2001 Venture Overheat and Horn problems

[atcontroller]

Since we've owned the van, during the warmer months, the van tends to overheat. Infact it did it 2 weeks after driving it off the lot. Dealer couldn't find anything wrong. I've found that when the temp guage starts to get way to the right, I turn on the A/C and w/in 60 seconds, the temp goes back to normal. The dealer changed out the thermostat and it still happens. Of course, they say, "drive it up here the next time it happens..." Easy to say, not easy to do.. Anyone else experienced this? A friend with GM says he heard something to the effect that it was either 2001 or a few years worth of Ventures may have been designed with too small of a radiator. GM says "they have no issues".. ???


Also, while driving, the horn will go off, or the backup sensor starts chiming or the "chime" for the power sliding door starts to sound. Never can dupe the issue, just out of random it will happen. And when the horn goes off behind a cop, that's a fun one to explain. Dealer, of course, never heard of such a problem... Anyone else experience a poltergeist?

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Alan
Colorado Springs, CO
2001 Venture WB

[GregA]

Alan,

I don't think the radiator is too small, just a control problem (when the fans come on). Turning on the AC causes the fans to turn on, therefore pulling air through the radiator and cooling the system down.

I was told to do that when an old car I had would overheat. THAT car ended up having a bad sensor (in the radiator). It seems that the gauge sensor and coolant sensor (for the fans) were seperate. I do NOT know if this is true on the Venture. I will try to look for the schematics and check it out, but I will not have access to them for a few days.

Your other issues sound like a common ground for the other systems (chimes) may be loose. Again, I will try to look at the schematics and see if there is a common connection for all of them.

Take care

[GregA]

Alan,

I got a look at the schematics in my Haynes manual and it appears that there is only one coolant temp sensor which leads to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The PCM controls the cooling fans (via relays) and sends a signal to the Instrument Panel to move the Temperature Guage. I would check for dirty or loose connections around the fan relays as a starting point.

I didn't see any schematics for the other systems you mentioned (horn, etc.), so I don't have any suggestions about that except maybe to check the relay center (under hood) for loose connections and check the Body Control Module (BCM) for any loose connections too.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Let us know what you find.

Take care,