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Chevy Venture Check Engine Light, Misfiring

91 messages,  Last post on Sep 30, 2010 at 12:14 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Venture, Van

Messages Page 8 of 10

#69 of 91 Re: 1999 chevy venture misfiring and codes [trinak] by fleastiff

Jun 25, 2008 (3:04 pm)

Replying to: trinak (Jun 25, 2008 12:00 pm)
Beats me.
I'd start with the fusebox and make certain 5, 11 and relay31 are fine. Look up the diagram to confirm which ones are TCC related incase its 33 rather than 31.
 
If this is normally a 300.00 in labor job, I would hazard a guess that the tcc solenoid is not all that accessible.
 
I've heard that a faulty tcc can cause damage from excessively hard shifting due to clutch slippage being detected by the pcm. With the high potential for transmission damage if driven like this for long, some shops may be unwilling to just install a new solenoid and then have to face potential complaints. So act promptly if possible. I really do NOT know much about this and you should find another thread that deals specifically with transmission shifting on a Chevy Venture or atleast someone who knows what he is talking about.

#70 of 91 Re: 1999 chevy venture misfiring and codes [fleastiff] by 442dude

Jun 25, 2008 (6:26 pm)

Replying to: fleastiff (Jun 25, 2008 3:04 pm)
Its not a DIY job unless you're really competent...and its not cheap if you have a mechanic do it...You have to pull the side off of the trans...the usual culprit is either the TCC or the PCS (pressure control solenoid) The second will cause harsh shifts especially when the trans is hot, its also accompanied by a whining noise that increases as speed increases. Unfortunately all too common in the Venture...
 
If you're a gambling type, try this before you pay to have the solenoids replaced:
 
Put in 1/2 a bottle of Lucas "transmission fix" and wait 2 weeks....I did it to mine and the harsh shifts went away...if you've never changed your trans fluid, change it and the filter first and wait 2 weeks...if that doesn't help, then try the Lucas stuff...mine was shifting harshly (most likely due to the PCS being bad) and my mechanic suggested a rebuild to the tune of $3000.00...I put in 1/2 a bottle of Lucas about 30,000 miles ago and haven't had a problem since...I don't know what made me even try it, I don't know why it worked, I don't even have a clue what's in it but for 10 bucks it might be worth a try...I'm not a mechanic unless there's a shade tree around and I've never done any transmission work other than changing fluid and filter...
 
It got worse for about a week and then went away, never had a problem since...Our Venture is now at about 92,000 miles now...Who knows?
 
Good Luck,
John

#71 of 91 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [fleastiff] by fleastiff

Jun 30, 2008 (2:27 am)

Replying to: fleastiff (May 29, 2008 4:36 am)
Okay, all those bottles of Fuel Injector Treatment helped to diminish the severity of the problem but its clear that the engine is running hot and it is still misfiring and the ServiceEngineSoon light still flashes at me constantly.
 
WHAT NOW???
 
Can fuel injectors be manually cleaned rather than chemically cleaned?
Can fuel injectors be replaced or repaired?
What sort of a task is it? How much would it tend to be?
 
I just don't see that "umpteenth" bottle of Fuel Injector Treatment as being likely to work. I've tried half a dozen or more bottles of the stuff already. Wiling to try more ofcourse but at some point it just has to be acknowledged that hi-test gasoline and fuel injector cleaner additives are NOT going to cure the problem.
 
What now???

#72 of 91 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [fleastiff] by 442dude

Jun 30, 2008 (5:52 am)

Replying to: fleastiff (Jun 30, 2008 2:27 am)
After the 1st couple of bottles you basically can rule out that it will fix the issue, but its at least somewhere to start...
 
Can fuel injectors be manually cleaned rather than chemically cleaned?
Typically, if you're going through the trouble of pulling them out, its more cost effective to just change them...
 
Can fuel injectors be replaced or repaired?
Replaced, Yes...repaired, unlikely.
 
What sort of a task is it? How much would it tend to be?
I'm not sure of price as I've never had to mess with them...you have to remove the fuel rails to take the injectors out, I don't remember what else you have to remove to get to them.

#73 of 91 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [442dude] by fleastiff

Jul 08, 2008 (1:54 pm)

Replying to: 442dude (Jun 30, 2008 5:52 am)
For replacing fuel injectors on 3 cylinders, one guy just gave me a rough estimate of 3 hours of labor, head gasket and fuel injectors. He said he has never had to replace fuel injectors on a 3.8 litre engine. I told him I was getting spark but in fact I don't really know that for sure. Is 3 hours and parts a reasonable estimate?

#74 of 91 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [fleastiff] by 442dude

Jul 08, 2008 (7:47 pm)

Replying to: fleastiff (Jul 08, 2008 1:54 pm)
Sounds reasonable to me - about $450-550 ?...there's a bunch of stuff that has to come off to replace them...I've never had to replace a fuel injector but it does happen. I'm not sure why he quoted you a head gasket though as you don't have to pull the head to replace the injectors...maybe he meant intake manifold gasket since the upper intake manifold has to come off?
 
How did he determine that you had a bad injector(s)?

#75 of 91 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [442dude] by fleastiff

Jul 09, 2008 (12:23 am)

Replying to: 442dude (Jul 08, 2008 7:47 pm)
>How did he determine that you had a bad injector(s)?
This was telephonic. I told him they were bad simply because all those bottles of cleaner have not worked. And I understand that the "next step" is to replace the fuel injectors.

#76 of 91 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [fleastiff] by fleastiff

Jul 17, 2008 (5:03 am)

Replying to: fleastiff (Jul 09, 2008 12:23 am)
I was not driving the vehicle at the time but it was described as 'making loud noises' and 'bucking'. For a cold, rainy morning and a short drive the temperature guage was very high. And it seemed to make a loud noise and generate a great quantity of smoke and/or steam. It may have been its death throws, I don't know.
 
I did determine that ALL the coolant was gone so there must be some sort of leak and the oil was about a quart low. After these fluid deficiencies are corrected, I intend to attempt a restart and see what happens. Maybe I will be able to resurrect the vehicle. Maybe not.

#77 of 91 Re: 2000 Chevy Venture Misfiring and SES Light. [442dude] by fleastiff

Jul 26, 2008 (6:07 pm)

Replying to: 442dude (Apr 23, 2008 4:38 pm)
>4. Bad head gasket...
>but you already said your oil looks good with no coolant in it so I doubt this one
Well, I think it WAS good, but now the head gasket is indeed blown and all the coolant is inside the engine. Mechanic is saying 900 for "new" engine and 900 for labor. 90 day warranty.
 
>leads me towards the fuel injector or the ignition coil for cylinder # 1.
You were probably right, but all those Fuel Injector cleaning bottled only helped a bit and I guess I delayed too much in getting it to a mechanic to figure out the next step of actually replacing fuel injectors and testing coils and cams.
 
Once it lost all the coolant and got hot enough to send smoke/steam out the tailpipe and engine compartment, I figured something real serious had happened.
 
I do want to thank everyone for their assistance though.

#78 of 91 Chevy Venture tune up? by vito5

Aug 21, 2008 (5:28 am)

Does any one out there know how to reach the rear spark plugs on a 1999. I heard the engine had to be dropped down an gotten from the rear.

Messages Page 8 of 10

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