Radiator issues

[Tech II]

Funny, every time I had a head gasket problem on these vans, it was cylinder #1, rear cylinder on passenger side....

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by AdVenture

The Verdict is in! Chevy dealer found the problem as I knew they would. Apparently, the van has a bad head gasket which is allowing the antifreeze to enter Cylinder #2. this is what's causing the excelleration and over heating issues. Dealer price to fix it is $2,480, Mechanic $1,200-$1,300.

BTW, that's providing there are no cylinder issues...i.e. warped/bent heads.

IN my last posting I stated to do the test to determine if exhaust is getting into the coolant . this would be a head issue. could be gasket cracks distortions and any or all of these.

what you went thru is common in todays throw away world. not too many good mechanics left. good luck with the repair. I would get a warantee for some period of time.

[LMP]

Sorry I was right....my brother had had the same issue....three weeks after I had told him he should change car before it happens...
Good luck...

[AdVenture]

Originally Posted by LMP

Sorry I was right....my brother had had the same issue....three weeks after I had told him he should change car before it happens...
Good luck...

What should I be looking at as far as a fair price for repairing this? Freaking Mechanic conveniently says the warranty on the USED MOTOR was 90 days. My fault for not having them WRITE IT DOWN ON MY BILL how long the freaking warranty was.

Also am I better repairing this crap if the heads need replacing or better off just buying another motor REMANNED this time for $1,700 and having it installed. I'm not ready to give up the van at this point. I will buy an additional car about Feb time frame.

[LMP]

As far as I know from others, the price of being back on the road ranks between 2500 and 3000+....The heads themselves do not need replacement, just the gaskets, including intake manifold gaskets, but having the heads planed is a safe idea. It is a tight place to perform the job but I think it is less of a chore than switching engines...

Many went through that event, and have gone back into the same after a time.... so the price can be considered as a limited extension to the life of the car, but some survive happily . My brother kept his (a 2002) until last year, I guess about 4 years after the problem without further incident .