2000 Pontiac Montana: engine overheating

Filed Apr 30, 2006 · Engine · OH

My 2000 pontiac montana has coolant leaking into the engine through the intake manifold. I noticed the problem today when I changed the oil. Problem has not been corrected yet. At about 50,000 miles I had to start adding a little coolant to the reservoir with every oil change, but it wasn't enough to notice the water in the oil. Now, with nearly 80,000 miles the leak is bad enough that the coolant light recently came on.

Filed Aug 20, 2005 · Engine · 60,000 miles · IN

2000 pontiac montana 3.4 liter numerous coolant leaks at intake area at about 60,000 miles. Also coolant cooler allowed oil to get in to the coolant system. I retorqued intake and aleviated problem for about 10,000 miles and then came back. Ended up having dealer replace intake gaskets and they informed me that gm had redesigned the gaskets because of an epidemic of this exact problem. The dealer designated 1 mechanic to specialize with this defect and I talked to the mechanic and he ingformed me that he had done this so much that he could do the wokk in about 3 hrs versus the original 6 to 7 hours it took him the first time his quote "you do it as much as I have and you get very efficient". Gm should have recalled and made good on the repair. In the last 20 years I have bought 6 new gm vehicles and I am very dissappointed that the dealer/corporate would not make good on the repair. It cost me $550.00 for dealer repair. I want to be reimbersed for the repair cost for this is a known defect that gm chose to ignore other that making sure that the newer montanas (3.4l) have the new designed gaskets.

Filed Jun 16, 2005 · Engine, Fuel system · KY

Fuel gauge reads full when empty and empty when under 3/4 of a tank. Message center alarms telling me that I am out of fuel but when I stop at the gas station it will only hold no more than five dallors. Also I have had to have the break lights replaced sevrel times. The rear motorized window on the driver side does not always shut when pressing the button. And engine is quick to overheat. Also the passanger sliding door does not always latch properly, lock and unlock when buttons pressed. The sad thing about it is I have only had the van for just under a year. The van is only five years old and I am already having this kind of problems out of it. Needless to say I will never own another pontiac (gm).

Filed Dec 11, 2004 · Engine · 77,000 miles · MI

I won a 2000 pontiac montana and I noticed over the past year that I was loosing a little anti-freeze over time. The rate increased over the past month until the "engine overheated light" came on. When taken to the repair shop, they told me that the intake manifold gasket was leaking and I was loosing anti-freeze through the gasket. They also said this was a common problem for gm 3.1 and 3.4 liter engines.

Filed Dec 3, 2004 · Engine · 66,000 miles · IN

I have a 2000 pontiac montana and have had a coolant leak problem. My van has only 66k miles on it and has been in 2 times for coolant leaks. On 11/26/04 I had a coolant leak and had to have lower manifold gasket replaced. On 12/2/04, leaking coolant into the interior and now have bad heater core. I have been researching and there are many other problems of the same exact cause. I believe this is a manufacturer defect and should be compensated back what I paid out.

Filed Nov 27, 2004 · Engine · 67,500 miles · CO

Noticed that coolant had to be added even though no aparent leak or overheating on my 2000 pontiac montana. I was told by the dealer it was an intake manifold gasket leak and would cost $970 to fix. I found that this is a common problem on this model engine either due to the dex cool coolant or the gasket. If this sin't fixed, it could lead to being stranded or stuck in a dangerous loacation.

Filed Jun 14, 2004 · Engine · 40,191 miles · FL

Upper and lower manifold gasket coolant leaks. (dealer claims that they are doing 10 a week on this vehicle).

Filed Apr 20, 2004 · Engine · 48,000 miles · PA

Consumer complained about intake manifold gasket which was causing a coolant leak into the engine. Intake manifold gasket was replaced by dealer. *ak the consumer feels this part should not have failed at 48,000 miles.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 54,000 miles · UN

I purchased the vehicle at 72,000kms (45,000) miles and shortly afterward noticed that coolant needed to be topped up occasionally over the subsequent six month period. There was no evidence of coolant leaking into the crankcase, but there was a pool of coolant collecting externally under the intake manifold. After some on-line investigating, I contacted my local dealer, inquiring as to whether this was a common problem. I was told that it was likely the intake gaskets and sometimes the gaskets "get old and dry up" but that it was not overly common. They quoted me apx $800 to repair. ($350 for the intake gaskets and "numerous" other gaskets that would require replacement plus labour). I politely commented that I was baffled how a 3 year old plastic gasket could be classified as "old and dried up". I subsequently had an independent mechanic replace the gaskets using the newly issued version of the gaskets for a total of apx $450. (he had coincidentally run into the same problem a couple of weeks prior on another gm v-6 product, but apparently the coolant leakage was internal and too late to salvage the engine). Mileage at the time of repair on my vehicle was apx 86,000 kms (54,000 miles). He confirmed that upon removal the only evidence was external leakage. I have another 10,000kms on the vehicle since repair and no leakage is apparent at this point.

Filed Oct 4, 2001 · Engine · MO

Since 10/25/00 when the first time this van proceeded to overheat and the theromstat was changed in ohio on vacation. Brought it back to the dealer in mo and was told they had to tighten a clamp and check the theromstat and they said problem solved. Its been in the shop for various other problems but always smelling antifreeze and then the air conditoner wasnt cooling the way it should and the radio was replaced due to the fact the lcd screen went out. On 9-13 - 01 was back in the dealer ...different dealer than it was purchased from ...for various items and one to check on the air conditioner for we were going on a trip...was told everything was fine. Went on trip and on the way home ..the van started to overheat again...stopped pulled over and let the van rest and shut off AC and proceeded to hotel and then drove home the next day and in the dealership it went only for them to tell me it was a defective raditor cap and debri in between the raditor and condersor.

Filed Aug 3, 2000 · Electrical, Engine · GA

Several days prior to engine overheating experienced electrical affecting the radio -- then engine overheated requiring vehicle to be towed -- two more time that same week after being repaired each time the engine overheated -- on third time mfg. Replaced engine completely. Three weeks after new engine installed the electrical problems with radio reoccurred as well as interior & exterior lights flickering followed a few days later with the "new" engine overheating. In repair shop now for fourth repair.