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Engine Overheating?

Tiny
CKLOPP9
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
HI.
I have a question concerning my 2001 Chevy Venture 3.4L. It is experiencning overheating problems, seems to be air in the cooling system. However everytime we go to start the van we need to let it heat up for about 20 minutes prior to driving it or it will overheat and sometimes it will overheat and all of a sudden drop to normal temperature. We have bled the air out and then it works fine for a few days and then starts to overheat again. Could there still be air in the system? Another problem it is having is that we were driving on the highway a little over a half tank of gas and all of a sudden the engine starting like puling when pushing the gas down and then we slowed down to stop and the engine turned off. When we went to try to turn it on it wouldnt turn on right away but after waiting for a few minutes it started. We ran a few feet and it started doin the same thing again. We were able to make it to our house by hardly pushing the gas down because everytime we pushed the gas it started the pulling again. COuld this be either the camshaft or crankshaft sensor? Please help.
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Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 AT 4:42 PM

45 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
As far as air in the cooling system, have you had any repairs done on the cooling system, recently? Are you losing coolant? Do you have to keep adding coolant?

How hot does it get in degrees F? Your radiator fan work ok? Other than the temp gage any signs of overheating? Is the engine smoking? Does the coolant boil over, anything like that? Have you ever replaced the thermostat? Where applicable, you could remove radiator cap, cool engine, start the engine, watch the coolant level, if it starts rising really fast, have to check for head gasket issue. Could be other issues, water pump, radiator, something like that.

This guide can help us

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

With engine running issue, are you saying it bogs down when you step on the gas? If so, the basics say to check for blockage of some kind, fuel--air--exhaust. How long since a tune-up?

Can you check for applicable trouble codes? Some of the national brand auto stores will check codes for free, if there are any.
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Wednesday, May 6th, 2015 AT 11:02 AM
Tiny
VANN383
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 129,000 MILES
My van keeps overheating. I have replaced thremostat, water pump, and have flushed it twice, bled air from system. It still overheats I am not loosing antifreeze at all. Has me stumped!
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Have you check for cooling fan operation? Operation of the ECT? That's the temp sensor. If it doesnt tell the PCM it's hot, the fan wont come on.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
VANN383
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
When its overheating didn't see fans come on. I did turn on the defrost cause I knew it would make the fans run and they did. How would I test temp sensor? Is it the same sensor as the gauge because gauge and warning light come on?
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Turn on the a/c and see if the compressor runs, if it does check fans 1, 2, 3 relays in the underhood junction block. If the compressor does't run check that relay in the same block The ECT is on the front oe the engine, I think it serves both purposes. Test it with an ohm meter as the engine warms the readings should change. I will email the tests to you.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SYMIJECO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 136,000 MILES
My 2001 Chevrolet venture van has is still overheating, even after I have changed the head gaskets, water pump, thermostat, and bled the system 4 times. The van starts up and runs fine, seems to be running at the right temp, and then starts to overheat, and pegs the gauge.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Is the cooling fan operating?

Operating during the time of overheat?

Is it possible that the radiator has minerals and deposits stuck inside its vanes, degrading it's ability to work correctly. Our water does that around here, a professional tear-down and cleaning/ rodding is the best thing, next to replacement.

Maybe it's something as simple as a radiator hose, old and squishy, being s. Ucked flat due to water pump action?

The Medic
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SYMIJECO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have had the radiator flushed and check, insuring that the flow through it is unrestricted. The hoses are new. You can drive the down the road, no overtemp, the minute you sit for just a few minutes, the temp gauge starts pegging. The fans appear to be kicking on.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
How was the radiator flushed? Professionally or a Auto Store Pour in flush?

Sorta when does it kick in, according to the temp gauge?

The Medic
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CSVIAL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
I have a 2001 Chevy Venture MiniVan that started overheating suddenly. I replaced the thermostat, and now the coolant temp. Sensor/sender. The fans do kick on but it seems later than it should. Still overheating and out of ideas, please help! Thanks
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Hello,

These cars had problem with the head gasket which makes them overheat. To confirm the issue please run this test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Please run down these guides and report back

Cheers
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CSVIAL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Fans kick on at about 160°
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Thats too cold did you use a temp to get this temp?They usually come on at 222-226 degrees.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CSVIAL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yes, took the temp on the cap, not sure why it is so much cooler, the temp on the line is 230, this time when it kicked in. It's got me confused the outlet at the thermostat is 230 but the inlet to the pump is only 200, yet the gauge still keeps climbing.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
When it gets that hot measure the temp of the upper and lower radiator hoses. Sounds like your thermostat might not be working correctly.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KELLYECKBLAD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
I have put on a new waterpump. And put on new hoses and bought a new thermostat and then decided to take it out. But do I need a thermostat in my van to keep it from running hot?
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CSVIAL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
K, this time was 270 on the upper and 230 on the lower. The thermostat is about 1 day old, and was the worst to replace I have ever seen I hope that it's not bad already.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
I'm not sure exactly what you are asking but yes, you must have a working thermostat at all times. Never remove it thinking it will help an overheating problem.

That engine is also very difficult to get all the air bled out of the system. We use a vacuum tool to draw the air out.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Sounds like the thermostat is working are both fans running on high when its that temp?Also have you made sure the cooling fins of the radiator arent clogged with sand fur debris etc causing not enough air to be pulled thru the radiator?
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CSVIAL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Fins are clear, fans are on high. Have re-bled about 5 times, have now resorted to just draining the whole system and flushing to make sure there are no clogs. I've never had such a headache from a cooling system before so I finally did what you suggested and tested the head gaskets, they are blown :( going to cost me $1300.00 but at least I found the problem. Thanks for hanging in there with me.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)

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