1998 Chevrolet Venture fuel system, gasoline problems

“AT MORNING START UP I SMELLED GAS. CHECKED UNDER VAN AND SAW PUDDLE OF GAS IN MIDDLE. TOOK VAN TO CHEV. DEALER AND FOUND GAS LINE LEAKING. LEAK IS ONLY ABOUT 18 INCHES AWAY FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IF WIND WAS BOWLING JUST RIGHT A FIRE COULD START. THIS IS 1998 CHEV. VENTURE WITH 13000 MILES. THIS IS THE FORTH TIME I HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB”

“THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS WERE LEAKING COOLANT AND OIL ONTO THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE OVERHEATING, AND BURNING UP THE ENGINE MOTOR. ALSO, FUEL INJECTORS HAD TO BE CLEANED NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO THEM MISFIRING.*AK”

“THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME UP ONE MORNING. A CERTIFIED FRIEND MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AT HOME WITH HIS ENGINE ANALYZER/COMPUTER & FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HE THEN CHECKED OUT THE GAS CAP IF SECURE. AFTER AWHILE, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE GAS CAP BECAUSE I'M VERY CAREFUL ABOUT LOOSE GAS CAPS. ANYWAY, AFTER 2 DAYS OF DRIVING, THE LIGHT CAME OUT AGAIN. BEFOREHAND, HE SUGGESTED TO HAVE THE GAS CAP REPLACED IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. SO I CHANGED IT & HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS NOW BUT THE LIGHT IS STILL THERE. SOMEBODY SAID THAT IT MIGHT TAKE A COUPLE OF GAS TANK REFILLS BEFORE THE GAS CAP GET "CROSS-THREADED" OR SEALED TIGHT. I ALREADY HAD 2 REFILLS & THE LIGHT'S STILL THERE. THE VAN'S RUNNING WELL & AM EXPERIENCING NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THAT LIGHT TURNED OFF.”

“FUEL TANK "THUD" HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE A SECOND OR TWO AFTER COMING TO A STOP. LOUDEST WHEN TANK IS 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. TAKEN TO DEALER TWO TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NO REPAIR MADE. NOW WITH 80,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN AGAIN AND SHOWN THE DEALER A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" FROM NHTSA.COM SHOWING CERTAIN 1998 VIN #'S NEED NEW FUEL TANKS. DEALER TOLD ME MY VEHICLE DIDN'T APPLY. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURNED AND DROVE VEHICLE W/SERVICE MANAGER. HE FINALLY AGREED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY TANK AND WILL FIX/REPLACE. IF YOU HAVE THIS PROBLEM, SEE THE SECTION ON THIS WEB SITE THAT SHOWS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, PRINT MY COMPLAINT ALSO, AND TAKE THESE TO YOUR DEALER TO GET YOUR "THUD" FIXED.”

“I WAS EXPERIENCING LOSS OF COOLANT. FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD /GASKET. COST OF REPAIR $700. WENT ON LINE AND FOUND A SITE WITH OVER 1,000 PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. MECHANICS ARE SAYING IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL GM ENGINES. THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED. HOPEFULLY, I CAUGHT MINE IN TIME. HUNDREDS DIDN'T AND THEIR ENGINE BLEW. MECHANIC SAID HAD I TAKEN THIS OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE LEAK MY ENGINE WOULD HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AND IS AFFECTING MILLIONS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!! DT”

“ENGINE STALLS. FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, 5 TIMES TOWED THREE TIMES REPLACED FUEL PUMP TWICE. STALLING AGAIN, 22MAY02 AT 65 MPH, 30MAY02 AT 15 MPH, AND 04JUN02 AT 55 MPH. EACH TIME WILL RESTART AFTER 20 MINUTES. DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG. HAVE CASE RECORD WITH CHEVY S1-3066803.*AK”