New Montana owner (well soon) questions

[terrehautian]

My mom just purchased (got the loan approved and now awaiting to tell the people selling it and closing on it) a 2000 Montana with 100,220 miles. Drives fine, but there is two problems that I need to work on. The radio has had hte fuse pulled. Apparently the radio stays on after the van is shut off and drains the battery. I do not have possession of the van yet, so I cannot work on it. Anyone else had this problem? Anyone have any ideas? How do I get access to the radio wires? I want to keep the stock radio in, but I am open to putting in an aftermarket radio. If I do put in an aftermarket radio, will I need a chime box harness like I had for my Malibu?

Second problem is that the seat belt on the right middle seat does not go in or out. I don't know why, but will I have to replace it?

The van also has the air compressor kit, but no hose as far as I know.

Will post up some pictures when I can. Going to give it a good cleaning this weekend (detail interior including shampooing carpets).

The price was excellent even with the problems (we paid 2500 for it).

 

[Steelcity]

Welcome to the forum nice to chat with a fellow "tana" owner : as far as the radio goes this seems to weird cause on my montana even if I leave the radio on it shuts off after the 10 minute accessory run down protection unless I open a door then it shuts off immediately .You might want to take a better look at the problem when you have a chance to play with it a while and report back. As far as the seat belt goes try the internet or your local salvage yard good place to start . Good luck and keep us posted .

 

[Ponifan]

It's a great price for such a great van!

 

[terrehautian]

I do have a question. If I replace the radio with an aftermarket radio, will I need the chime box like I need on my Malibu?

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[My51chevy]

I have a very similar issue. When I remove the keys and open the door my radio stays on as well.

There is another symptom as well. When I remove the key and lock the doors, they lock immediately. Up until the radio starting acting weird, when I would lock the door, I would hear three beeps and the doors would lock after about 10 seconds.

The radio and door locks do not always act up just every now and then.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
My51chevy

 

[Steelcity]

wow you two have some weird problems,I guess that's electronics for ya,how about something very simple disconnect the battery for about 10 minutes or so to reset the computers ? Just a guess maybe its getting confused I thought I read in the owners manual somewhere that the door locks can be reconfigured to lock instantly maybe a reset will do it ???

 

[melsg5]

if it's of any help here is a link to an owners manual
www.extendedgmwarranty.com/owners-manual/pontiac/2000-Pontiac-Montana.pdf

 

[terrehautian]

Having some seller issues so still not in possesion of the van yet. Wanted to start to clean it this weekend also. Hopefully I can start to clean it next weekend.

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[My51chevy]

Thanks for the manual and the suggestion about disconnecting the battery. I will try it this weekend.

My thought is, since the issue does not happen every time, it may be related to the ignition switch. How hard is it to replace the ignition switch on the Montana?

Thanks.

 

[My51chevy]

Thanks for the manual and the suggestion about disconnecting the battery. I will try it this weekend.

My thought is that since the issue does not happen every time, it may be related to the ignition switch. How hard is it to replace the ignition switch on the Montana?

Thanks.

 

[My51chevy]

Thanks for the manual and the suggestion about disconnecting the battery. I will try it this weekend.

My thought is that since the issue does not happen every time, it may be related to the ignition switch. How hard is it to replace the ignition switch on the Montana?

Thanks.

 

[terrehautian]

Got it.

Got a bunch of things to do to it, but it will look good in two weeks and hopefully will fix the issues in a month. Thursday it goes in for an oil change and I might have them change the tire balance. If I have time on Thursday I will start to clean the interior. Will wash and wax it later also.

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[terrehautian]

..............

 

[terrehautian]

now my posts appear...

 

[Steelcity]

nice color combo (same as mine) that blue metalic really looks good with a nice coat of wax ,show some pics when done .

 

[ianmcdca]

So, is it possible the door switch isnt working? You know the one that turns on the interior lights? It`s the same switch that signals the BCM to turn off the power to accessories.
It is possible that it`s in the ignition switch. You`ll need simple tools like a torx bit set, steering wheel puller (you`ll need a special kind as these steering wheels do NOT have threaded holes for normal pullers) and some patience. It`s not hard, but slightly time consuming.
While sitting in the van running, turn it off and pull the key. Radio should still be on. Open the door and check if the interior lights are working. If so, the switch is working and it could be in the ignition switch. Just understand that a new igntion switch (NOT the lock cylinder) is expensive....so is the BCM (Body Control Module).


Ian

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[ianmcdca]

I have a very similar issue. When I remove the keys and open the door my radio stays on as well.

There is another symptom as well. When I remove the key and lock the doors, they lock immediately. Up until the radio starting acting weird, when I would lock the door, I would hear three beeps and the doors would lock after about 10 seconds.

The radio and door locks do not always act up just every now and then.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
My51chevy

If you have a door open on a normal van and you press the lock button once, the chime will sound but delays locking about 10 seconds because it knows that a door is open.....this is telling me that it is maybe a switch. BUT:

on the 2 sliding doors there are contacts on the door and the side pillars where electrical power flows through to the power locks and other features. These can become corroded and either the door locks won`t work, or possibly the switch signaling that a rear door is open won`t be able to send a signal. Some contact cleaner and maybe some Brasso cleaner will clean these.

Curious to find the solution.

Ian

 

[terrehautian]

So, is it possible the door switch isnt working? You know the one that turns on the interior lights? It`s the same switch that signals the BCM to turn off the power to accessories.
It is possible that it`s in the ignition switch. You`ll need simple tools like a torx bit set, steering wheel puller (you`ll need a special kind as these steering wheels do NOT have threaded holes for normal pullers) and some patience. It`s not hard, but slightly time consuming.
While sitting in the van running, turn it off and pull the key. Radio should still be on. Open the door and check if the interior lights are working. If so, the switch is working and it could be in the ignition switch. Just understand that a new igntion switch (NOT the lock cylinder) is expensive....so is the BCM (Body Control Module).


Ian

I haven't had time to mess with it, but from what I understand, the radio actually shuts off, but the cd spinner keeps spinning. So no sound, but parts continue to stay on. Will know more tomorrow as I will ahve it to drive to get some work done on it. I am suspecting maybe the radio is defective. First thing to get looks at though is the power steering area. I dumped an entire bottle of fluid in it yesterday so I think the leak is still there that the people where the van was sitting thought he fixed.

 

[terrehautian]

Hello from the back of the van. Fixed a few things already. Seat is fine, just needed to be unbolted from the anchor point and allowed to retract. Radio works as does the overhead console once I put a fuse in. Tomorrow will keep the fuse in when I drive it and see what happens to the battery. properly set the middle.seat in the middle row so it is fine. It does have a power deterring fluid leak. Cleaning the crap out of it also. Pictures .....


Carpet is really stained, nothing I can do about that.

Found these nets in some storage areas..

Radio has some illumination issues, but it works.

I do miss a battery gauge like I have on my Jeep.

This is one area I just noticed where the headliner doesn't exactly fit. Don't know why, don't care.

Both sides have some scraps and dents.

Tires have plenty of life left on them.

For a van with 100k on it and very few issues, I am really happy for getting it for 2500 (didn't even haggle on the price).

 

[terrehautian]

Well, getting the oil changed and they found some problems. Power steering line had a leak. Also have an intake manifold leak(not bad yet) and the water pump is leaking. Stuff to get get fixed is the norm on a used vehicle I guess.