2001 Pontiac Montana from North America - Comments

My 2001 Montana has just had the intake manifold gasket replaced; only cost me 900 dollars. My gas gauge needle has been bouncing around for about two years. Will I get the gauge fixed; no I'll run out of gas and my family can sue GM because I died in the snow.

Hi everyone. I have had my 99 Montana since 02, and I have got my hands on every fix it has needed. I have been lucky enough not to have had to do my intake gaskets (even though the chev olds dealer told me they were leaking back in 02. hm-mm) Primarily, I would like to clear the air on what I have learned about the wiper problem.

1. When they do not park, it is not electrical, not the wiper motor. If you have a condition where you have no pulse and no low speed wipers but high speed works, or a variation of this... you have a damaged circuit board in your wiper motor.

2. The park problem is caused for 1 reason (not snow) The crank arm is mounted on the wiper motor. Its purpose is to move the wiper rods back and forth via continuous rotation allowing wipers to move across the windshield. When wipers are turned off, the motor will reverse from the low position (position they are in when waiting to cycle again when it pulse mode) a spring loaded tab mounted under the crank arm, will hit against a post which is mounted to the main support for the wiper motor. As the motor continues to reverse, the crank arm spreads apart and causes the distance from the wiper rod and its mounting ball on the crank arm to increase. This is how the wipers tuck away when turned off. The spring on the tab will break or become weak. It is a pressed on spring steel component. You can't replace it or even order a new spring.

I have been working on a fix for over a year now and they work great. I use a good old fashioned contemporary spring attached to a welded, notch post, paint them FORD blue. (just to rub it into GM) Grease them up and off they go. They will never fail. The rest of the unit is bulletproof, it's just this flimsy spring.

My email is dangilkes@hotmail.com if you have more questions. I am in Ontario, Canada so not sure what it would cost for me to ship 1 to you, I sell them for 50 bucks installed up here and 40 for seniors. They all LOVE me for this fix. Good luck with your vans. Dan.

I bought my 2001 in Feb. 2006 with 67,000 miles. I feel very fortunate that I have only had a few problems.

1st, A/C condenser. replaced it myself at a cost of $165.00.

2nd, drivers window regulator. again fixed myself at $25.00.

3rd, outer tie rod, $125.00.

Last night I had to replace my water pump, $29.00. I'm not a mechanic but will always try to fix it myself before paying a shop. I seem to spend more time looking for the right tool than making the repairs.

By the way, my service engine light has been on since the day I bought the van and it has always passed the Missouri emission test. I ran the codes and got a p1404 (EGR valve) $87.00 part, but may be able to remove, clean and replace??? I have 113,000 miles on it now and it still looks and drives like new (KNOCK ON WOOD) by the way.

I traded in a 1997 Transport and the dealer called me 2 days later and told me the head gaskets on the 97 were blown. Good thing I stopped at Jiffy Lube on the way to trade it in!!! Keep fighting G.M. to get these problems resolved.

Bill in St Peters Missouri

I have a 2001 Pontiac Montana. My RPM is running high and it shifts hard. I took it to a transmission shop, and the transmission shop said internal electrical problem in transmission. So they rebuilt the transmission. But I still have to diagnostic codes showing up, they are the throttle position sensor, oil pressure, and cruise control I'm assuming this is an electrical problem? But where? Could it be an electrical problem in all three places? OH... if you're inquiring did the shifting gear problem stop after transmission replaced. YES! Just wondering if anyone had any ideas or suggestions!!

Thanks.

I have to echo ALL of the previous posts, bought 2001 Montana in July 08.

Head gaskets replaced in Jan09. Make sure mechanic checks heads for cracks and warpage. Our heads weren't cracked, but needed to be planed. According to mechanic, this looks like the second time around for gaskets.

ABS light is now a constant, almost reassuring companion. If the light doesn't come on, ABS pump comes on over bumps, while turning etc.-very disconcerting!

Power steering is making noise, there is a "bleeding" procedure that's in the Haynes manual that seems to help (there's a leak somewhere perhaps).

Sliding door power locks don't work, pass. side and rear window switches are now "dead".

Driver's door window is starting to "stall" halfway up and needs a shove to go completely up. Can't wait to see what breaks next...

We bought our Montana new. Again, it has had most if not all of the problems mentioned and probably a few more.

As far as the passenger side window, ours won't go down, but if you open and then shut the door, or stop and turn the car off then on again, it will usually work.

Also, have figured out the engine light comes on after a fill up and then highway travel. Will go off after a day or two.

Traction active light goes on and off for no apparent reason, like most of the other weird lighting functions.

Speed on the turn signals tells you the bulb is about to go out.

Bought 2001 Pontiac Montana van new in 2001:

Love the van for driving - but the cost of maintenance is unbelievable.

Car now has 280,000.

- New transmission

- 3 A/C condensors

- $1600 for A/C side lines, which didn't work and now they want another $900

- Fuel gauge stopped working

- Driver window sometimes just opens

- Sometimes the doors lock on their own?

- Couple sets of tires

- Average repair: 500-1200 per visit

- I must be nuts - am currently trying to get an A/C fix that is just over warranty

- Who do you call at GM to complain or at least get some sort of ruling that a month over warranty means you pay another $1600 to repair?

Have a 2001 Montana.

Same problems -- been trying to fix the brake light issue for my wife. Found the melted plastic connector middle top pin on the tail lamp assy, both male and female plugs. Guess too much current running back thru there and melted the plastic, but the lamps didn't burn out--??? Cleaned it and it worked!!! But started the van and then it stopped working properly, now the roof brake light stays on all the time. Like chasing demons/gremlins -- In the name of Jesus! Come out.

Will likely have to replace the harness and the circuit boards. Good luck to all -- and especially the bankrupt General Motors corporation -- I'm sure they will find some cracker-jack electrical engineers with the money they don't have!

2001 Montana.

Fixed the Christmas tree light issue--you need to pull the tail light assy and either replace the male and female plug assy, as they will be burnt. I just cleaned the male and female plastic from around the plug areas for $0, we'll see how long it lasts, but works fine now!!!

I've had my 2001 van for a few years now, and have very similar problems.

The A/C, the front and rear brakes, the temp gauge goes up when you sit still too long; we are replacing the thermostat, and I hope that fixes the problem.

We changed the whole light assembly to Ford; they work perfectly now and you can't tell the difference unless you open it up, and who but me needs to do that.

If anyone knows where we need to look to find how to replace the thermostat, please let me know.

Oh, by the way, we have 112105 miles so far. Really hope to add a lot to that. We don't drive, but needed the van so that our four children, me and husband plus driver would fit. We are both visually impaired but still need to get around like others.

Thanks, Tonya.

Send comments to tonyagabriel@verizon.net

2002 Pontiac Montana purchased new.

1st day purchase, I should have known when the windshield wipers broke.

I loved a lot the things about this van.

I just paid off the van, and the intake manifold gasket needs to be replaced, $900 or more, auto windows stop 1/2 up or just doesn't work, the fan only works on 2-4 skipping high and low, the side passenger door came off the hinges while turning a corner, the door doesn't shut properly, the electrical t/o van intermittently works, the ABS light stays on the thermostat change 3 times, and etc.

I just paid it off Aug 09 and 102000 miles. Disappointed can't describe it. I did regular maintenance and I am frustrated. I had taken it to the dealer under the warranty numerous times to have them fix the problems. Now no warranty and it's a money pit.