Chevrolet Venture overheating problems

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 Feb 7, 2021 · Electrical · 114,000 miles · IL

The buttons for my control dash where radio and heat adjustment are, the panel,. Gets blazing hot to the touch. Everytime we drive it. It's overheating so much I am concerned it wasn't fixed by a recall previously claimed. The buttons decals have melted off on some buttons. This happens when the car is on. I recently purchased this van privately in illinois.

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 Aug 2, 2016 · Engine · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet venture. Within less than 30 days of owning the vehicle, the service engine light and the coolant light randomly kept illuminating. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated. The mechanic was notified of the failure. The contact was awaiting the diagnostic results. The contact received no solution from the mechanic and was uncertain of what needed to be repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was not available.

Filed Aug 17, 2015 · MI

The cooling system overheats alot and ive bought alot of coolant because of this problem and ive gotten stranded a couple of times and its crazy ive did some research and it could be multiple things but for sure its going to cost alot for this I cant lay for these exspensive repairs im still going and paying for school id just would like some help to get these exspensive repairs fixed because this van is my ownly transportation.

Filed Oct 1, 2014 · Electrical · 6,000 miles · MI

My wife took her chevrolet van in for service due to the interior light not functioning it was taken to mahoney chevrolet and blossom chevrolet. They told her it was corrosion causing the problem and did nothing to repair the problem as they said it was not covered. I being a certified mechanic and having an associates degree in electronics trouble shot the problem and found the body control module to be the cause of the problem. The module also caused the power windows,door locks,remotes and all other interior things to fail. I feel this is a very serious safety issue as there are millions of these vans on the road and these modules fail on this and all other models of this van such as the pontiac etc... In a panic situation such as an accident the driver would have to manually operate the locks or smash out a window if they were able to do so if there were a fire and it was urgent to get out of the van many may panic and not be able to get out. I contacted gm over this issue and they appeared to agree with me and gave me a service # of 71-1331263820. I have sent them numerous e-mails and phone calls but have gotten no response. I feel this is the same old gm and they wont repair an obvious defect unless ordered to or if there are deaths from the problem. I am hoping contacting you will force them to do the right thing and repair this problem before someone does die because they cant get out of their van or the module catches fire from an overheated chip that controls this module. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon

Filed May 12, 2014 · Engine · 112,156 miles · OR

We were driving on the freeway and noticed the heat gauge starting to rise very quickly to the red zone. The engine stalled and once the temp came down we proceeded to an auto parts store. There we purchased a thermostat, radiator cap, and 2 gallons of premix dex-cool. We installed the new cap and filled system with the dex-cool. We drove about 7 miles to a lake for a day of fishing. The inaccessibility of the thermostat, I could not change the thermostat that day. After sitting (not running) we started for home (60 miles). We had only gone about 10 miles when it overheated for the first time. We could only go about 10 miles before we'd have to stop and let the van cool down and add more coolant and water. It took 6 hours to get home. Over the next couple of days the overheating problem continued. On 28apr2014 we had the van towed to a local (reputable) auto shop. The next day we were informed that the intake manifold was leaking and would have to be repaired before they could pressure test the system to check the other components (radiator, radiator cap, etc.) the cost of just the intake repair was estimated at $1500-$2500. I have been researching the issue online and found that this is a common issue with these vans because of the dex-cool being a plasticizer and an aluminum corrosive. Also found out that gm has known of this problem but have chose not to fix the problem. I have had recalls on other vehicles (for a less problem) because the manufacturers said ok we have this problem so to keep our customers we'll fix it, but not gm. It wouldn't be so bad if gm even tried to fix this issue. We are middle-class and have a hard time making ends meet and can't afford this kind of expense.

Filed Jul 9, 2012 · Engine · 94,600 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, she noticed that the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer stated that the lower intake needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they stated that there were no recalls addressing the failure. The failure and current mileages were 94,600.

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 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.