2000 Pontiac Montana: won't start

Filed Aug 15, 2005 · Fuel system · 36,000 miles · MI

1.) there was no prior indication that a failure would happen. 2.) fuel pump failed. Consequences: engine stalled at highway speeds and would not start or run which left us stranded by the roadside - this was the first incident which occurred at 36,000 miles and 3 years after the purchase of the vehicle on 12-24-2002. The second incident occurred at 56,500 miles and 5.5 years after the purchase of the vehicle ( on 7-26-2005, on 8-8-2005, on 8-9-2005, on 8-11-2005) and again the fuel pump failed and the vehicle would not start nor run. 3.) for the first incident the vehicle was towed to a local service station where the fuel pump was replaced ( I may still have the old pump ). For the second incident the vehicle was towed repeatedly (3 times) to a dealer facility because the fuel pump would only work intermittently. The service technician could not duplicate the no start condition the first time. The second time it would not start for the mechanic so he diagnosed it and declared that the fuel pump relay switch was defective and replaced it. After receiving the vehicle and driving it the car was parked and it would not start which resulted in my wife and kids having to walk home. I went to the vehicle and it started for me so I drove it back to the repair shop and the mechanic could not duplicate the no start condition. We received the car back and the next day it would not start and was towed back to the repair facility and this time would not start for the mechanic who then diagnosed that the fuel pump was bad and replaced it.

Filed Aug 8, 2005 · Acceleration, Airbags · 37,182 miles · OH

New march 2000. Van always receives regular maintenance. The following is a history of repairs: 4/00 windshield wipers would not return to closed position - dealer fixed. 12/03 (37,179 mi) tps sensor breaking down causing idle to surge - dealer replaced throttle position sensor, completed reprogram ($255.14) 12/03 (37,182 mi) air bag light coming on - dealer replaced right front seat belt buckle under warranty (labor $134.51). 12/27/03 (37,555 mi) was in collision (other vehicle pulled out in front of me as I was coming down small overpass, he was cited). My van sustained $4,500 in front end damages, his car was totaled. My air bags did not deploy. No one injured. 5/04 (40,983 mi) rear hatch would not stay up - dealer replaced both hatch props ($258.73) 7/04 (43,437 mi) van was "shifting" hard, would not pick up speed correctly. Dealer replaced pressure control solenoid, flushed transmission and replaced front brake pads and machined rotors ($986.48). 12/04 (48,284 mi) van would not start on several occasions. Known independent repair shop replaced battery, checked oil leak. ($114.90). 4/05 (51,646 mi) low coolant light /check engine light coming on. Same independent repair shop replaced intake gaskets, thermostat, spark plugs and filter, and oil pump shaft 0-ring. Corrected air bag light ($791.03) 6/05 purchased new tires and were told needed all new tie rods. We went on vacation july 9, 2005 (ohio to virginia and back). Concerned that the van shook terribly when applying the brakes on long downgrades through wv and va. We were towing nothing. The very next day, after returning home, the van would not start consistently. 7/05 (56,533 mi) told that the computer crashed. Same independent repair shop replaced ECM, crank sensor, ign module and machined front rotors which if you remember were just done in july of 2004 ($982.02). After researching the track record of pontiac montana, have found that many consumers having the same problems.

Filed Aug 31, 2004 · Electrical · CA

I would like to report a possible manufacture defect of my 2000 pontiac montana. There was electrical damage within the engine compartment due to the factory (where the vehicle was assembled) miss routing of the harness from the positive cable of the battery. The harness was found, by the mechanic, to be routed over the air conditioner, which in-time burned through to the bare wires, which in-turn shorted out causing damage to the PCM and battery plus burned out most of the wiring connected to the positive cable of the battery. According to the mechanic who preformed the repairs, this problem appears to be a manufacture defect and considering the year and mileage of the vehicle this should not have happen. The PCM, battery and wiring had to be replaced, with new harness; in addition the mechanic had to re-route the harness under the engine in order to prevent it from burning up again in the future. The vehicle would not start and had to be towed to a local pontiac dealer. Total repair bill $823.00 not including towing.

Filed Aug 9, 2004 · Fuel system · MS

My 2000 montana van would not start at 18000 miles after towing twice to the dealer found connector to fuel pump bad. Then at 20000 miles wire harness to fuel pump. Then at 25000 miles fuel pump went out. Now at 55000 mile the van suddenly stalled driving at 65 miles an hour making steering and braking difficult. Dealership found fuel pump out. The last time the bill was 870.00 total. Gm has said that they will pay 50% of the repairs minus towing. I feel that this is a defect that has been apparent since the beginning and that they should pay for the entire cost of the repair and tow. This is also a safety problem because my wife nearly lost control of the van when the pump went out.

Filed Mar 8, 2003 · Engine · 55,000 miles · GA

Engine spuddering and died. Will not start. Garage found coolant in oil. Had internal engine damage. Engine being replaced. Suspect premature failure of intake manifold gasket or dex-cool coolant causing problem. Need to investigate.

Filed Apr 5, 2002 · Electrical · MD

Van stalled out two times within a 3 week period. After stalling I would try to start it and it would turn over but would not start. Both times I had it towed to my auto repair shop. Both times I received a call from them and they said while they were performingb a diagnostic test it would start. They returned it to me and I had the same problem all over again.

Filed Dec 16, 2001 · Engine, Fuel system · NJ

Vehicle will not start. Second occurrence. Fearful of vehicle safety and reliability. Informed on previous failure that problem was fuel pump. Fell vehicle has too few miles to be having these types of problems.

Filed Apr 13, 2000 · Electrical · WI

We were driving our brand new montana van at about 25 miles per hour when the engine just stopped. We had all other electrical working (doors, windows, tv) but the motor would not turn over. It was difficult to steer to the side of the road. This was at 731 miles on the odometer. We had it towed to a dealership and after 3 days they claimed it was a blown fuse. We picked up the van and tried to drive it home. We made it 40 miles and it died again. Appears to be the same problem. Had it towed to the dealership in our home town and they have had it for 4 days and still can not find out what has caused it to stop. In the meantime, they are racking up the miles on our new vehicle and even if they give us the van back, we are not sure we will ever feel safe in it again. Because of the lack of steering and braking control when this happens, we are afraid that there may be an accident, or that we could get stranded anywhere. This is a major concern. The minor problem was that the passenger side windshield wiper flipped over the side of the vehicle and scratched and dented the passenger door frame. A little loss of control. Please inform us if there is a problem with the montanas and the engine quitting. Thank you.