Problem with minivan overheating and can't figure it out?

(2010-05-30 12:20:21)

1. Jennifer Says: My mom's van, a 2005 Chevy Venture, just had some work done on it. It had been overheating and doing some other things, and they figured out the manifold was bad and the gasket. Both things were replaced. It is her daily driver and she has been driving it every day since getting it worked on with no problems. Recently though, we made a 400 mile trip (2 days after making a 150 mile round trip with no issues) and it started overheating again. The thermostat is new also. We pulled over and checked the water and it was boiling out from the reserve thing and once it cooled off enough, we checked the radiator and it had water also. We started the van and once the water started circulating, it took very little water (maybe like 8 oz. or so) and then it was full again. That much had boiled out when it was hot. The oil was fine when we left also. We couldn't really check anything else on the side of the road, so once it was cool, we continued our trip. We had about 100 miles to go, and the temp stayed at normal operating range the rest of the way, until we went to change freeways and hit stop and go traffic. The second we began to slow down, the temp needle started climbing back up. We had to pull over yet again and let it cool down. Still had plenty of water. It made it the 5 miles or so to our destination and my stepdad didn't leave again to go back home (he was taking me and my husband home) until it had completely cooled off. He made the 400 miles again, without it over heating at all, until he got off the freeway in his hometown and slowed down...then it started over heating quickly again. It just seems like the van doesn't do well on long trips. They've had problems with it overheating several times in the past and it's usually been the thermostat sticking. They've replaced the thermostat like 3-4 times a year in the past couple of years because of this. Is there anything else that can cause a thermostat to go bad all the time? They thought it was the issue with the manifold all along, but like I said, that's fixed now. The only other thing we know of that's needing replaced is a fuel injector (the van has like 6 of them) and one is bad. Would that cause it to overheat on long trips? My mom drove it to work this morning (about 30 mins. or so in traffic) and it didn't over heat at all. I just don't get it.

2. jalisco Says: check the radiator cap , check and touch the hose on the upper radiator it should be hot when it is a normal temperature also the radiator has to be hot all over if not it needs a new one but you should see a really good mechanic no injector do not cause it tell the mechanic to check the cooling sistem pressured. check and make sure the fans are working correctly the fans should start working around 90 to 95 degrees it is when the termostat opens and the water start circulaiting all over the sistem and and usualy they do not work on high speed on the freeways .the fans work the most when the car moves slow and stop and go

3. Luke Says: i had once of these vans, same exact problems.

had the same problems you're talking about above... and you're going to hate this.

if, after you follow everyone's advice, and it still does this... it's a head gasket.

pushes cylinder air into cooling jacket. air overheats/locks up, no fun.

4. Mark Says: Check and see if the fans are working. I believe one or both is/are not working.

5. Paul Says: "Water Not Coolant?" Sounds like a few small things; Need to Boil/Flush Out the Cooling System, Fill System with Coolant (50%-50% Anti-Freeze & Clean Water, Used All Year Round) and Most Important Check & Repair the Radiator Fan "Sounds like it isn't working [Cycling Properly] and then make sure the A/C Condenser Fan is working.