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Chevy Venture Electrical Problems

255 messages,  Last post on May 02, 2013 at 5:15 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Venture, Lights, Electrical, Van

 
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Messages Page 14 of 27

#124 of 255 Lights flashing and car not working...HELP! by kerijoy

Jun 11, 2009 (10:40 pm)

So about a week ago I started having problems with my 2001 Chevy Venture. The interior lights do not go on at all. I adjust the switch to the right of the steering wheel and I check the light by the temp/driection gauge and nothing. Then my ABS light would come on and off along with the battery light. That happened for a day or two. Two nights agoeverything went haywire. The Abs light and battery light were going on and off. Then the airbag light started flashing. And the fuel gauge would drop to E and ding saying that I had no fuel. (I had half a tank) Magically they would go on and off. I just wanted to get the car home so I kept going. I got to a stoplight half a block from my house and the car started "jerking." I tried to slowly step on the gas but the car didn't want to go. I got it to the parking lot and shut it off. I tried restarting it but nothing happened. There was some "buzzing" but no starting. I got frustrated and left it. (the radio and the dash light would light up when the key was put it but no turn over.) About an hour later I went out and tried to start it again. Stupid thing started right back up and no lights. I don't get it! Now I don't want to drive it.
 
I have no idea where to start with this. Any help would be amazing!
 
(Ps. I just found a coolant leak...the crappy dex cool stuff...and it's leaking right by the belt and battery...could that be a cause of the problem or is it something with the wiring? No fuses are blown)

#125 of 255 2000 Venture-some days works, some days dies (not battery) by chelmarsie

Jun 20, 2009 (11:32 pm)

Hello. I am new here. I have checked through most of the issues on this electrical thread. Can't seem to find my problem though.
I have a 2000 Venture. A few weeks ago I came out in the morning and it wouldn't start or turn over at all. It bleeped 1/2 second then went dead. We jumped it, took it to church, turned it off. An hour and half later dead again. Jumped it again. Took it home, let it run for about half hour. Turned it off and let it sit for a few hours. Started right back up again. We thought we were going to need a new battery, but for a couple weeks now it has been running with no problems of dimming lights or things not working. Then yesterday, without warning, after running errands, we came out of the mall and it wouldn't turn over or start. Had to have it jumped again, took it home. Shut it off, and tried it again, and it was dead. Wouldn't even turn over. Sat for about 8 hours (til hubby got home) who jumped it, let it run for about 15 min. Shut off, and then tried it and started right up again. Turned it off til morning (9 hours later) went out to start it and it started up. Took my daughter somewhere this morning, came home, turned it off. 5 hours later started right up again.
 
so...last night after my hubby had to jump it for the 2nd time and I sat in it letting it run for 15 min, I noticed it was vibrating a bit (never had before) like maybe it was hesitating and possibly wanted to quit (but it wasn't real noticeable, I just notice the slight centimeter of anything wrong with this van). I wasn't sure if that was worth mentioning or not.
Also, my gas gauge has not worked in over a year (hubby said has nothing to do with it). Oh yeah, my check engine light has been on since right after inspection last year (never went off). My hubby's friend had a code reader that told him has something to do w/extreme cold and a hose or fuel injector or something (can't remember right now), and then told him how he could turn that warning light off. So he shut it off.
I am soooo hoping someone can help us out with this as we do not have hundreds of $ to spend on this thing. We want it to last us 1 more year then we are getting something newer (with 3 kids we have to).
Thank you so much in advance for helping us out. We appreciate it. God bless,
Penne

#126 of 255 Re: 2000 Venture Won't start, won't try to. by fleastiff

Jun 21, 2009 (9:24 am)

Replying to: chelmarsie (Jun 20, 2009 11:32 pm)
>I have a 2000 Venture.
Same here.
>I came out in the morning and it wouldn't start or turn over at all.
Same here.
>We jumped it ... Jumped it again.
I don't have jumper cables at home or another vehicle with which to jump it.
>gas gauge has not worked in over a year
Same here.
>my check engine light has been on since last year
Same here.
 
