1998 chevy venture overheating STILL

[trabret]

I unfortunately own a 98 venture extended .A week and a half ago it had the intake gasket, head gaskets, and anything else to do with heating/cooling system replaced. It ran fine but was still running a little warm but nothing major.Then yesterday it shoot over almost to the red.It had lost all antifreeze. I was wondering if anyone else has had this happen and what it might be now. My hubby thinks block may be cracked. Anyone else suffer from cracked block?? Really loved the van til now. Any help would be appreciated.

[cdru]

Originally Posted by trabret

I unfortunately own a 98 venture extended .A week and a half ago it had the intake gasket, head gaskets, and anything else to do with heating/cooling system replaced. It ran fine but was still running a little warm but nothing major.Then yesterday it shoot over almost to the red.It had lost all antifreeze. I was wondering if anyone else has had this happen and what it might be now. My hubby thinks block may be cracked. Anyone else suffer from cracked block?? Really loved the van til now. Any help would be appreciated.

Did you really get the head gasket done? Usually the typical dealer response for leaking coolant system is just to do the intake gasket, not the head gasket. If the head gasket really was done, I'd take it back to the same shop and politelyfully demand they fix it right.

It could be a cracked block, but not very likely. Head gasket would be my bet. Either they weren't really done, or they were done improperly. What happens is that gasses from the combustion chamber leak around the head gasket and enter the cooling system, filling it with air. This air pressurizes the system, forcing the radiator cap to vent of the pressure in the form of coolant into the overflow tank. Meanwhile, the air is sitting stagnant in the engine, allowing the car to overheat. This overheating allows what's left of the coolant to boil, eventually venting to atmosphere. I bet if you allowed the engine to start to overheating again and opened either of the vent screws, air/steam would be the only thing to come out.

Pretty much the same thing that happened to you just happened to me. 2 weekends ago I did the intake manifold (2nd time in 6 months...use aftermarket parts the first time to save a few dollars...big mistake) By Wednesday, it was overheating. Thursday evening started tearing it all apart again. It'll be put back together and finished up hopefully tonight. Cost at the dealership to replace the headgasket will be probably $1400+. To do it yourself, the head gaskets run about $30 a piece and the exhaust manifold $15 a piece. Get OEM gaskets, not aftermarket. The heads should be resurfaced, so look at $150+ for them to be planed and pressure checked. It will be extra if your valve seals are leaky, cracks, or excessive warpage, or you break any studs. If you didn't replace the bolts when you did the intake, you should do that as well. I had another $120+ in "incidentals" (plugs, wires, oil change, antifreeze, studs, nuts). The O2 sensor also can be replaced a lot easier with the rear manifold off. It'll take me around 20 hours total labor to do everything, but I've also cleaned a lot of engine components (lifters, rockers, push rods, etc) while they were out. The cleaning is optional, but mine had quite an accumulation of varnish that came off fairly easily with some parts cleaner.

There are several threads already going in this forum as well as the Trans Sport, Montana, and Silhouette forums about this and similiar topics that you might want to check out as well.

[trabret]

Thanks for the help cdru, my husband did the head gaskets and all the other work on the van . Yesterday when he got in from work he put it up on ramps and discoved that one of the coolant lines had busted. So hopefully that's all that's wrong. Gonna keep fingers crossed and probably sell the thing before it decides to cause more troubles.

[Mike747]

Originally Posted by trabret

I unfortunately own a 98 venture extended .A week and a half ago it had the intake gasket, head gaskets, and anything else to do with heating/cooling system replaced. It ran fine but was still running a little warm but nothing major.Then yesterday it shoot over almost to the red.It had lost all antifreeze. I was wondering if anyone else has had this happen and what it might be now. My hubby thinks block may be cracked. Anyone else suffer from cracked block?? Really loved the van til now. Any help would be appreciated.

