it blows, but it doesn't get hot!!!

[cmilanese]

Im not to happy with my van. I bought it used a couple of months ago. It is a 99 chevy venture LS. love everything about it...except the heat will blow but it will not get hot. I have changed the thermostat twice...both new and from different stores...that is not a fun thing to do...replaced the heater core and the hoses are getting hot....I lso changed and flush the coolant system..does anyone have any ideas about how to go about figuring out what is wrong?

thanks for any advice !!!
chris

[GMMerlin]

Are both heater hoses hot at the heater core?
If so,Your temp door may not be moving off the full cold position

[jumeplatt]

Chris, You may need to purge the air out of the coolant system it seems that the heater core on the Venture is in a high spot and air gets trapped in it. I had a similar problem with my van and removing the air seemed to get rid of the problem for me. To prevent any more air from getting in to the cooling system make sure to check the coolant reservoir regularly. Hope this helps.
J.

[pt34]

I personally think that it's the darn dexcool coolant that is jelling up and causing all these overheats and blown the head gaskets. I am seriuosly thinking of using the standard green stuff. Is anyone aware of any problems by switching to this non gelling standard green cooland instead of this darn dexcool.

[Jig48]

Agreed that the Dex Cool may be the culprit. Just had a $1300 bill on our 99 Venture Van. Symptoms (Heater Cold / Hot in Hot setting, Coolant temp swings with Heater temp, slight smell of coolant). Dealer diagnosis: Small leaks at Intake manifold, cooling pipe o-ring seal, and water pump seal. I believe the Dex Cool, labled as a long lasting coolant (5 yrs - 150K miles) is the culpret and has caused the coolant leaks (design flaw). Both Dealer and GM customer service state that no goodwill compensation can be made. 75K miles on this van and beyond warranty. Anyone else out there with similar problems using Dex Cool???

[krowten]

So what can be done? I've been researching this problem cause my 98 Venture with only 45K miles on it is having this same problem. It cost over $28K to us and that was paying 10K early. That's rediculous that they can get away with a vehicle this expensive to be that kind of quality.

Do any of you have any advise as to what to do?

Anyone know why or if we HAVE to use the Dexcool?

[kirk1060]

1300$.....WOW!!! I have a 98 LS with 88k and just had the intake gasket replaced with new coolant,oil and surp belt for 723$ at a garage,after the dealer diagnost a leaky intake due to DEX-COOL.
The dealer wanted 1200$ for job......... "I DONT THINK SO"

[krowten]

So are you still using the Dex-Cool? Or did you switch to something else?

[kirk1060]

They replaced with DEX-COOL.

[krowten]

Doh! But what good does that do?

So are we supposed to get a flush ever year or so to prevent this?

[rodeo02]

Dexcool is fine as long as you dont mix it with the green stuff, or leave it in service for too long. As suggested, I'd purge the system again, flush the heater core thru the heater core lines & change out the coolant again. Dexcool works well if you atleast drain & refill the radiator & overflow bottle yearly. IMHO- yearly coolant drain/fills will help prevent many of the intake & head gasket leaks these engines are prone to. Fresh clean coolant = happy engine & gaskets! G/luck
Joel

[Lou H]

Originally Posted by cmilanese

:mad: Im not to happy with my van. I bought it used a couple of months ago. It is a 99 chevy venture LS. love everything about it...except the heat will blow but it will not get hot. I have changed the thermostat twice...both new and from different stores...that is not a fun thing to do...replaced the heater core and the hoses are getting hot....I lso changed and flush the coolant system..does anyone have any ideas about how to go about figuring out what is wrong?

thanks for any advice !!!
chris

I have a 1998 with same problem. This past week it was -11 in WI. I've been playing with and having system flushed and best temp I can get on recirc is 90 degrees. There is an optional pump system that GM offers but I have yet to fine someone who has it. It's covered in GM document #875767.

The blend door is easy to check by removing the gray cardboard above the brake and gas pedals. It's a black flat electric motor and it has a grove which aligns with open notch and closed notch. Go to GM parts dept and get drawing of heater system and maybe they can show you what the motor looks like. I got lucky they had one in stock that I could see. The motor is above the gas pedal. I suspected the blend motor but confirmed with a flashlight that it was OK.

The heat should be >140 degrees but I'm at 80, 90 on it's best day.
I saw the comment about an air pocket in the heater core and may try it by putting the front of the car on ramp and running the engine with the radiator cap off, what do I have to loose?

[goingfast366]

I have a 1998 Venture that had the same problem for the past 5 years. After 11 vists to 4 different GM dealerships to see the genius "Mr Goodwrench", who knew less about my van than I did! I went to a local radiator shop who has been in business for over 100 years, It finally has heat! They changed the coolant temp sensor and the intake air temp sensor. After a grand total of 9 weeks in GM dealerships,a waterpump,intake gasket,4 thermostats,aux coolant pump,hvac control,coldair door motor and 5 flush and fills they fixed it in a day with these two parts and cost less than $150.00.

[mchristo63]

Same issue with 2000 Venture. I would like to flush and refill so can someone tell me the best way of doing withou trapping air and removing all old coolent?

Thanks

[broughy84]

Originally Posted by kirk1060

1300$.....WOW!!! I have a 98 LS with 88k and just had the intake gasket replaced with new coolant,oil and surp belt for 723$ at a garage,after the dealer diagnost a leaky intake due to DEX-COOL.
The dealer wanted 1200$ for job......... "I DONT THINK SO"

I have the same van as you do...98 ls extend. it has 89k. Had head gaskets, intakes, and plenum gaskets changed at 87k. Intakes again at 88k....Guess what....they just blew again!!!! I HATE THIS VAN!!!!!!!

OF COURSE THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE, BUT IT HAS BEEN FLUSHED ONCE A YEAR EVERY YEAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT...ALWAYS WITH DEX-COOL.

This time the shadetree that i am taking it to (took it to him the last time he did it cheaper than the dealer and faster and just a good) is going to put the good ole' green stuff in it.