1999 Chevy Venture Extended

[mjbapril1958]

Went out this evening to start the van and my son used the key to unlock all of the doors, the inside lights came on but when he tried to start it everything went dead... The vehicle wouldn't start. In Nov/Dec timeframe replaced the battery, January 2005 timeframe replaced the alternator. Tried to lock the doors with the key but it wouldn't work. Had to manually lock all doors and trunk.

Anybody had this problem????

[AJT1961]

Not with a Venture. I had this problem once before on a different car and it was because the glove box light was staying on and slowly draining the battery. If the car sat for more than a few days, it went dead. You need to determine first if something is draining the battery, or if the battery has power and it is not getting through due to a bad battery cable or cable connection. Sometimes it's something as simple as a loose battery terminal connection. I wouldn't be surprised if your problem is as simple as that.

[gizziy]

I have a 1998 venture and it is doing the same thing. You should find if you wiggle the battery terminal wires power will resume and it can be started. I thought I just had a loose wire, but I have been reading in a few forums that this is a common problem with the Ventures. Mine will lose power if I have the vehicle turned off and keep the radio or interior lights on for a few minutes. I have not found anyone with the answer yet.

Originally Posted by mjbapril1958

Went out this evening to start the van and my son used the key to unlock all of the doors, the inside lights came on but when he tried to start it everything went dead... The vehicle wouldn't start. In Nov/Dec timeframe replaced the battery, January 2005 timeframe replaced the alternator. Tried to lock the doors with the key but it wouldn't work. Had to manually lock all doors and trunk.

Anybody had this problem????

[gambler]

Originally Posted by mjbapril1958

Went out this evening to start the van and my son used the key to unlock all of the doors, the inside lights came on but when he tried to start it everything went dead... The vehicle wouldn't start. In Nov/Dec timeframe replaced the battery, January 2005 timeframe replaced the alternator. Tried to lock the doors with the key but it wouldn't work. Had to manually lock all doors and trunk.

Anybody had this problem????

i have a 1997 venture got in it one day and turned the key just went dead, found the pos. battery cable was coroded, cleaned and has been just fine. i know you said you had a new battery in 1/05 but check and clean battery cables and bolts are tight.

[cdru]

Originally Posted by gambler

i have a 1997 venture got in it one day and turned the key just went dead, found the pos. battery cable was coroded, cleaned and has been just fine. i know you said you had a new battery in 1/05 but check and clean battery cables and bolts are tight.

I'll second this. Battery corrosion was the cause when my car has similar sympotoms as well this past winter. It had enough of a connection to power lights, radio, locks, etc, but not enough juice to turn the starter over. Luckily my wife had the car over at my parents house and I was at home...dad wasn't too happy about having to go out in the freezing cold to clean a battery terminal.