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Chevy Venture Check Engine Light, Misfiring

85 messages,  Last post on Apr 13, 2009 at 7:20 AM

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#22 of 85 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [442dude] by ul00173 Apr 25, 2008 (7:39 pm)
Replying to: 442dude (Apr 23, 2008 3:38 pm) OK, I have been watching the conversation for over a week now, and thought I would throw in my two bits on the Techron fuel injection approach. I own a 1999 Chevy Venture Wagon. We lived in Chicago, and after a few years, it started to run very rough in the colder weather, and we took it in to the Dealer. Recommendation: thoroughly clean the injectors.....$200+ to do....ran great for 6 months and started running rough again. I am not stupid, so I decided to use the Techron cleaning approach which is about $10 for 2000 miles or so....cheap! By the way, our 'service engine soon' light comes on regularly now (9 years old car)....and we just put the Techron in on the next couple of fill-ups. Runs great and never is really rough. Can't make excuses for a poorly designed engine and poorly designed idiot light system.....but if what you have is a rough engine, and a 'service engine light soon', I would put Techron in for about 3-4 tankfulls....a cheap approach. If that helps you are golden. If it doesn't help....you can move up the cost chain to try something else. Let us all know if it helped. I have been operating the car this way now for 6 years! Replies to this message: fleastiff (Apr 25, 2008 10:19 pm) fleastiff (Apr 27, 2008 1:04 pm)
#23 of 85 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [ul00173] by fleastiff Apr 25, 2008 (10:19 pm)
Replying to: ul00173 (Apr 25, 2008 7:39 pm) Okay. I looked up "Techron" and found:    A sequined yellow top worn by a cute model;    A Fuel Additive concentrate;    A Fuel Injector Cleaner. I've figured out I should use the Fuel Injector Cleaner.   Sure sounds like its going to be a cheaper solution to go to an auto parts store and buy the Techron stuff than to pay 4500 for a new engine. Thanks guys. I'll let y'all know what happens.   In reading about that Techron Fuel Additive Concentrate, I saw mention of a claim that it also cleans the Fuel Sender. As I've had a wildly variable fuel guage for a long time, this product too might be a sensible thing to try as well.
#24 of 85 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [fleastiff] by louied87 Apr 26, 2008 (7:53 pm)
Replying to: fleastiff (Apr 21, 2008 10:31 am) I have a 98 and I've had to have fuel injectors replaced on several occasions. Usually, I just buy a fuel injector cleaner (and not the expensive stuff) and it quits. Mine check engine light never goes off and neither does my ABS light (even though I had brake work done). The mechanic said I'd have to take it to the dealer to have the ABS system looked at. So, I just live with it. Replies to this message: 442dude (Apr 27, 2008 3:22 pm)
#25 of 85 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [ul00173] by fleastiff Apr 27, 2008 (1:04 pm)
Replying to: ul00173 (Apr 25, 2008 7:39 pm) Well, I went to the store and all I could get was some STP Fuel Injector Treatment which I added to the tank immediately after filling it with some 3.99 a gallon high-test. Its not Techron brand but I'll see what happens and will find a store with Techron if the problem doesn't resolve itself. The light still flashes and it clearly is misfiring, particularly in reverse. Still dies at red lights. Sounded a bit quieter but can't really tell for sure. Thanks for all your help on this ... I sure prefer buying a double pack of STP Fuel Injector Treatment than paying 4500 for a new engine!
#26 of 85 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [louied87] by 442dude Apr 27, 2008 (3:22 pm)
Replying to: louied87 (Apr 26, 2008 7:53 pm) FWIW - most ABS problems are related to a loose or damaged wire...its the first thing to look for....
#27 of 85 Techron additive by ul00173 Apr 27, 2008 (6:36 pm)
Keep adding the Techron for a few tankfulls....It eventually will clean the injectors. My 'Service Engine Soon' light is on almost all the time, and adding Techron will not necessarily make the light go off, but you should feel a smoother engine if it does the trick. I would ignore the dumb lights on this car. My 'Low Coolant' Light has been on for years, and my coolant is FULL. Go by the feel and common sense with this car....I have read that one must wait a few refills of the tank before the lights will get reset, "SES" light goes off....This happens in my car. I have also read in your thread that removing the ground battery terminal for 15 minutes will also reset the lights.....haven't tried this but it is worth a try....good luck.... Replies to this message: fleastiff (Apr 29, 2008 5:15 am)
#28 of 85 Re: Techron additive [ul00173] by fleastiff Apr 29, 2008 (5:15 am)
Replying to: ul00173 (Apr 27, 2008 6:36 pm) Well, I ain't using Techron additive; I'm using STP Fuel Injector Treatment. Its what was on the store's shelf!   Does this make a difference? If ONE container of STP Injector Treatment in a tank of gas is good... would TWO containers in that tank of gas be better? Or would it be better to just use up the second STP container with the next tank of high test that I add?   Someone told me that with all my "slow driving" around town and short trips to the grocery store, etc. I should take the Chevy out to the Freeway and "open her up" to 70mph for atleast five minutes. Should I be listening to stuff like that? And wouldn't ONE minute at 70mph be just as good as FIVE?
#29 of 85 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [442dude] by fleastiff Apr 30, 2008 (7:44 am)
Replying to: 442dude (Apr 25, 2008 9:42 am) >the Techron only treats 20 gallons, you may need to put 1-1/2 bottles in there to treat a full tank (27 gallons I think)   I'm using STP Fuel Injector Treatment (It was on the store's shelf, Techron was not). I put in only one container of it. It said 'Treats up to 21 gallons'. I added it after adding almost a full tank of hightest but I don't think my tank holds more than 23 gallons.   Don't know if one container is good why two containers wouldn'b be better though. Replies to this message: 442dude (Apr 30, 2008 9:08 am) fleastiff (Apr 30, 2008 11:38 am) fleastiff (May 01, 2008 3:44 am) 442dude (May 01, 2008 4:16 am) and 3 more... fleastiff (May 10, 2008 12:37 pm)
#30 of 85 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [fleastiff] by 442dude Apr 30, 2008 (9:08 am)
Replying to: fleastiff (Apr 30, 2008 7:44 am) Techron is the Cadillac of the Fuel system cleaners - its also sold as "GM fuel system cleaner" but others are good as well... can't hurt to put more of either in but might not be any better either.   Are you noticing more improvement? Replies to this message: fleastiff (Apr 30, 2008 11:38 am) fleastiff (May 01, 2008 3:44 am) 442dude (May 01, 2008 4:16 am) fleastiff (May 01, 2008 7:03 am) and 2 more... fleastiff (May 10, 2008 12:37 pm)
#31 of 85 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [442dude] by fleastiff Apr 30, 2008 (11:38 am)
Replying to: 442dude (Apr 30, 2008 9:08 am) >but others are good as well... Its often the way that alternative products are "good enough" and sometimes even better than the brand names, but I have no familiarity with these particular products.   > can't hurt to put more of either in but might not be any better either. Well, I'd rather waste five dollars as long as it "can't hurt".   >Are you noticing more improvement? Since I am facing an otherwise catastrophic repair bill for a new engine, I am extremely motivated to "notice improvement". It may be illusory though. I don't know. I did determine that although it still stalls occasionally it seems to do so far less. I just drove to library, grocery store and post office, encountering several stop signs and red lights. It stalled only once and that was when I was already in the parking spot. It seems to run quieter but only slightly and I might be imagining it being quieter. I don't know for sure. I'm sure its still missing but maybe not quite as often. Just not certain about it.

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