In October 2003, the exhaust intake manifold gasket went at 55,000 miles. On July 2, 2005, my head gasket went at 74,000 miles while driving out of state. I've been aware of the dexcool issues since my first problem. I am very frustrated with GM and there is no recall yet. They did, however, offer me a certificate as a loyal customer which I refused to accept as I felt that it did not come near what I spent on fixing these issues. I'm now in the process of spreading the word about these inherent problems and am hoping for a recall so I can recoup the almost $4000 I spent. FYI/I have maintained my venture immaculately!!!

[Kevcules]

Originally Posted by Mike747

In October 2003, the exhaust intake manifold gasket went at 55,000 miles. On July 2, 2005, my head gasket went at 74,000 miles while driving out of state. I've been aware of the dexcool issues since my first problem. I am very frustrated with GM and there is no recall yet. They did, however, offer me a certificate as a loyal customer which I refused to accept as I felt that it did not come near what I spent on fixing these issues. I'm now in the process of spreading the word about these inherent problems and am hoping for a recall so I can recoup the almost $4000 I spent. FYI/I have maintained my venture immaculately!!!

I hear Ya!!

You aren't the first to complain about this and won't be the last. Just go and read the many threads and replys on this issue. The best medicine for GM, is not to buy another one!! They will get the picture someday.

[broughy84]

You aren't the first to complain about this and won't be the last. Just go and read the many threads and replys on this issue. The best medicine for GM, is not to buy another one!! They will get the picture someday.

AMEN!!!

I had my intake gaskets done and they had to redo them twice then the head gaskets. Then after I got it back from the independent shop that did the work I had a check engine light for months and sometimes it would stall, turns out the vaccum lines were on wrong, which really is an honest mistake on the mechanics part, (he told me before i had him do the intakes that this was the first venture he had done, and he also only charged me 200.) there are alot of vacuum lines on that stupid thing. anyway after I got everything running although still had the SES light I drove to town and stopped at the bank, when i backed up it started pouring out steam..........it blew a heater hose!! ARGH!!! Of course it's all better now......I mean for now!

[dbecker]

I won 2001 venture, pice of junk. Its on third transmission and now having temperature problems. Have sone everything mechanic is stumped can ayone help me

[Kevcules]

Originally Posted by dbecker

I won 2001 venture, pice of junk. Its on third transmission and now having temperature problems. Have sone everything mechanic is stumped can ayone help me

Sell it and get what you can out of it!! Be glad you won it and didn't buy it like we did!!

[GMCritic]

Originally Posted by Kevcules

Sell it and get what you can out of it!! Be glad you won it and didn't buy it like we did!!

AMEN to THAT! GM is having to give the "GM employee discount" to sell cars because the people who have purchased their products in the last ten years aren't coming back to buy another vehicle. A word of advice for those purchasing a GM... BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY!!! I wish I had....

[bleepster]

all manufactures (at least the big three) are have the same discounts

[Kevcules]

Right..., chev,dodge and ford ARE pretty cheap now. How else can they sell them. They can't break down at the dealership.

Pretty soon they will be giving the junk away! Ha! I bet they could still survive just on repairs alone.

[dbecker]

Originally Posted by dbecker

I won 2001 venture, pice of junk. Its on third transmission and now having temperature problems. Have done everything mechanic is stumped can ayone help me

I didn't win my ventture as stated in my first message, i typed own the wrong way. Thanks for your reply

[dbecker]

Originally Posted by GMCritic

AMEN to THAT! GM is having to give the "GM employee discount" to sell cars because the people who have purchased their products in the last ten years aren't coming back to buy another vehicle. A word of advice for those purchasing a GM... BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY!!! I wish I had....

I didn't win it i spelled own wrong

[GMCritic]

Originally Posted by bleepster

all manufactures (at least the big three) are have the same discounts

Yea, but GM started it all. After posting a 1.1 billion dollar loss in the first quarter. If they can't make any money up front, they'll get it in replacement parts after the 3 year warranty is up.

Can't ya see I'm a bit jaded?

[Flood87]

My 2000 Venture is doing the same thing. I tried K-Seal; didn't help. So we are going to use for local transportation only until it dies. Street value on the thing is about $500.00. Not really worth the time.