I have a 98 Venture that doesn't start about one in five times in the winter. It did it all last winter and then summer it was fine. Now that it is cold again it's doing it again. The only thing I have found that fixes it is unhooking the cable from the battery and hooking it back up. When it doesn't start it loses power altogether. You put the key in and start to turn it and hear everything go dead. Then I have no lights, dinging, clicking...nothing at all! We replaced the battery and it didn't help. When you unhook the positive terminal and reconnect it it will start right up. We used a voltmeter and tested the connections and they seem fine everywhere. What could it be doing when we unhook it? The computer resetting?

I have a 98 Venture that doesn't start about one in five times in the winter. It did it all last winter and then summer it was fine. Now that it is cold again it's doing it again. The only thing I have found that fixes it is unhooking the cable from the battery and hooking it back up. When it doesn't start it loses power altogether. You put the key in and start to turn it and hear everything go dead. Then I have no lights, dinging, clicking...nothing at all! We replaced the battery and it didn't help. When you unhook the positive terminal and reconnect it it will start right up. We used a voltmeter and tested the connections and they seem fine everywhere. What could it be doing when we unhook it? The computer resetting?

When the engine won't start next time, try using a booster (jumper) cable between the battery and the starter. Do NOT disconnect the cable.

I could be wrong but you may have a bad battery cable.

Is there any CEL for codes?

Yes, bad battery cable would be my guess too. Next time, try reaching down and grabbing the positive cable securely and giving it a tug or two, then start the van.

an old battery cable can corrode on the inside and the g.m. type [side post ]are more prone to this with the terminal enclosed. i would put a new hot cable on it as if it is still the original one it is ten years old.