• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

2002 Pontiac Montana Head gasket? Maybe?

GT2000

GT2000

Donating Users
Ok, here we go........ my grandma's van. We thought it had a blown head gasket, well a mechanic told us that anyway. It would get to running temp and keep going up. It would smoke on start up but then mysteriously go away. We ran a compression test on it and it was just fine. No film on the oil cap. The coolant was only a tiny bit low, Minuscule. So can I rule out a head gasket at Least....?

2. What could It be then if it's not a head gasket? Water pump, thermostat?? I don't know, what do you guys think? Let me know because this is her only car and she needs it to work.

It has the GM 3400 V6/ LA1 A 2002 Pontiac Montana
 


Sounds like the thermostat isn’t opening, could be a clog in the coolant system due to dexcool sludge. The water pump could also be gone, I’ve seen dexcool eat up the blades and then could no longer push coolant around.

I’d start with flushing the system and change the thermostat, it’s cheap enough. If that doesn’t work then take off the water pump and have a look. Also with the belt off move the water pump pulley, if it feels loose then it’s time to replace.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top