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1999 Venture VERY WIERD! Head Gasket?


demo_deven
10-23-2006, 08:59 PM
Hey guys, i have a story to tell yu about my moms venture. To start off, the van has 103,000 miles on it. The Intake gasket was done at 68,000 miles. It starts up fine. Once you get driving it though, the needle will start to rise and will go past the red for a minute or two, then it will drop down dramatically (about 1/2 way between cold and where normal starts) and the low fluid light will turn on. the light turns off and the needle starts to rise. it doesnt go to the red, but around the top of where the normal range is. then it will fall and the light will come on again. Then it repeats, but it never goes into the red after the first time. It occasionally looses power, apperently one time to the point where it could barely make it up a hill (as my mom tells me) The heater just blows cold, unless you turn a corner sharp and accelerate fast, and it only lasts for a cuple minutes. The van also stalls. It was too the point where it would stall whenever you came to a stop! After my test run, i got home then shut it off and i heard bubbling. so i popped the hood and it was comming from the overflow. Then next morning i went out, took the rad cap off, started the van and it smelt like exaust (thats why I think its a head gasket) It has been going on for about a month now (sitting in the back yard for the past 2 weeks because i dont want to risk blowing it up if it keeps going) I already had it into the mechanics when it first started the problem and he checked for any leaks, which there was none. It has gotten a lot worse since then. I have added a little if any coolant into the rad. I cant see any leaks on the driveway. If someone has any suggestions that would be great. Thanks for viewing!

cjstew4
10-24-2006, 12:19 PM
Check out the first postings about intake and head gaskets. I believe you have some sort of head gasket problem given that there are possible exhaust gases in in the coolant, but double check that at a shop that can properly verify it. Also, you may want to replace the t-stat again if you didn't when they did your intake. I ran the gauntlet of similar problems on my '97 when I eventually had to replace the intake and head gaskets, t-stat, went ahead and switched over to the green coolant vs. deathcool, as well as having them replace the all plugs/wires while they were machining the heads. Replaced the radiator as well so as not to contribute to any overheating in the future. All this work on mine was done at 138k. Definitely replace your water pump as well since mine I think is starting to leak from all the coolant system stress it went through recently. Replaced the water pump originally at 70k. Hopes are that you only have a sticking t-stat. Definitely do not drive it until you get it fixed. You do not want to cause any more unnecessary damage. Keep us posted.

demo_deven
10-24-2006, 07:25 PM
Hey thanks for the reply! I will get the t-stat tomorrow and I will take it in to have it done because i heard that they are hard to put in. I hope that this is (one) of my problems. Well it is in there I will get them to check why there is exaust fumes in the rad. I will definatly keep you posted!

cjstew4
10-25-2006, 10:56 AM
Hey thanks for the reply! I will get the t-stat tomorrow and I will take it in to have it done because i heard that they are hard to put in. I hope that this is (one) of my problems. Well it is in there I will get them to check why there is exaust fumes in the rad. I will definatly keep you posted!

All I was trying to say was that the t-stat needs to be replaced if it wasn't done when you did the intake. Doing it by itself will run $250-300 given its poorly designed location. Don't just do it unless you have eliminated all other causes. Take it to a different shop than the first since they did not fix it the first time, or maybe stick with them if they have the expertise and can cut a deal for further repair since it did not solve it the first time. This repair requires some expertise in diagnosing what is still causing your overheating. Are you getting white smoke mixed with some water vapor out the tailpipe at startup and for the first few minutes. Can they test for hydrocarbons in the coolant. Check out the first thread that has 14 pages on intake gasket, overheating before you go further and you will understand where I am coming from. Please do the right thing and have it properly diagnosed. I did with mine after the $300 spent on the t-stat that did not correct my problem on my '97. If it overheats again and possibly shuts down you will have to replace that t-stat again anyway. Do it when you do whatever the ultimate solution is since they will probably have to take the intake and t-stat off anyway to further diagnose or fix it.

demo_deven
10-26-2006, 03:13 PM
Well bad news. I had the van in today and the head gasket is done on it :( Man I traded in a /95 nissan quest for the venture. The quest never had any problems, apart from regular maintaince and a fuel pump, and i drove it to the dealership with 230 miles on it. There was nothing wrong with it. I have already had to spend almost $3000 on the Venture (not including reg. maintaince) So come Monday i am going to trade it in on a newer used Quest, although I wont get nothing for the Venture (I'm telling them the heads gone in it) but it will save me a lot of money in the long run! Anyways, thanks for all of your help cjstew4, I guess I just got stuck with a lemon. Never again will I buy a chev. van!

cjstew4
10-26-2006, 04:07 PM
Well bad news. I had the van in today and the head gasket is done on it :( Man I traded in a /95 nissan quest for the venture. The quest never had any problems, apart from regular maintaince and a fuel pump, and i drove it to the dealership with 230 miles on it. There was nothing wrong with it. I have already had to spend almost $3000 on the Venture (not including reg. maintaince) So come Monday i am going to trade it in on a newer used Quest, although I wont get nothing for the Venture (I'm telling them the heads gone in it) but it will save me a lot of money in the long run! Anyways, thanks for all of your help cjstew4, I guess I just got stuck with a lemon. Never again will I buy a chev. van!

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I definitely know what you're going through. I did fix my head gaskets and intakes and t-stat at the same, but it was still cheaper than new/used car payments. I hope to get another 2-3 yrs out of it before mine will no longer be worth fixing if something major goes. Already did the tranny as well 2 yrs ago. So unless something in the bottom end of the engine now goes, I should be ok.

