2000 Chevrolet Venture: engine overheating

Filed Feb 6, 2022 · Fuel system · IL

Car is losing coolant quickly, even though I have replaced the water pump about a month ago. Due to GM Manufactuing, they only allow Dex Cool coolant for their vehicles but not everyone carries Dex Cool. Also, the oxygen sensor code need to be read oxygen sensor only and not with 4 or 5 other codes.

Filed Jun 14, 2011 · Engine · 170,000 miles · FL

My 2000 chevy venture van had an overheating problem when the coolant was full. I researched on google and found there to be complaints about this specific van problem on this make and year. Is there a recall or any way that the problem can be fixed for no charge? The repair shop says it has seen this on this vehicle as will and the cost to fix the cracked head gasket is $1200.00 I appreciate any help that you can give me with this matter. I signed up for printout of research but please disregard as this complaint form is what I needed. Thanks.

Filed Aug 29, 2010 · Engine · 112,765 miles · NH

Last winter I left my 2000 chevrolet venture van (with a 3.4 liter v6 engine) idling for about 10-15 minutes while I worked outside it. When I got back inside, the heat gauge was about 3/4 the way to hot, and neither of the (2) electric radiator cooling fans were running. The engine ran cool for normal unconjested traffic after this. In mid summer the heat gauge again went 3/4 hot while I was in slow moving stop-and-go traffic. To prevent heat damage, I ran the heater full blast in mid 80's weather; -no fun! I troubleshoot the radiator fans control system and found that the PCM (power-train control module; (computer)) wasn't working properly. I replaced the PCM myself with an after-market, reflashed (reprogrammed with gm up-to-date software) unit, but I couldn't get the PCM to do its 'crankshaft variation relearn procedure' with my equipment, so I took the van to my gm dealership to have it done, and also to have the cooling fans tested. My dealership tested the fans and found they now worked, finished the PCM work, but they also said that it overheated and blew coolant right out of the reservoir; they diagnosed it with blown head gaskets on both front and rear parts. (it doesn't sound blown, have coolant in the oil, or put exhaust in the coolant that I can see.) they quoted $1147.50 labor & $390. Parts, & whatever it cost for a machine shop to correct any head warpage, to correct the problem. They also advised my wife (who brought in the van), that the van should not be driven until the head gasket problem is fixed. I have talked with several people who told me that most everyone who had this 3.4 liter gm engine has had to have the head gasket replaced. One person said that they thought the government should do something since the problem appears to be so wide spread. I suspect that the PCM failing to turn on the cooling fans was what caused this head gasket failure in my case. Do you have other people reporting head gasket problems?

Filed Apr 12, 2006 · Engine, Transmission · 60,000 miles · GA

We have spent 3 years flushing radiator with dexcool--still having overheating which causes problems with our transmission--every time seeing sludge in overflow tank within a month after fresh flush--this month we have replaced water pump, and replacing radiator, oil cooler, and going back to regular green antifreeze after hearing of similar problems and worse in chevrolet models using dexcool!! Unknown if damage has been caused to transmission for 3 summers of overheating...can't drive in stop/go traffic safely in warm weather knowing that cooling system/transmission will fail in those conditions. We've spent several hours stopped under shade trees to let engine cool down enough to get to destination.

Filed Mar 30, 2006 · Engine · 24,765 miles · NY

Noticed coolant leaking brought into my mechanic he diagnosed " replace intake manifold gaskets", brought van to chevy to see if perhaps a recall because I was told by mechanic that this problem is common with this engine, but I was told no recall and they are unaware of a problem with this engine. So I paid $1,265 to chevy to repair their defect on a 2000 chevy venture with just under 25k miles. And they wonder why people are buying foreign made cars!!!!!

