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Vans & Minivans Chevy Venture Chevy Venture Check Engine Light, Misfiring
85 messages, Last post on Apr 13, 2009 at 7:20 AM
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Replying to: zeke41 (Jan 04, 2008 6:54 pm) |
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2000 Chevy Venture. Suddenly the ServiceEngineSoon light started flashing and engine was running rough, particularly at slow speeds where the light would stay steady-on rather than flash and engine would almost 'die' at a stop light but ran reliably at freeway speeds with no indication of overheating or smoking at all. Added a few gallons of higher quality gasoline and drove to a quick oil change place where the mechanic broke the positive battery post because he refused to use the Remote Positive Terminal for the battery check. Engine would not start and car was towed to mechanic who replaced wiring and replaced spark plugs which had been in bad shape and had very wide gaps. Now cylynders 1 3 4 each misfire and have less than 100 lbs compression, all others have 150 compression. Runs much better but mechanic thinks there was recent overheating and I need a new engine. I'm not doing the 'new engine' when its running well even if it misfires alot. Temperature guage had not indicated overheating when this started, though I had added a cup or so of Prestone coolant a few weeks earlier when I noticed the plastic chamber was empty. Anyone have any ideas as to what is wrong with it? And what I should do???
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Replying to: fleastiff (Apr 21, 2008 10:31 am) First of all - people who work at quick oil change places are not mechanics...let them change the oil and MAYBE replace your air filter...that's it... How many miles on motor? What were the codes that set the service engine soon light? The blinking ses light meant a severe misfire condition which can damage the cat converter...Need the other codes to help you further...misfire codes are not always a big deal...autozone will read them for free, then post them here...Is the light still on? Any sign of coolant in engine oil???? How is it running now???
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Replying to: 442dude (Apr 21, 2008 12:12 pm) Yeah, their guy did a 'free battery check' without realizing their is a Remote Positive Terminal. >How many miles on motor? 72,000 or so. >What were the codes that set the service engine soon light? I don't have a Secret Decoder Ring. Are the codes displayed somewhere? Mechanic didn't say nuttin' 'bout no codes. >Is the light still on? Only when the engine runs. >Any sign of coolant in engine oil? Not that I know of, but since quick lube placed did the oil change they probably wouldn't have even noticed. >How is it running now??? Runs better than it did but it still misses on 1,3 and 4cylynders. Mechanic still wants 4,500 for a new engine installation which I think is uncalled for when its not yet given up the ghost.
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Replying to: fleastiff (Apr 21, 2008 1:15 pm) check your oil - if it looks like a chocolate milkshake, its got coolant in it....if so...start saving up.... there are no shortcuts....you need the codes to determine what the car is trying to tell you is wrong, then you might be able to come up with a fix and deal with the problem...the stored codes are what tells your dashboard to light up the check engine light to let you know there is a problem...until you get them read and post, not much anyone here can tell you with any degree of intelligence...
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Replying to: 442dude (Apr 21, 2008 4:56 pm) There is an AutoZone in town and an Advance Auto Parts fairly nearby. I'll try there ASAP, but its hard to drive a vehicle that threatens to stall at every stop sign and light. >they have the secret decoder ring and they do it for free After that 200 oil and radiator change and the 400 tuneup, 'free' sounds real good1 >check your oil - if it looks like a chocolate milkshake, its got coolant in it Nope.. looks like oil. > there are no shortcuts.... Alas! >you need the codes to determine what the car is trying to tell you is wrong, It seems to be trying to tell me more insistently whenever I back up or slow down for a traffic light. I wonder why AFTER the tune up it is still misfiring, particularly when the mechanic tried squirting oil into the cylinder and it still didn't help the compression. Thanks for you help.
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Replying to: fleastiff (Apr 22, 2008 7:03 am)
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Replying to: 442dude (Apr 22, 2008 7:29 am) It seems you may indeed be correct. The Autozone guy said there were two codes: P0301 and P0301-Pending. >I really find it hard to believe that your motor is shot based upon the info so far Yes. I'm a bit doubtful too. Worried about it though. Surely a coil sounds cheaper than a new engine. I got new wires and new plugs and a tune up, but I don't think that included a new ignition coil. Things like crankshaft sensors and cam sensors and timing chains are beyond me though, but even those things sound cheaper than a new engine! |
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Replying to: fleastiff (Apr 23, 2008 2:31 pm) So there's only a misfire on 1 cylinder...not 3...Here's what I think: 1. - Clogged or dead fuel injector...no gas=no fire... 2. Bad coil - If you're getting fuel, I'm not convinced you're getting a good spark at cylinder # 1...if I remember right...the car idles very rough...take off the spark plug wire for cylinder # 1 and start the motor...can you tell any difference? If its no worse, maybe you've got a bad coil... 3. PCM - the computer could be fried...but I doubt it... 4. Bad head gasket...but you already said before that your oil looks good with no coolant in it so I doubt this one too... I wish you the Best of luck...the more I research, the more it leads me towards the fuel injector or the ignition coil for cylinder # 1...the Venture has 3 coils...I hope I have helped, even just a little... John
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Replying to: 442dude (Apr 23, 2008 3:38 pm) New Clue: At slow speeds and just after starting it is noticeably misfiring but as soon as I shift into REVERSE, boy does it get worse!! Far, far noiser and much more vibration! Now I don't know if its relevant or not but one of the occasional drivers of the vehicle does have a habit of shifting from reverse to drive while still slightly in motion! (Yeah, I hate it. Don't think its a good thing to do. Don't know if its relevant to this problem though!). I wonder if the AutoZone giving the codes only for Cylinder 1 means that Cyliners 3 and 4, which also had compression of less than 100 when tested, are now improved? For various logistical reasons, I've not yet been able to get a tank of high-test into it yet, but will do so ASAP.
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