2001 Chevy Venture 2001 Chevy Venture stutters after about

2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE
137,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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LOCUSTSLOTH
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My regular mechanic is absolutely stumped. Van starts fine, but about 500 ft down the road or a minute and a half later, the engine starts to bog down, like it's not getting any gas. If i slam on the gas it'll eventually rev up and start going, only to falter again. i have to repeat this revving up thing until about a mile down the road when everything gets normal, inexplicably.
My regular mechanic has checked the pump, changed the plugs and wires, replaced the o2 sensor, among other stuff. He kept it for a week, trying to catch this behavior, as it is sometimes intermittant. The only codes to come up were a misfire on cylinder 6 and a rough shifting code from the transmission and a code about the fuel sensor for the gas gauge.
i brought it to a dealer, who asked that the plugs and wires be replaced before they went any further. They cleaned the injectors, which they also said would show if there was a bad injector. After that it worked fine for a while, but got progressively worse and worse until it again reached the situation stated above.
i've cahnged the plugs and wires, but am hesitant to take it back to the dealer as i think the misfire is from when i'm gunning it to get it going.
Any ideas?

Craig
Jul 7, 2010 at 3:07 PM
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RUNDY
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We are still in the process of totalling figuring this out with our van. As long as we didn't give it gas and went down hill it ran beautifullly, even at an idle. It was when I gave it gas it would spit, sputter and eventually backfire and die.

We have changed crankshaft, o2, map and other sensors, fuel pump, fuel filter and a number of other things.

It turned out to be a clogged catalystic converter. We took a chance taking it off and cutting it down to see but it was in rough shape when we got it out. It ran great until it started with the plugs though.

Although we are still getting misfiring codes we are trying to change the 1, 3 and 5 plugs, but having problems getting the 3 plug out.

Hope this helps
Aug 19, 2010 at 6:17 AM
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QUARTERHORSE
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Engine Performance problem
2004 Chevy Venture 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

I had posted this elsewhere on 2carpros when I read your problem. Our experiences seem very much alike. Have you found any resolution? If I figure anything out, I'll be sure to let you know. Aggravating, isn't it?

'04 Venture has a stumble after initial startup, then smooths out and seems OK as long as it is kept running. Shut it off, and the cycle repeats. Has thrown code p0135 (O2 sensor), which I've replaced. Now shows a P0135 (pending) (not yet turned on the SES light)

Also new pump, fuel filter, air filter, & TPS. Visually checked MAF, looks to be plenty clean. Checked fuel pump pressure @ schrader fitting on manifold and got 52 - 54 PSI. Tried unplugging the vacuum source to the fuel pressure regulator, and got a pprox,. a 5 PSI rise in pressure, which I'm told is to be expected. I used dielectric grease only all connections when checking wire condition.

I'm seriously considering replacing the MAP sensor. Only have a few more days until it's due for annual emissions inspection....anyone have any ideas??
Aug 31, 2010 at 9:28 PM
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RUNDY
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Well it seems to be running perfect now. We finally got plugs 1, 3 and 5 changed. Which was not easy at all. You really need small hands. We ended up breaking part of the plug in the motor so we got a mirror and a 16 point socket and we finally got it out.

In the process of all the work we've done on the van a wire on the coil pack became loose. The van ran just as bad with the loose wire as it did with every thing else wrong, (which I think ultimately was the catalystic converter). It finally came off all the way and we were able to put it on correctly and it runs beautifully now. It was one of the wires on the side that has two wires on it not the side that has one wire on it.

So everything we went through from start (last October) to finish (this August) was...

Dry gas.
Fuel filter, fuel pump.
Crank sensors (both), MAP sensor, and another sensor the mechanic changed but I can't remember what it was.
Taking the muffler apart and finding the catylistic converter totally plugged. Replaced that.
Spark plugs and wires
Injection cleaner
Complete attached wire on coil pack.

Now she runs fine. And the service engine light is off for the first time in about 3 years.

Good luck

Hope some of this helps.
Sep 1, 2010 at 5:16 AM