The only thing I can think of that is the least bit "different" is that several weeks ago I noticed that whenever it started up there was the sound such as an electric motor might make if you were trying to spray washer fluid on the windshield. That sound may have always been there, but I just noticed it a few months ago.
 
What should I do to diagnose what the problem is??????
 
....Ooops!! I just now remembered that two days ago I started the engine and then between the radio chatter and the passenger chatter I somehow stopped concentrating on what I was doing and tried to start the engine when it was already running, but I realized something was wrong and immediately stopped trying to start it. Could this have some bearing on the problem???

#127 of 255 "checking" a fuse ??? How? by fleastiff

Jun 21, 2009 (10:27 am)

Okay. I uncovered the engine compartment's fuse box and from the wiring diagram I can figure out what the numbers of the fuses are and the handbook gives a cryptic abbreviation so I know pretty much what fuses are "BATT" and which are "IGN". I figure this is probably an Ignition problem.
 
But HOW do I test a fuse? They are all colored and have a number such as 20 or 40 on them, but is there something obvious about a broken fuse? And how do you go about geting a fuse OUT to check it. I've tried pulling and squeezing but nothing happens.

#128 of 255 Re: 2000 Venture-some days works, some days dies (not battery) [chelmarsie] by chelmarsie

Jun 21, 2009 (11:07 pm)

Replying to: chelmarsie (Jun 20, 2009 11:32 pm)
so....we took the battery to Auto Zone to check for us for free. The diagnostic machine wouldn't even light up when they placed it on. My hubby was skeptical because we didn't think it was the battery. They took another battery and tested that and it lit up. So we bought a new battery. My hubby got it home and now it starts but only after turning over and NOT starting the first one or two times. This never happened before. So...we are thinking the battery may have only been part of the problem. If anybody out there can help us that would be awesome. It can get so costly taking it to the mechanics just for them to diagnose, then fix problems.
Thanks so much in advance,
Penne

#129 of 255 Re: "checking" a fuse ??? How? [fleastiff] by chases

Jun 22, 2009 (7:45 am)

Replying to: fleastiff (Jun 21, 2009 10:27 am)
Check the fuse using a meter. Or if you dont have one, look through the fues to the link inside. You should be able to see if it is connected or broken(burnt).

#130 of 255 Re: 2000 Venture-some days works, some days dies (not battery) [chelmarsie] by chases

Jun 22, 2009 (7:47 am)

Replying to: chelmarsie (Jun 21, 2009 11:07 pm)
I'm willing to bet that it's the alternator!
 
If your hubby has a meter have him check to see that it is charging while the engine is ideling. It should give you a reading around 13 to 14 amps.
 
If your hubby does not have a meter, ask the nearest autoparts place to see if they would check it in the van for you. Most will do it for free.

#131 of 255 Re: 2000 Venture-some days works, some days dies (not battery) [chases] by chelmarsie

Jun 22, 2009 (10:31 am)

Replying to: chases (Jun 22, 2009 7:47 am)
thanks so much. I will talk to my hubby when he gets home. Hoping we can figure this thing out and not cost and arm and a leg.
Thanks again,
Penne

#132 of 255 Re: "checking" a fuse ??? How? [chases] by fleastiff

Jun 22, 2009 (1:45 pm)

Replying to: chases (Jun 22, 2009 7:45 am)
I don't have a meter or circuit tester of any sort.
Would I need a special tool to extract a fuse from its slot?
I tried to pull on one and tried to squeeze it a bit to release it but maybe just should have pulled harder.

#133 of 255 alternator by hummingbirdana

Jun 23, 2009 (1:19 pm)

One month ago we repaired or whole ac system in our 2002 venture...one week after that we had to replace two pullys and altornator...took a trip to virginia from texas..van did good until two days after arival..alternator needed to be replaced again..mechanic said faulty alternator..van did great coming back to texas..now its been three days since we have been back and guess what...battery light on again.. someone mention it might be something to do with ac clutch...don't know but need help asap.

Messages Page 14 of 27

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