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2002 Venture heating up during uphill drives

6 messages,  Last post on Feb 04, 2010 at 3:39 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Lumina Minivan, Chevrolet Venture, Chevrolet Astro, Van

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#1 of 6 2002 Venture heating up during uphill drives by neustkg

Oct 29, 2009 (2:00 pm)

2002 Venture w/ 105,000 miles. Within the last 6 months, whenever I drive uphill for an extended period of time (for more than say 10 minutes), temperature increases. I have been able to keep it from reaching the red, but it's been close. A few years ago I switched from Dex Cool to regular green ethylene glycol, and similar drives never gave me a problem w/temperature gauge.
 
This week I had the engine coolant flushed and filled, and wanted the shop to replace the thermostat. But shop told me a new thermostat for this vehicle costs $225 alone (not including labor), which I couldn't believe. While I haven't driven the vehicle on an uphill road that might increase the temp, I'm pretty sure the overheating problem is still there. Can anyone offer any suggestions why the vehicle has been recently heating on uphill drives? Could the cooling fan not be working (how to test for that?)? Also, how hard is it to change out the thermostat? I've changed out thermostats before on older vehicles (they usually cost about $25 or less in the past), and I figure that since I am using green antifreeze, I don't have to worry about any special procedures for opening a coolant system that contains Dex Cool. Can anyone point me to a place that sells thermostats for a more reasonable price (other than $225)?

#2 of 6 2000 Venture heating up during uphill drives by bigbird58

Oct 31, 2009 (12:45 pm)

My Venture has the same problem. Fine on the flats but lots of uphill causes heating. I have had the radiator flushed, new hoses,serpentine belt and tensioner pulley, and the water pump replaced, none of which did any good. All the motor cooling fans work so, that's not the problem. Let me know if you find a solution. My mechanic is stumped.

#3 of 6 Re: 2002 Venture heating up during uphill drives [neustkg] by 1998lincoln

Nov 17, 2009 (4:45 pm)

Replying to: neustkg (Oct 29, 2009 2:00 pm)
If you are paying over $200.00 for a thermostat, I got a 4L60E trans I
want to sell, and I only want $25000.00 for it, of course it's used!

#5 of 6 Expensive thermostat by neustkg

Nov 17, 2009 (5:08 pm)

I figured it was way high, but this past summer, the alternator died on this van. We replaced w/a GM replacement, which was very high priced, but the aftermarket alternator selections were only about $50 less.

#6 of 6 Re: 2002 Venture heating up during uphill drives [neustkg] by neustkg

Feb 04, 2010 (3:39 pm)

Replying to: neustkg (Oct 29, 2009 2:00 pm)
Thought I'd give an update on the overheating problem. In December, we noticed the Venture was leaking coolant. I finally took it in in January. Turned out the intake manifold gasket was leaking (I had it replaced in spring 2006). The dealer shop also replaced the thermostat and crankshaft sensor (he recommended it since the mechanic noticed it was partially disconnected). Had it flushed well and replaced the coolant (switched from green to dexcool). No more leak, so I was happy about that. This weekend, we drove into the mountains the same route where the vehicle overheated last fall. It held temperature well the whole way. So I'm very happy about losing the overheating issue.

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