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Chevy Venture

2501 messages,  Last post on May 17, 2013 at 11:37 AM

You are in the Chevy Venture Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Venture, Van

Messages Page 121 of 251

#1198 of 2501 3 times a charm by jints2282

Mar 01, 2002 (6:11 am)

One good thing about owning a Chevy, you get a chance to drive other Chevy loaners while your vehicle is in the shop for the 3rd time in Feb for the same problem, erratic door latching.
Looks like they have exhausted their diagnostic options, and are now working with Tech Support in Detroit to resolve. They know it's an electrical problem, but can't find the exact cause.
They gave me a 2000 Venture with 58K miles. It seems to operate at much lower temp than my 2001, barely reaching 1/4 on temp scale.
I also did notice the thumping as mentioned in earlier postings. This can be heard when moving from complete stop (traffic light), but a little sudden acceleration is needed. Doesn't sound like gas in tank (almost full tank), but hard to say where it is.
Probably will have car for a week or so as dealer said this is a very diffcult job. Seems like the perfect test vehicle!

#1199 of 2501 Re: Post # 1166 by sc_sixx

Mar 01, 2002 (7:02 pm)

I have recently replace the bulbs on my '99 Venture with PIAA Super White bulbs, DOT approved. I found that they are at least twice as bright as the factory bulbs, but a little pricey at $150 CDN.

#1200 of 2501 Problems Unusual? by sld1

Mar 04, 2002 (10:19 am)

I bought a 99 Venture 3 yrs ago. Have had LOTS of problems: driver seatback broke, battery failed, steering column needed fixing, have had sliding power door fixed 3-4 times, blower motor needed replacing, rod clip broken, driver side inner door panel came loose, rear window washer hose was pinched and needed repair, airbag light wouldn't turn off, had to replace steering rack assembly, etc. Got GM to give me extended warranty to 5 yrs/60k miles. Last few months van's been great. When it doesn't have any problems, I love the van.
Problem - with one more payment to go, someone ran a red light and smashed into me. Not sure it's repairable. So, I like the van, but don't want to go through all those problems again. Did I just get a lemon the first time, and if I buy another it'll be great, or have other people had problems like this? I would feel like a fool if I bought another Venture and ended up with all these problems over again!
Thanks for any insight/advice.

#1201 of 2501 sld1 by agt_cooper

Mar 04, 2002 (10:31 am)

First, hope everyone is allright after the accident. Since you're talking about a replacement vehicle, sounds like that is the case.
 
Next, how many miles are on the vehicle? If all these problems happened in the first 25k miles, I'd be more worried than if you had like 100k miles!!!
 
I have a 2000 Pontiac Montana with about 24k miles. So far, it has been to the shop for two power sliding door recalls, and once for a problem with a voltage fluctuation that was repaired with some type of connector.
 
Other than that, no problems and we're very happy with the van. It sounds as though you may have had a bit of a lemon. I've seen the reliability statistics for the GM triplets, and they're not great, but so far (knock on wood), everything seems good. Who knows what will happen in the next 25k miles, though!!
 
As far as advice, take a look at what's available today and see if the Venture is still what you want. If so, I can't see any reason not to buy another.

#1202 of 2501 Reply to message 1179 by masonmi

Mar 04, 2002 (6:55 pm)

I'd say the Venture's are very reliable, they'll be little problems that will crop up, though it seems yours weren't major problems such as transmission or head gasket issues where you're van wouldn't be driveable, and a battery can actually be replaced. were all you're problems just within the 3 year time span or was it right after you brought you're venture?

#1203 of 2501 Thump in Rear - continuing by offham

Mar 05, 2002 (9:53 am)

You should not have to live with this noise.
 
I would remove all seating in the van as well as the jack accessories and anything else that can be removed, this will allow to hear better as to the location..or it might have gone away.

#1204 of 2501 Reply about problems by sld1

Mar 05, 2002 (11:48 am)

The problems I've had have gone on steadily for the almost-three years I've had Venture. Most recently over Christmas the transmission fluid developed a leak and had to have parts replaced. I was over the 36,000 mile warranty, but dealer covered it because of all the other problems I've had. When the van got totaled last week it had 41,984 miles on it.
Re: safety - I got hit pretty much straight on, right at front passenger side door. Guy was going 35-40 mph, ran redlight. Window shattered, but I didn't have one cut or anything broken. Spent a few hours in ER, have follow-up visit this week. Still feel kind of bruised/sore but am assuming it'll go away with time. I was VERY glad to be in that big van! If I'd been in a small-midsize car I think the other guy, also in a van, wouldn't gone right over me.

#1205 of 2501 Extending warranty by jints2282

Mar 06, 2002 (5:56 am)

SLD1, What did you have to do to get GM to extend your 3/36 warranty to 5/60? Please advise. Tx.

#1206 of 2501 No Cost - GM Extended Component Warranty by rayt2

Mar 07, 2002 (10:45 am)

I posted this in the "GM Triplets" board but thought others would be interested also.
Got my Extended Component Warranty for the engine knock in mail yesterday from GM, 5year/100,000 mile for engine only. Guess I won't be keeping this truck for 10 years after all. Where as I don't own a Venture I do own a defective GM product with the 5.3L engine. The "Knock" occurs during cold starts and lasts about 45 seconds.
 
Ray T.

#1207 of 2501 Re: Extended Warranty by sld1

Mar 07, 2002 (1:17 pm)

I first called the GM Customer Assistance toll-free #. Went round and round and got nowhere. Finally asked for the phone # of GM headquarters. It's 313-556-5000. I talked to someone there, went over the long list of problems I'd had with van. (Got a maintenance history printout from dealer - it listed every time I'd brought the van in, what the problem was, what they did to fix it.) She said that she would contact the selling and servicing dealerships and conduct a complete review. I also had talked to my service dept who had given me the idea to go after them for an extended warranty in the first place. They knew all the problems I'd had and said they would recommend the extension when GM contacted them.
 
The area manager got involved, to review all the records on my van.
 
Finally took almost 2 months, but I got it. Of course while they were investigating I periodically called GM HQ back to report new problems (coolant leak due to bad intake manifold gasket; problem w/ CD player; etc).
 
They sent me something to keep in the van, but also said that any GM dealership I went to would be able to see the extended warranty by looking up the VIN.
 
Of course now that my van is totalled, the only good the extended warranty will do me is to hopefully increase the amount the insurance co will pay me.
 
By the way, other than calling a lawyer, does anyone have any advice for dealing with the insurance co, to maximize the payout/minimize my financial loss? Thanks.

Messages Page 121 of 251

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