1986 Chevrolet Astro Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 1986 Chevrolet Astro is written for a two-engine van: the 262-cubic-inch 4.3-liter V6 and the 151-cubic-inch 2.5-liter inline-four, each overhead-valve, naturally aspirated and gasoline-fueled. Both go into the same pair of three-door standard bodies, one arranged for passengers and one for cargo, sold as Base, CL or CS. Where the two engines share a chassis they share the manual's chapters; where they differ, the fuel, ignition and cooling specifications are given separately for each.

Engines covered

• 4.3L V6 (262 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 2.5L inline-four (151 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 3-door standard passenger van
• 3-door standard cargo van

Trims covered

• Base
• CL
• CS

Known issues on the 1986 Astro. Four recalls are recorded federally for this year. The one owners feel most is the front seat recliner joint: foam or vinyl caught between the mechanism and the seat frame keeps the bolts from holding their torque until they fatigue and break, and the seat back reclines without warning. Two others cover replacement lamp assemblies supplied without amber side reflectors, leaving the van poorly marked to traffic alongside it, and the last a replacement fuel filter that can leak at its connection. Of 25 complaints, seat belts, seats and steering tie at four apiece.