Chevrolet Venture Taillights And Turn Signal Problems

Question:
Driver side turn signal works fine when the brake is NOT applied. As soon as brake is applied, turn signal flashes very fast. Also related, when cruise control is on and as soon as you turn on the driver side turn signal it turns the cruise control off. When in reverse, the driver side turn signal does not work at all. Tried replacing the bulbs and didn't work. Autozone suggested replacing the Brake light Switch.

Answer:
As long as the bulbs that were replaced were the proper type, then this sounds like a problem in the dr. Rear lamp circuit board assembly. Sometimes the connector gets corroded, or the board shorts out internally, causing all kinds of odd lighting problems, shorting out, open circuits, back feeding. Try swapping the entire assembly with the passenger side, and see if the problems follow. If they do, then you have a problem in that board.

Question:
I was driving my van for about 5 blocks. While I was pulling into a parking space, the ABS light came on at the exact time I felt my van start to fight me. I had my foot on the gas pedal and the van almost came to a complete stop (similar to as if I was breaking). Why does my abs light come on. 2004 Chevy Venture van.

Answer:
An ABS light coming on when turning is usually the sign of a front wheel speed sensor problem, or one of the harnesses going to each. This will usually not cause the problem of the van fighting you and hard to keep it moving. If this van is all-wheel drive, then this could happen. In that case, you may have a problem an ABS sensor or harness, or a problem in the rear drive unit. Either way, the system would have to be scanned for trouble codes in order to find out what system has a problem, and begin diag. of the system.

Question:
Just a quick question: I'm getting a warning light/symbol that isn't in any of my manuals (this is a Canadian car): Its a red circle with a "wave" across it - the area under the wave is solid red. What does it mean? 2001 Chevy Venture.

Answer:
I believe the warning light symbol your are referring to is the low brake fluid warning. If the wave and the filled in area is at the bottom 1/3 of the circle. Check the brake fluid in the reservoir to see if it is low. Many times if it is low, the light will come on when slowing down, and go off when accelerating because the fluid is sloshing around.

If it is low, then have the system checked for leaks. Leaking rear wheel cylinders is a common cause for low fluid. Also low front brakes pads can cause the system fluid to be low.