Huney1
10-27-2006, 06:12 AM
Well bad news. I had the van in today and the head gasket is done on it :( Man I traded in a /95 nissan quest for the venture. The quest never had any problems, apart from regular maintaince and a fuel pump, and i drove it to the dealership with 230 miles on it. There was nothing wrong with it. I have already had to spend almost $3000 on the Venture (not including reg. maintaince) So come Monday i am going to trade it in on a newer used Quest, although I wont get nothing for the Venture (I'm telling them the heads gone in it) but it will save me a lot of money in the long run! Anyways, thanks for all of your help cjstew4, I guess I just got stuck with a lemon. Never again will I buy a chev. van!
And people wonder why GM has tremendous losses in the stock market, closed plants and laid off thousands of workers. Our family always drove Fords and Hondas and I messed up and got a Venture van and in four months that beast cost me over a grand and if it wasn't one thing it was the other something always going wrong.

When I educated myself about the head gasket issue I found how many thousands and thousands of vehicles GM put that engine in and so PO'ed off thousands of people who said the same thing demo_devin said; "I guess I just got stuck with a lemon. Never again will I buy a chev. van!" How about protesting GM and DO NOT EVER BUY A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. Stand up on your hind legs and bitch, write GM a letter and tell them why you are never buying another GM product. Being the dip-sticks GM obviously is, it wouldn't surprise me if they laughed and threw it in the trash, but at least it will help give you closure.

Now GM's having trouble with the Aveo's (Daewoo) engine timing belt nothing more than Daewoo that went out of business in the first place. DUH? Timing belt must be replaced at 60K miles or if the belt breaks the valves knock holes in pistons and bend valve stems or cracks the head or gosh knows what else catastrophic engine damage. You want to read some heart breaking stories, go to the Chevy forum and read the Aveo threads about the timing belt breaking. Some of them are talking class action lawlsuit against GM, and at this point in time, considering all GM's other troubles, that's just what GM needs, . . . another class action law suit. IMO, serves 'em right. Haw-Haw-Haw.

I canned the Chevy van for a used 03 Ford Taurus and it's like the 'Energizer Bunny' that keeps on going and going and does not have chronic problems. Just turned 45K miles and, other than regular maintenance, all I've done is replace an exhaust O2 sensor, cost me $41. and 15 minutes of my time. Crown Vic we put 90K miles on before we traded it on a new Marquis and it was running like a top. Hate to say it because I do not like to see GM employees suffer the consequences but, the way GM laughed in my face about the head gasket, I hope GM ultimately eats it because IMO they have brought all this upon themselves. "As Ye sew, so shall Ye reap." You sew grief and strife and trouble you will reap the same troubles many times over.
Have a nice week end.

demo_deven
04-14-2007, 08:47 AM
Hey guys, well I sold the venture a cuple weeks ago and am now looking at a 2000 Montana ext. loaded which also needs a head gasket. But for $1,200 and 95k, I figure it can't hurt. I know I said that I would never buy another GM van, but i've basically always had GM vehicls and have never had any majo problems with them except the venture. Also, i've heard these vans will last a while if you take care of them. Anyways i'm off, Deven.

pastaben
04-14-2007, 07:49 PM
I purchased a 99 Venture in 04, and did have the gaskets replaced. Other than that, have not had ANY problems. Have 89K on it now (started with 48K) and the car feels loose, but that's to be expected...drive over a lot of pot-holes.

I liked my 99 so much bought my wife a 04 just a couple of months ago. If it does at least as well as my 99 so far, I'll be very happy.

Previously, I've been chrysler minivans, and while I liked the way they drove much better (and more comfortable for passengers), I couldn't deal with a tranny overhaul every 40K miles or so (on my 97 Gr Caravan, 2 overhauls, when acted up again, punished myself and traded for 02 Town & Country). At 45K, my TC acted up w/ tranny, had it rplaced under warranty, and when it acted up again, traded for the 04 venture.

Yes, there seems to be horror stories, but for our needs, this seems to be it. I'd love to try a Sienna or Odyssey, but I figure for the price I pay for my Ventures, I can purchase 2 or 3 of these used for each Sienna I can get.

GM won't care about improving these things because there are people like me who will buy them used.

cdru
04-16-2007, 09:51 AM
Now GM's having trouble with the Aveo's (Daewoo) engine timing belt nothing more than Daewoo that went out of business in the first place. DUH? Timing belt must be replaced at 60K miles or if the belt breaks the valves knock holes in pistons and bend valve stems or cracks the head or gosh knows what else catastrophic engine damage. You want to read some heart breaking stories, go to the Chevy forum and read the Aveo threads about the timing belt breaking. Some of them are talking class action lawlsuit against GM, and at this point in time, considering all GM's other troubles, that's just what GM needs, . . . another class action law suit. IMO, serves 'em right. Haw-Haw-Haw.It's not just GM. It's cars designs in general. Many engines these days are interference engines. An interference engine means that the piston and valves occupy the same space at different stages of the cylinder stroke. If they get out of time, then you start bending/breaking things. The DSM (Talons, Eclipses, and Lasers) had this problem in the 90's with the Mitsubishi built engine. As you pointed out the Aveos have it now. The 3400 engine is interference as well so it could. Usually it's the vehicles with timing belts rather the timing chains that have more issues. People run their cars forever and take a more reactive approach to maintenance then a proactive. But when something does break, it costs much more. It's not necessarily the manufacturers fault or a design flaw.

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