Filed Mar 24, 2005 · Airbags, Electrical · 82,000 miles · IL

The air bag light remained illuminated while driving. The vehicle is at the dealer. *ak the passenger seat belt pretensioner was installed with an activation cable under the seat track. Over time, the wiring in the cable shorted internally requiring replacement. Without replacement the airbag system was inoperative. There was also a coolant leak which was found in the lower intake manifold gasket. *sc

Filed Mar 9, 2005 · Engine · 91,000 miles · NE

Labor day 2004 traveling through rocky mountain national park, engine coolant overheated. Had replaced coolant 2 months previous. Temperature gauge now always shows cool. Today had routine oil change and shop advised intake manifold gasket leaking and needing replaced. Upon researching the problem, discovered it is extremely common on chevrolet 3.4l engine and often leads to cam shaft and even total engine failure and replacement. Gm currently ignoring condition.

Filed Dec 17, 2004 · Airbags, Engine · 40,200 miles · MA

Premature failure of intake manifold gasket//g.m. Has new revised one ??? Car has 40,000 mi 2000 chev. Venture 3.4 motor it is a known fact that g.m. Has a big problem out there. Poss. Damage to internal motor if coolant leaks inside!!!! Very costly too consumer./// the dexcool coolant seems to be the problem also// very corrosive to gaskets. Looked at mitchell. Tech. Bulletin found out about early intake gasket failure.with note on revised gasket. I seem to feel g.m. Should take care of this even if a deductible applies .thank you for your time. If you can lead me in a direction to take I would appr. It. S.t.

Filed May 10, 2004 · Engine · DC

Since purchasing my 2000 chevrolet venture minivan in october, 2000, I have been experiencing loss of coolant since december, 2003. At this time the car had just over 75,000 miles on it. None the less I had kept scheduled maintenance on the van. On every scheduled maintenance chevrolet prescribes ( from 7,500 miles to 90,000+) "check for oil and coolant leaks" is listed. I find it difficult to believe that at no time during any of these check up the mechanic at the dealer did not notice a coolant leak until 80,000+ miles later and after my warranty has expired. Now, I have been advised that the intake manifold is leaking and the repairs are going to cost ~$900.00. I contacted gm customer service, and was given several excuses to justify chevrolet's action, (or lack therof), from "that's a lot of miles. And any part is going to wear out after a while" to "if there needed to be a recall it would have to be demanded by the government". Hogwash!!! Based on the number of complaints I have read this evening, and even the verbal confirmation from my service advisor that "we're seeing a lot of these", chevrolet does not have to wait for the government to say, we have a problem and we need to fix it.

Filed May 6, 2004 · Engine · MI

Cooland level light came on next day discovered coolant leak right side

Filed Mar 22, 2004 · Engine · 45,000 miles · NJ

Venture 3.4l w/49.9k - coolant overflow was empty and has been low several times.after web research, I found many owner (3.4l engine of any model car/van) complaints and an intake-manifold-leak website and on your the federal safety agency website with complaints of gasket problem and a possilbe relationship to texeco dexcool coolant. At this time, gm has a better intake gasket design and switched to prestone coolant since last year. They seem to address this issue discretely. I also looked more closely at my engine and now see (intake) leaks/wetness but small. March 22, 2004, I have contacted gm assistance - 800.462.8782 (linda cooper - service request #1-200466551) and discussed my surmise of the coolant loss and a pervasive problem which more complaints should occur as more vehichles miles go beyond 40k. Since many websites describes in detail and put up pictures of the leaks, the gaskets defects and related problems if not monitored and allowed to run at point of low coolant warning could likely cause overheating, oil dilution, engine damage and other problems. With all this information, gm would not acknowledged a known problem, problem familiarity, nor allow any warranty repair because there is "no recall" in process. I was then conferenced-called to a local dealer who offer me 10% discount for a ~$600 plus cost of repair to any other problems found. This is not an option I prefer, as this problem occurs out of warranty, 2nd owner of car, I do my own maintenance without use of the dealer services; otherwise I may have gotten this fixed under some/partial warranty but I was not given this option. But if this is a defect which will only occur "after" warranty coverage, eventually everyone will have this problem. If I go to a private shop for a more cost effective repair, gm will only reimburse me, only when and if there is a recall.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 65,000 miles · UN

Cracked intake manifold on 3.4l engine. Faulty seal. Coolant leaking into engine oil.