Pontiac Repair: 2000 Montana no heat, intake manifold gasket, replacing head gaskets

Question
QUESTION: Hi
My daughter has a 2000 Montana with 3.4 engine. It suddenly will no longer heat the vehicle, has been low on anti freeze but purrs like a kitten. No engine shake, I set a cup of coffee on it and never spilled a drop! Been told it's a lower intake manifold gasket. Has 150K on it. She had decided to sell it to upgrade to a more dependable vehicle due to the mileage until this happened. We sure don't want to sell it to someone like this. Shop wants $1,400 to fix it. What's your opinion on the diagnosis. The cost seems like a lot but...
Thanks for your opinion. Very much appreciated!
Randy

ANSWER: Hi Randy:
that is how these start off with lower intake manifold gaskets leaking and then they wind up having head gasket issues due to being run low on coolant. That price is more for replacing head gaskets then a lower intake manifold gasket job. see indeed exactly what they want to do to repair it. My job is not the $$$ side I just fix 'em. If you fon't live in the rust belt it's not a bad investment the vans hold up okay if your in the rust belt area I wouldn't dump that $ into the van.
good luck :-)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I was afraid of that! The van is in great condition body-wise. Would you recommend having both the head gaskets and intake gasket replaced seeing as it's out of the car anyway? Is there anything else you would recommend replacing? Thanks so much!
Randy

Answer
If you plan on dumping $ into the van go all the way and have both head gaskets replaced if indeed that is what the issue is. Over and above that replave the thermostat apsark plugs and spark plug wires while it's all apart it' shoudl be just the price of the parts only no extra labor.