1997 Chevy Venture

1997 Chevy Venture questions and answers

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Q: How do you replace the thermostat located on a 1997 Chevy Venture?


A: ASK HIM!! if he's a guy who doesn't like to talk about his feeling (macho!) tell hm your afraid he doesn't love you anymore && maybe that will trigger something! hope it helps(:

Q: Chevy Venture Van '97 hard to find coolant leak????
I have a 1997 Chevy Venture Van and have spent hours looking for the source of the leak. It drips from the passanger side of the vehicle beneath the where the belt is. Is the anything I can put in it or do to it to locate the leak? Thanks in advance.

A: You need to pressurize the system, I bet it's a small leak from the intake gasket. Why dont you just take it to a professional and spend the 30 dollars for a pressure test and block test and find out for sure.

Q: is there any illustrations on how to put a 1997 chevy ventures head and engine back together?


A: Go to the parts store and buy a Chiltons manuel for your car. They will show you in detail how to handle this.

Q: Chevy Venture Van's Instrument Panel and Radio lights go off at night?
Hello, Folks, My 1997 Chevy Venture Van's Instrument Panel lights, including the time/radio display go dark at night although all electrical: lights, turn lights, radio work well. That means AT NIGHT, I cannot read my speed, temperature, and fuel meters, neither time/radio station display. This problem only occured after 2-3 hours driving at night. Now, after it first started 15 month ago, the panel/radio lights almost go dark 3 minutes after driving at night. Which parts/electrical board should I replace, and where is it located within the vehicle? Again, all other electrical lights - front/rear/turn lights are working just normal. At the DAY TIME, time/radio reading is fine, too. Thanks in advance. George

A: Why don't people listen to me? I have said it at leat 10 times. DON'T BUY AMERICAN! IT'S CRAP! THEY WILL 95% OF THE TIME DIE BEFORE A SIMILAR JAPANESE VEHICLE.

Q: Chevy Venture Van's Instrument Panel lights goes off at night?
Hello, Folks, My 1997 Chevy Venture Van's Instrument Panel lights, including the time/radio display go dark at night although all electrical: lights, turn lights, radio work well. That means AT NIGHT, I cannot read my speed, temperature, and fuel meters, neither time/radio station display. Which parts/electrical board should I replace, and where is it located within the vehicle? Again, all other electrical lights - front/rear/turn lights are working just normal. At the DAY TIME, time/radio reading is fine, too. Thanks in advance. George

A: George, on the light switch, there is a dimmer. If you rotate the headlight knob clockwise, the dash display will light up.

Q: 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport or 2000 Chevy Venture?
I'm sure all cars have their share of problems. These are my two choices. Each have 140,000 miles. The dodge is $3,000 & the Chevy is $4,500. Which van would be better for use as a taxicab, adding about 6,000 miles per month!! Thanks

A: I was just told by several MECHANICS say no to the VENTURE, they have intake manifold, thermostat, overheat problems, they have replaced thousands of them and still no recall from Chevy. I just bought a 2000 Toyota Sienna, I expect it to last forever, Honda same... I paid 6800 for it. and it was worth 9300 according to my bank. All leather, TV , new tires the works...

Q: Why is my seat belt indicator not working?
I have a 1997 Chevy Venture. I noticed that when you start the vehicle, the indicator light doesn't come on at all. There is a loose wire under the driver side seat. Would that cause any problems?

A: the first things I would check is if all the other dash lights work. (sure you have done that) after that would be the fuses. Then if not those look at the wiring harness under your seat that leads into the belt buckle. Check for any freying, cracked, broken, loose wires. It is a contact relay inside your buckle so something might be triggering that or something broke inside. You can try some contact cleaner but if that doesn't work than look into your local salvage yard if it is not your wiring. Good luck

Q: What do you think, have you had any experience with Chevrolet products?
We just got a 1997 Chevy Venture Van and was sort of wondering what to expect. Does the Chevy brand use a lot of oil, or gas, or??? The other van died on us and we had to have something...it is 6 cyl.

A: I had a ' 81 ' Lumina. With a 3.1 engine. When I traded it in it was still running and had 286,000 miles on it. I then purchased a '99 Lumina, with a 3.1 in 2000. I now has 180,000 miles on it. So, it should be good for another 100,000 miles yet. All I do is Maintain all the liquids in it and change the oil every 2,000 miles.

Q: Why is my rear wiper motor not working on my 97 Chevy Venture?
ok...I have a 1997 Chevrolet Venture. I replaced my rear wiper motor with a salvaged one. When I turn on the switch, I just hear a click sound..no movement of the wiper. I went back to the yard and tired three other motors. Rather than take the entire system apart, I just disconnected the power supply and connected it to the "newer" motor. Same problem...just a click from the motor...no movement of spining part on the motor. Is there something wrong with the wiring in the van itself? Blown fuse?

A: You may have a wiring issue....try checking the wiring within the boot that houses it right around the hinge area at the top of the rear door. Those designs are terrible for breaking one or two of those wires after years of use. However, it would be a wise idea at this point to install a motor, and leave the rear wiper arm off long enough to see if the pivot will spin. Can't remember exactly, but you may have a problem with the pivot itself being seized if it isn't a part of the motor replacement. If you don't see a spinning action from it, try using a little bit of penetrating oil, and turning it by hand. Make sure, of course, that you have turned the unit off before you do it.

Q: Help, my mini van takes forever to warm up (to defrost windows and heat?
I have a 1997 chevy venture,the blower is working, and there is water and anti-freeze in van, but it takes forever to defrost windows and get heat inside.I have to take my son to school in the early mornings, and I have to leave it run from half an hour, and its still not very warm.The blower is runing , you can hear it, but hardly any heat comes out. any ideas?

A: By your description I would bet that your thermostat is either stuck completly open or at least partially. Simple fix, just replace it. The thermostat is designed to keep the coolant in the engine at operating temperature. It really does not matter how cold it is outside because the water circulating through your heater core is pushed from the engine block to the heater core by the water pump. If the thermostat is stuck open the water flows from the radiator to through the engine and back to the radiator without having time to heat up. It is important that your engine operate at the correct temperature. It will affect the effieciency of your engine if it does not. Plus your cold when your driving it. The repair for this problem is less than fifteen dollars if you do it yourself.

Q: Why do 3400 series (3.4 liter) for GM vehicles overheat and require severe mechanical services so often?
My 1997 Chevy Venture van has had extensive engine repairs lately (only 60,000 miles) and cant seem to get the engine repaired correctly without replacing the engine.

A: Have your mechanic check the intake manifold gasket, and replace if needed. 3.1, 3.4, and 3.4's from GM all seem to have this problem somewhere between 50 and 80 thousand miles and it causes coolant loss and overheating.