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codes P0300 and P0449 03 chevy venture

Model: 03 chevy venture Fault Code: P0300 Posted: 2014-01-14 05:38

2003 chevy venture. My problem started over a month ago, I was driving up a hill and the van shut off as if i turned the key off, once I pulled over it started right back up. A couple of days later it did the same thing, and again a couple of days after that. The 3rd time it stalled on me when i was just driving along going about 35 mph on a straight away, i pulled over to start it but it would not start this time, it would crank but no start, it wanted to start it just would not, it was acting like It was out of gas, but I had a full tank of gas. My fiance came and we had to push if off the road, once off the road he took the fuel filter off and gas shot out everywhere so there was lots of fuel pressure, so he blew threw the filter and some brown gas came out of it, he put the filter back on and now it didnt even want to try to start any more like it was b4. So the van sat all night, the next day we were on our way to get a fuel pump from a junk yard but decided to stop by the van to see if it would start, and it did. I got it home even drove it around a bit, went to advance auto, they told me it was throwing a code for a sensor that was above the gas tank, I asked them to give me the code # but the guy was to lazy to go in the store and actually do his job so he insisted it was this sensor, so I came home and did research on this sensor, (fuel vapor pressure sensor) he said it would cause vapor lock and make the van act like it was running out of gas, so stupid me bought the part that was 42 bucks, now at this point it was a couple days later and the van would not start at all, well after my fiance changed this sensor, the van finally started, it stumbled and grumbled, spit and sputtered and carried on real bad for like 2 minutes then it finally evened out and idle perfectly. I had to take my daughter to practice across town it was fine, I decided to go to the store up on the hill, and it started acting up again. It was just sputtering a little bit like i was running out of gas. Made it to the store and left stopped to get some gas, I added about a half tank and added some gas treatment. It ran fine the rest of the way home. The next day it acted up again, so I took it to the local garage to put it on there computer and it showed about 5 diff codes, they told me to start with a tune up, so I had my fiance put new plugs and wires on the van, this ended up being a 2 day job because anyone who does their own maintenance on their Chevy venture knows what you have to do to get to those &^%$ plugs in the back!!! He got done with it then I took it around the block, still acting up. I went straight to advance auto again and diff guy was telling me same problem with this sensor we had already replaced, and again was to lazy to give me the code is was throwing, so I went to Auto Zone and they gave me a code for P0300 and P0449. So after about a week the part came in for a canister vent valve solenoid, and he replaced it above the gas tank, but the van is still acting up and 100 times worse than it originally started out, i cant even take it out of the garage now with out it grumbling and having a fit, and it just stalls. I am at wits end, dont have the money to get it towed to the garage, I am screwed can anyone please help me figure out this junk!!!

Related fault codes
P0300P0449
Comments (17)
Anonymous 2014-01-14 08:18

So as it sits we have a no start, P0449*, P0300? YOu have NO other issues? Be advised a code does NOT advise to change a part - (part stores sell parts) - P0449 is control CIRCUIT issue, did you check for 12v at valve - maybe wiring or a fuse? I would do a fuel pressure test - you NEED to use a gauge, often available as a rental or loaner but critical for doing diagnostics on fuel injected engines. PS - fuel pump NO NO NEVER use a junk yard pump one of the worst ideas I ever heard. it is strongly recommend you use a OEM only - a quality aftermarket is a distant second recommendation, I shake my head no as I type, aftermarket fuel pump. *DTC P0449 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) Vent Solenoid Control Circuit

Anonymous 2014-01-15 08:26

It will start it just wont stay running, it spits and sputters so bad that it stalls out. Those codes are the only ones that came up, and yes I do understand that if it throws codes that doesn't mean fix that part but I didn't know what else to do, and yes I do know that the people that work in the part store 9 times out of 10 dont know what the h*ll they are talking about but the same codes came up from 3 different scanners at 3 different places, so I was just trying to weed out the problem. As for it having any other issues, I dont know that's why it is sitting in my garage broke down. No we did not check for voltage as we dont have any type of tool to check for voltage, the part is already changed so there's no going back on that. The fuses are fine those were checked. I will have to check at the local auto parts store if they have a fuel pressure tester I can rent, thank you for that advice. I know they rent tools but didn't know if they would have a fuel pressure tester for rent. Discover more DODGE TRUCK gas tank 2500 RAM About getting a fuel pump from a junk yard, I know your taking a big chance but at our local junk yard the parts are under a limited warranty and new fuel pumps are 300-400 bucks, a fuel pump at a junk yard is only 75.00. So when you are one a very small limited budget you kind of dont have a choice to buy the one for 75 bucks! So no need for you to shake your head as your typing thank you. I posted a comment asking for help on this issue I am having not to be criticized about the decisions I have to make.

