1998 Chevrolet Venture: check engine light

9 of the 409 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Venture describe check engine light.

owner complaints: 9
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 80,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 12 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Check engine light by model year

2004
1
2003
2
2002
6
2001
11
2000
4
1999
6
1998
9
1997
3

What owners say

Filed Mar 6, 2008 · Engine · 130,000 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet venture. While idling in traffic or on an incline, the heat temperature gauge fluctuates. The vehicle is also losing antifreeze. The contact has been adding one half gallon of antifreeze per month and does not know why. When the weather becomes warmer, the check engine light illuminates sporadically. The light does not illuminate in the winter. The purchase date and powertrain were unknown. The current mileage was 160,000 and failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Jul 18, 2005 · Engine · 70,000 miles · OK

Ticking begin at around 45000 to 50000 miles on 1998 venture, soon it needed bearings and rods, the mechanic took off the oil pan and oil was like mud, I have oil changed every 3000 miles, I saw the oil, it was awful, then one day the oil light came on and the service engine light and at around 70000 miles I need new engine, I have always been a general motors person mainly cherolet, but, as of now, I am thinking it will be a cold day in ---- before I buy another, I see why the foreign motor companies are kicking butt...I am not the 1st to have a problem with the ventures.. I have been told that the maifold is leaking into the oil system there by causing this problem with engines blowing...I do not know what to do, I have 4 children 2 of whom are in college and 2 at home, I can't just race out and buy a new one, which chevy offered to maybe give me a little off if I wanted to buy a new one.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Visibility · 80,000 miles · MI

1998 chevy venture, engine light came on, pulled over engine tapping & smoking. No oil light or change in temp, gauge observed. Had to walk on interstate 1.2 miles took ride from unknown couple, had van towed. Diagnoses was: intake gasket collapsed, causing connecting rod to go through engine. Dealership & gm customer care refused any assistance. Overwelmed by severity of this gasket problem readily available on the internet. We replaced our engine with a used one, that is all we could afford. It definitely was the faulty gasket that caused our engine to be replaced. When this first happened, no dummy light came on, nothing to even tell me there was a problem, such as low oil or service engine. The mechanic who replaced our engine told us he has seen several chevy venture vans with the same exact problem we had. We had the servive done at d&n garage 4929 south m-76 west branch, mi 48661, the owner is nelson smith. The phone # is 1 800 203 8504. It cost us almost $1600. To replace the engine, we lucked out finding one that had only 40,000 miles on it. Nelson made sure to put the new gasket on this engine. The gm dealership here refused to help. Where we bought the van refused to help, the gm helpline just very rudely told me it was my problem.

Filed Aug 22, 2003 · Engine · NY

The service engine light illuminated and the vehicle started to run roughly, it was discovered the head gasket which was supposedly done previously was never done. *jb also the head light bulb was replaced

Filed Mar 19, 2003 · Engine · 82,262 miles · IN

I had my van in the shop because my heater quit working. The thermostat was changed. When I got the van back the heater didn't work and by the next morning the coolant reservoir was empty. Their weren't any external leaks noted. I took it back into the shop and he ran some checks and he stated that it was the intake manifold gasket and that the coolant was leaking internally. He also said that this was a common problem with most gm engines. Now my van is parked and I can't even drive it. It is knocking real loud and I am afraid to drive it because I have found out that this problem can lead to the van eventually catching on fire. My van had been in the chevrolet shop several times for the engine light coming on and it was running rough. I was told that the light was on because the gas cap wasn't on tight. My van is just out of the warranty at @ 82,000 miles. I hear that the gasket in question is on national back order do the excess amount of gm vehicles with the same problem.

Filed Jan 20, 2003 · Engine · 77,000 miles · MI

1998 chevy venture, 77000 miles, no warning, engine light came on, pulled over, engine tapping & smoking. Walked 1.2 miles on interstate, 8 miles to exit, took ride from unknown couple. Had van towed, diagnosed: collasped intake gasket caused rod to go through engine. Dealership & gm refused to help. Repeatable problem with gasket easily located on internet, overwelmed by severity.

Filed Jan 16, 2003 · Engine · GA

Consumer complaining about the engine light working intermittently. Dealer has inspected the vehicle on several occasion. And could not duplicate or correct the problem. Please provide further information. Ph

Filed Aug 12, 2002 · Electrical · NY

Consumer states van will crank but will not start, the check engine light is on and the vehicle stalled at least 20 times. Fuel pump was replaced 4 times. Dealership inspected and reported original problem was no fuel pressure traced to no operation of fuel pump. Found wiring harness at fuel pump had come loose. After harness was reconnected the van started right up. Advised that connector 305 and ground 301 have a history of intermittent problems and itnernal opens that cause no start conditions.

Filed Nov 17, 1999 · CT

Check engine light stays on. Dealer says faulty contact. Will not fix.