2002 Buick Rendezvous temp light on hot and car will not go voer 25

[modelageek]

2002 Buick Rendezvous temp light on hot and car will not go over 25

This is a friend of mines truck. I have not driven or seen the truck since it has had the issue. it is at a Mechanic. I have not talked to the mechanic yet.

it has the GM 3.4 (la1 3400 v6)

The temp light came on indicating HOT. He say the truck will not go over 25 mph. The Mechanic changed the manifold intake gasket and checked the tstat and waterpump. The engine does not make any weird noises. The Mechanic is suggesting he consider a new engine. I will try and get more info but my friend does not know very much and the mechanic has the truck..........I am not sure if the truck is actually overheating............thoguhts?

 

[killj0y]

Well overheating would be obvious but it won't go over 25? Did he mention any other drivability problems? Smoke? so far it sounds like possibly multiple issues might and might not be related. What's the maintenance record like?

 

[killj0y]

Also any codes?

 

[backroad101]

Just a technicality but a Rendezvous is really a minivan acting like a truck and not really a truck

 

[adsm08]

Sounds like it is in overheat mode. A lot of late-model vehicles have a special strategy they use when the computer sees an over-temp condition. Extra fuel is dumped, timing is retarded, and speed is limited. It's designed to maximize cooling from sources other than the cooling system and to minimize heat produced by the engine.

If the temp sensor is bad it might do this also. Just a thought since you didn't say it was loosing coolant or steaming out or puking or anything.

 

[Explorin94]

Plugged catalytic convertor. Unbolt it from the rest of the system and look in it. You may find it plugged, thus letting the engine overheat by not letting the hot exhaust gasses escape and also not letting it get up to speed.

 

[robertc1024]

Plugged up radiator? Both inside and out. Can you see light through it easily? Does it look like a witches brew inside?

 

[straycat]

It's a minivan, not a truck...a woman’s vehicle...lol. Your buddy needs to learn how to work on stuff. Another motor? If no coolant is leaking or the radiator is not smoking/steaming, it just might be an issue with a sensor or an exhaust manifold issue? Did your buddy check to see if coolant was in the radiator and reservoir? That is the first thing that even a 12 year old girl would know.

 

[modelageek]

Thanks for the reply's.....I talked to my friend. he said the temp gauge goes to hot but the gm product has never gotten to the point where it was overheating. I guess he stopped driving it. The mechanic told him he thought air was getting into the cooling system somehow(this is the reason he thinks he needs a new engine). The gm product has not lost any coolant and I don't think they have found any coolant in the oil.

He is going to talk to the mechanic in a day or so.

-I like the idea of it going into limp mode because of the hot issue is a good one

-The CAT idea is also interesting

-I am pretty sure they checked the radiator for crap.......can a radiator that does not appear clogged or have leaks still be bad?

I told him to see if he can get any codes

I'll keep you posted........Thanks