Vehicle started overheating. Replaced themostat and was told by mechanic that the head gaskets were failing. Took vehicle to Chevrolet who ran diagnostics and informed me that head gaskets were leaking. Dealer told me that intake manifold gasket failure is common in the 3.1 but failure of head gaskets are not as common. The dealer replaced both head gaskets at a total cost of over $900. I asked the dealer if there was a recall on this and he replied no. I have spoken to several people since the time of my repairs and they to are experiencing the same problems with their vehicles....overheating with associated head gasket failure. At this point I am very displease with General Motors inability to recognize that a problem does exist with head gasket and intake manifold gasket failure on the 3.1 engine. I have found that local mechanics are willing to acknowledge the problem exists while the GM mechanics will not.

- Ambridge, PA, USA

Windshield wipers have failed several intermitant times. First time in 1998 at 70 miles per hour in a rain storm, wipers stopped, took car off cruise then the resumed. Several intermitent times afterward. Dealer wanted $400 + to "fix" moter. I was sceptical becuase this is not the only GM car I have driven with wiper trouble. Last big incident was last fall 1999 when the wipers stopped on the interstate with my pregnant wife and child in car -200 miles from home. I could not get them to resume. Checked fuse etc. Waited out storm under bridge, proceded to truck stop and bought rain-X to continue journey. When I got to destination I pulled the wiper motor and it checked out fine and the switch-ok. Intermitent troubles are hard to get fixed! I took wiper motor apart, cleaned brushes, and noticed some build-up on the communicator disc, and contacts for the parking mechanism. Cleaned this with light abrasive -reasembled and have had no problem since, although with the wiper's history I now use rain-X all the time. I am afraid to travel in snow with kids in vehicle. I would like to sell it but with the wiper system troubles, and the cooling system that keeps leaking -new radiator, water pump, and head gasket -mechanics say pink coolant is corrosive. I can't sell it to another, and I can't afford to keep throwing money at this van. Thank you.vincent walter.

- Lafayette, IN, USA