1999 Chevy Venture temp/heat probelms

do a pressure test on the cooling system just to be sure , did hubby see if the coolant was muddy , dexcool gets that way and may have clogged the system , but start with the pressure test and let me know, also never open the rad cap when hot but if you do the pressure test leave the cap on and start the car , let it warm up and check for flow through the rad



jim

No the coolant wasn't muddy. He did the pressure test - ok. He flushed system throughly and put green coolant in. He changed the radiator cap. It seemed somewhat better while it was warming up the next morning, but then the heat wasn't working right again and the temp gauge was going up and back down again. The rear heat completely blows out cool. There is also a sort of a clogged type feeling when you are accelerating up hill, sometimes.

Thanks - I really appreciate your help!

Kelly

i may have asked but is the check engine light on ???
im wondering since you said you dont use any coolant if there is blockage somewhere , the rear heat has a heater core and lines running to it , one simple check would be to warm the vehicle to operating temp and check both hoses going to both heater cores if one is hot and one is not there is a block in the heater core , this may not be it but lets try anyway , i wont cost you ..

oh and let me know about the engine light

thanks
jim

No the check engine light never came on. The low coolant light, once. We took it to Dobbs to have it looked at - said it was the head gasket and there were hydrocarbons in the system. Took it to another private mechanic for another opinion and because my husband didn't want to fix it. He said it was the head gasket also. We took the van and traded for a 2004 Honda Odyssey. Thanks again for your input!

Kelly M

no problem , good luck with the new one

Jim