2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE engine

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that may
be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briey when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly – and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle also has a message center that works
along with the warning lights and gages. SeeMessage
Center on page 3-50.
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Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to
the mileage total of the old odometer, then that will
be done. If it cannot be, it will be set at zero and a label
must be put on the driver’s door to show the old
mileage reading when the new odometer was installed.
Dual Trip Odometers
In addition to the standard odometer, the cluster can also
display two separate trip odometers, designated by the
letter A or B in the display window, as well as your
vehicle’s Engine Oil Life, which is designated by the word
OIL in the display window. The display can be toggled
between the odometer, the trip odometers, and engine oil
life by quickly pressing and releasing the trip/reset button
located to the right of the temperature gage. The display
toggles once each time the trip/reset button is pressed for
less than 1.5 seconds. The display toggles in the
following sequence: Odometer - Trip Odometer A - Trip
Odometer B - Engine Oil Life. If the engine oil life is left on
the display, it will automatically toggle back to the
odometer after about 15 seconds. Each of the two trip
odometers can be used to keep track of different trip
distances, such as the mileage of a long trip and the
mileage driven on the current tank of fuel. The trip
odometers will continue to keep track of miles
(kilometers) driven even if they are not currently
displayed. To reset the odometer to zero, press and hold
the trip/reset button for at least 1.5 seconds, but less than
three seconds. Only the trip odometer that is showing in
the display will be reset.
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Retro-Active Reset
Each of the two trip odometers has a feature called
retro-active reset. This feature can be used to set either
or both trip odometer(s) to the number of miles
(kilometers) driven since the ignition was last turned on.
This can be used if you forget to reset your trip odometer
at the beginning of a trip. To use the retro-active reset
feature, press and hold the trip/reset button for at least
three seconds. The trip odometer will then display the
number of miles (kilometers) driven since the ignition was
last turned on and you began driving. If you use the
retro-active reset feature after you have started the
vehicle, but before you begin moving, the display will
show the number of miles (kilometers) you drove during
the last ignition cycle. Once you begin driving, the trip
odometer will accumulate mileage. For example, if you
have driven 5.0 miles (8.0 km) since you started your
vehicle, and then activate the retro-active reset feature,
the display will show 5.0 miles (8.0 km). As you drive, the
display will then increase to 5.1 miles (8.2 km), 5.2 miles
(8.4 km), etc. Only the trip odometer that is displayed will
be affected by the retro-active reset so that both trip
odometers can be used separately.
Tachometer
Your vehicle may have a tachometer that displays the
engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).
Notice:If you operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, your vehicle
could be damaged, and the damages would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not operate
the engine with the tachometer in the shaded
warning area.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle may have this
light. If it does, the anti-lock
brake system warning light
should come on for a few
seconds when you turn the
ignition key to RUN.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, the anti-lock brake system needs
service and you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briey when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If
the light doesn’t come on then, have it xed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle may have a traction control system
warning light. The traction control system warning light
may come on for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
button located in the instrument panel switchbank
the warning light will come on and stay on. To
turn the system back on, press the button again.
The warning light should go off. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-10for more
information.
United StatesCanada
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If there’s a brake system problem that is specically
related to traction control, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on. If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction
control system will turn off and the warning light will
come on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United StatesCanada
3-44

This gage shows the
engine coolant
temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into the red
area, your engine is
too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-25.Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light in the
United States or Check Engine Light
in Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems. Cluster with Tachometer
United StatesCanada
3-45

This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment.
The SERVICE ENGINE SOON or CHECK ENGINE light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service
is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent. This may prevent
more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with this
light on, after a while, your emission controls
may not work as well, your fuel economy may not
be as good and your engine may not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may
not be covered by your warranty.
Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your
vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with
other than those of the same Tire PerformanceCriteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission
controls and may cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by your warranty. This may
also result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light does not come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has been
detected. A misre increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Light On Steady— An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service may be required.
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If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle.Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still
ashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. SeeFilling Your Tank on page 5-7. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
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