2002 Chevrolet Venture: engine overheating

Filed Dec 5, 2020 · Engine · KY

Blown intake manifold gasket. Vehicle did not have an overheating issue, and has been well maintained since I've owned it. Drove across a steep 7 mile hill, temp gauge started moving above normal. I stopped and let it cool down, motor got to about 245 degrees well before any warning lights were able to come on. Started the motor and it sounded different so I popped the hood and the coolant overflow was bubbling. Noticed the windshield started steaming up, and a very rough idle. Shut the motor off and started it again. White smoke coming from the tailpipe. Turn it off again and opened the oil cap and it had the mayo look and smelled of antifreeze. Pulled the dipstick and the oil was brown and separated. Got it hauled home. Did an inspection and antifreeze was all down the block. Took the motor apart and the lower intake manifold gasket was just detroyed. Chevrolet has had nothing but problems out of these 3.4 gen 3 motors. They all need to be recalled and the problem corrected. Doesn't matter if you keep the coolant flushed and oil changed. Head gaskets were in the same shape I changed them too. All together cost me over $1000 between gasket kits, head bolts, intake bolts, coolant, oil, filter, flush, and that was changing the head gasket, lower and upper intake manifold gasket completely by myself. These motors are so hard to work on, I just couldn't afford to have someone do it for me. It's just bad to buy a vehicle and have this problem. Most venture owners have changed head gaskets or intake gaskets more than once. Toyota recalled their 3.0 motors for this problem, why is gm not made to rectify this continuous problem. The van has alot of other problems as well, body rust, headlights you cannot see with, oil seal leaks, steering knuckle problems, sliding door issues, radio problems, electrical problems, signal lights, ABS problems. Fuel pump problems. It's a lemon

Filed Apr 3, 2012 · Engine · 123,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began to overheat and the check engine warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the oil pressure sending unit, water pump, thermostat and radiator cap was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired yet the repair failed to remedy the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic who advised the contact that the motor also needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 123,000 and the current mileage was 126,000.

Filed Jan 4, 2011 · Engine · PA

January 4,2011 philadelphia, pa. I first notice in aug 2010 that my 2002 chevy venture was making noise and overheating was told by a mechanic it was my wheel bearings and my thermostat got that repaired that cost about $425.00 then the van kept overheating and cutting off went back to the mechanic and was told it was my radiator that was repaired drove it and had to take the van back because it was still overheating so the water pump was repaired and the both of those repairs was about $275.00 needless to say the van was still overheating then I was told that the van need to be put on the diagnostic machine and then I found out it was my intake manifold gasket and that cost me $500.00. If gm is having this many customers with the same problems this it should be addressed so us as owner don't be put through this again.

Filed Jun 14, 2010 · Engine, Transmission · 50,000 miles · AZ

Transmission failed in january of 2005 at 50,000 miles. Had it rebuilt for $3,000.00. Failed again at in august 2009 115,000 miles and at the same time the lower intake manifold gasket failed. Had it replaced and the gasket replaced for another $3,000.00. Still overheats in city traffic. Left radiator fan never comes on I have to run the heater to get the temp under control and I live in yuma, az. This van is a lemon and has cost me about $8,000.00 more than it should to own. Never again will I buy a gm product. They are criminals!

Filed May 29, 2010 · Engine · NY

I own a 2002 chevy venture needs a new head gasket I was told very common with this make of vehicle I have already put alot of money in van. The van overheats so often I can hardly even use it. I am financially in a position were I can't afford a new car don't think I should have to when I have taken such great care of this van. Further more after researching online I have found numerous problems with this same issue that consumers have had with 2002 chevy ventures. I feel this is a safety issue I never know how hot can the van get before its a danger to me, my children or anyone else this should be looked into for recall.

Filed May 14, 2010 · Engine · 70,000 miles · KS

I am still paying for a 2002 chevy venture van that I bought 2 1/2 yrs ago. It has 72000 miles on it. I am having major cooling issues anywhere from over heating to smelling the anti freeze, if it idles for 10min it will get up to about 220 deg and the fans wont kick on till 285 deg. We have had in the shop 4 times now for repairs. The water pump was replaced, the intake manifold gasket was replaced, this time they just replaced my radiator cap and flushed my system. 4 days later its doing it again overheating to 3/4 mark, smelling very distinctly like anti- freeze yet there are no leaks. ? They are now looking into an engine sensor and said it normally runs 184 deg and should be at least 195 deg so it runs low on a normal basis. ( normal to me since I bought it) I paid for an extended warranty through gm and no one can seem to find what the problem is.? How many deductibles do I have to pay before they actually find the solution to the problem I told them about from the beginning? I have three children I drive around in this van and I shouldn't have to worry about it overheating somewhere.

Filed May 23, 2008 · Engine · 55,743 miles · NJ · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that her vehicle would overheat. In addition, there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The failure has occurred on two separate occasions. The mechanic repaired the thermostat; however, the failure continued to occur. The current and failure mileages were 55,743.

Filed Mar 11, 2007 · Engine · 83,525 miles · MO

Head gasket failure, coolant leaks in to the engine compartment engine could fail at any given time creating a safety hazard for driver, passengers and other drivers.

Filed Feb 2, 2007 · Engine · 47,200 miles · IL

Coolant leaking. Turns out gaskets need to be replaced. Car has only 47,000 miles on it. Research shows this is a common complaint. Cost approximately $750 to fix. I see where gm knows about problem and issued technical service bulletin, yet consumer must pay. Gm should pay.

Filed Dec 19, 2006 · Engine · TX

I have a 2002 chevy venture van that earlier this summer started to lose engine coolant. Web research shows many other fails of this type on the chevy venture van. I took it to a local mechanic who performed a coolant leak check and found the head gasket failed in two places. It appears to be a design problem but gm refuses to help, cost of the repair was over $500. The vehicle just came out of warranty the first of the year. Not a safety problem - design problem. Would like a recall and gm to pay for their design problem.

Filed Dec 4, 2006 · Engine · 95,500 miles · MI

Coolant leak. Head gasket was disintegrating due to type of coolant gm used. Head gasket had to be repaired. $750.

Filed Jun 7, 2005 · Engine · 80,000 miles · OH

The intake manifold gasket on my 2002 chevy venture van with a 3400 cc engine failed and over heated. My wife who is a visiting nurse was luck enough to get off the road in a safe area. This problem has been going for at least 6 yrs without any help from the government to force a recall on a known defect. There are many web sites that have documented this problem. What is safe about overheating on a highway or at night with family and kids in the car. Gm has already issued a service bulletins about the gasket problem and what dealers are to do to fix the problem at the customers expense. I believe that the government should force gm into a recall. These repairs are costing about 6oo.00 to 1200.00 dollars. Thank you. Robert s. Ingersol, nremt-p