide something in I noticed an elevation on the floor behind the passenger seat. It seems to have gotten higher. I took it to the dealer I bought it at (no longer in business) and to a Goodyear place when getting tires. Both acknowledged the bump and claim they have never seen something like that before. From underneath they say it is above the catalytic converter but there is no bump up that they can see from there.

Yesterday I took it to a different dealer for an oil change as an excuse to see what their service would be like. They tell me it belongs there. Then how come I didn't notice it when I got it? Do all of them really have this hump and I was completely oblivious to it until recently or am I just being blown off?

GMC Savana makes a strange sound upon acceleration?

ffrrggyy — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:56:34 GMT

I have a 2004 Savana. Since I got it it makes a strange sound SOMETIMES upon acceleration or when changing lanes/turning. It usually only happens when I've been driving for awhile. It sort of sounds like a train whistle way off in the distance or someone gently tapping their horn. I will be changing lanes (with my turn signal on) and hear this noise. It causes me to do a double take thinking I might be cutting in front of someone I didn't see. But in fact there is no one there.

The problem is it is totally random when it occurs. I cannot create the sound on demand. I took it back to the dealer a few times and of course they couldn't create the sound and therefore couldn't identify it to fix it. Once a mechanic rode with me long enough to hear the sound but then couldn't figure anything out. Obviously it hasn't stopped me from driving it but it is frustrating and I worry that one day I might react to this sound inappropriately if I interpret it to be a warning horn sound.

Anybody have any ideas or suggestions? Thank you.

How often are brake fluid and power steering fluid flushes necessary on GMC Express/Savana vehicles?

manllo — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:51:16 GMT

vehicle is a schoolbus (Express/Savana 2003) with 45,000 miles and serviced quarterly. There is no apparent problem with either brakes or steering and scheduled flushes are not in the manuals.

How do I remove the spare tire from under GMC Savana 2003?

mike3663 — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:30:02 GMT

There is some kind of safety plate that holds the tire in place that i can't remove to bring the tire down

I have a 96 GMC Savanna and ordered a keyless remote. Need instructions. Any help?

tball3 — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:04:19 GMT

I got instructions for cars, but nothing for my van. Says something about making a jumper connection for the programming connector. Can't locate this programming connector. I hope the van has such a connector. Please help if possible.

2004 GMC Savanna misfires. Turning off key and restarting fixes problem temporaily.

awj1 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:29:29 GMT

Coils, wires, throttle body, and sensors have been changed and still misfires. The only thing is you can turn off engine and restart it. This fixes it only to return at idle. It only starts misfiring at idle.

Odd engine performance in a 1998 GMC Savanna 3500.

BarbaraMeints — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:35:32 GMT

I've got a 1998 GMC Savanna 3500 that is having some odd engine performance issues. First the serpentine broke and we changed that along with the altenator, now when you get to 25-30mph the engine wants to die out and if you keep your foot to the floor and it keeps slowing down it gets to 20-25mph it roars back to life until you get back to 25-30mph and then it starts to die again.

Put on new cap and rotor and new wires. Serpentine does not appear to have done any other damage to anything else but since that broke everything else has went crazy. Hope someone has some suggestions as to whats going on. Thanks, Tom

I have an 02 GMC Savana. The battery appears dead every time I crank the engine.

jessev — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:50:33 GMT

Every time I crank the engine it will appear the battery is dead or the starter will just click? I have replaced the starter and battery but the problem persists. At time it will start normal and others it will appear the battery or started is bad, please help

2005 GMC Savanna 2500. Front air is cold, rear air not cold.

tr0401 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:42:45 GMT

The front air on my van works fantastic. Rear air blows.. it is just not cold. No condensation from the rear is seen. I do not think it is cooling at all. Any ideas? Thank you in advance

I've got an '03 GMC Savannah with an electrical problem. All gauges drop out and reset.

chev2500hd — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:25:20 GMT

Once the gauges drop out, even when its hooked to a code scanner, the scanner loses communication with the vehicle and resets. Sometimes it only loses connection for a second or two, sometimes for 30-40 seconds. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Will a 97 Chevy Express van grill assembly fit a 97 Savana van?

toons2 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:11:20 GMT

Will a 1997 chevy express grill assy. fit a 1997 gmc savana van?

99 GMC SAVANNA 1500 transmission problem. Fluid full, no power, won't shift right. OD is a problem.

kcgsxr — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:57:46 GMT

99 GMC SAVANNA 1500 TRANSMISSIOM PROBLEM--- fluid full but when floor it it doesn't want to go. If put in neutral revs. up fine. disconnected battery and two of the three sensors and hook back up to make sure it had connection. When driving will shift 1,2,3 but not write--whines a lot before will shift. Falls on it face and chugs a lot when floored- but idles fine and revs up fine. Have only hit O.D. once since I disconnect that stuff. ONLY HAVE DROVE ONCE SINCE STARTED HAPPENING. Can someone give me an ideal whats up please??? Oh also the speedometer does not work write. jumps in 5mph at a time and then gets stuck so don't no if could be electrical or what??? Speedo does not do all the time. any help THANKS?????