Anonymous 2014-01-15 08:49

I fully understand your concerns about prices. Try a google search MAYBE online would save some. Your issue right now I believe is fuel - the P0300 a multi or random cylinder misfire. fuel pressure is the first suggested test, - you mention new plugs - the appearence of the pld plugs were they wet, dry. black, tan might help ID the issue. Easy simple test would also be - look at pressure regulator, check for evidence of fuel in vacuum line you do NOT want to see any - Is there a smell of excess fuel in eng oil? realizing that you do NOT have the luxury of a full tool box - trying to add some thoughts

Anonymous 2014-01-15 13:49

yea someone else on another site mentioned the fuel pressure regulator, im gonna have the old man check it when he gets home from work today. The spark plugs, I would bet were original, van has 123k on it, the plugs were horrible, they definitely needed changed. Lets see, they are sitting here in front of me right now and I guess you could say they are black and now that i have them sitting here in the house, i do smell a gas smell. now on some of them the tips are a grey color, but some of them have a little black and gray. A couple of them sure are gunked up. Damn I just called auto zone and they want 150 bucks to rent out a fuel pressure gauge!! If I had 150 bucks I could get it to a garage!! So thats not going to happen. I want to take it to the garage that fixed my van 2 years ago when I had shorted out wires. The van sat for 2 months and no one could figure out the problem, well it kept blowing the fuse for the fuel pump so I did research online like im doing now and came up with "there must be a shorted out wire somewhere" but no one could find it. I got it to this garage and they had it fixed in 4 hours and it only cost 150 bucks!! The shorted out wire was up under the dash on the passenger side, but their computer system found that. So anyway we will be checking this vacuum line here in a bit and ill let u'all know what we find.

Anonymous 2014-01-15 14:06

$150 is nuts. I don't know where you live but you can buy a new Actron fuel pressure tester for $32 from Amazon.com . I only mention that because I found the testers to be expensive locally, I bought mine from Amazon.

Anonymous 2014-01-15 14:58

yea that is nuts!! thats why I told them to forget about that!! I live in Pennsylvania about 2 hours east of Pittsburgh. My Fiance just got home from work and told me his buddy will tow my van to the garage if we can find a car dolly, it will only cost about 45 bucks for a uhaul dolly but im gonna ask a friend to barrow one.

Anonymous 2014-01-15 15:26

ok just checked the vacuum line on the fuel pressure regulator and it is bone dry

Anonymous 2014-01-15 17:19

thats good that it is dry, eleminates that. I am trying to suggest tests considering skill level and tools... we can walk you thru tests but tools can't think of a way to get around that. we are not crazy about the price - ck out if harbor freight by you - not great but ok http://www.sears.com/sunpro-fuel-pressu ... ockType=G3 PS: Pennsylvania - having lived there is a great state great people except for ... used to hunt all the time in Potter Tioga thanks for bringing up memories

Anonymous 2014-01-15 17:43

WOW what a price difference!!! well our goal now is, we are going to rent a tow dolly from uhaul for 44.95 and my fiance's buddy is going to tow my van to the garage. I just dont want to sink any more money into this thing without knowing 100% what the problem is, and I'm very confident in the garage I am taking it to, so next week by this time I should know what the problem is and it should be fixed, I will defiantly update what was wrong so that it may help some other poor sap in my situation!! MY ONLY ADVICE IS NEVER BUY A CHEVY VENTURE VAN!!!!!!! Thank you for trying to help I really appreciate it

Anonymous 2014-01-16 09:14

Have it re-scanned with a scanner that can read Manufacturer-specific codes. If P1639 (5V Ref 2 Circuit) appears, it is probable that either the connector or wiring has corroded. The wiring (a grey/black wire from the fuel tank pressure sensor connecting to a grey wire) is normally the culprit. The wiring is accessable from the rear floorboards and you may have to remove the rear seat and carpet to get to it.

Anonymous 2014-01-16 15:56

WE HAVE SPARK!!! Finally got the spark tester this afternoon, just tested the coils and spark plug wires even though the wires are brand new, and it sparked like there's no tomorrow. In order to not be broke this whole week I can not get the van to the garage this week again. So now at least we know it has to be a fuel system problem or a sensor I guess but there was no code for any sensors except the P0449 and we replaced the canister vent valve solenoid, so could the purge valve be bad thats on top of the motor???

Anonymous 2014-01-16 16:23

Mohawkmtrs wrote: Have it re-scanned with a scanner that can read Manufacturer-specific codes. If P1639 (5V Ref 2 Circuit) appears, it is probable that either the connector or wiring has corroded. The wiring (a grey/black wire from the fuel tank pressure sensor connecting to a grey wire) is normally the culprit. The wiring is accessible from the rear floorboards and you may have to remove the rear seat and carpet to get to it. well my goal is to get it to a chevy garage, but financially i am unable to do that for another week or so, this garage fixed my van 2 years ago when it had a shorted out wire to the fuel pump, but i have to have it towed to the garage. I did have the fuel tank pressure sensor replaced if that means anything?

Anonymous 2018-08-05 13:27

I replaced the vent silonoid and the canister along with the gas cap, no help, when I erase the code I can feel and hear the silonoid so I know it is working

Anonymous 2018-08-05 13:29

Referance to last post I only have p0449 code on 2003 Tahoe.

Anonymous 2018-09-20 15:34

I also have a P0449 code on my 2010 Tahoe... I have replaced the solenoid and has cap as well and still have a recurring check engine light.

Anonymous 2018-09-20 15:34

Gas cap *

Anonymous 2018-09-21 10:41

If solenoid is good, check the CIRCUIT (wiring, connectors, fuses,etc.)!