Cooling System and Gasket Leaks FAQ...Read this first

[ramairgt19]

question i discovered the coolant overflow hose is leaking coolant after driving for lets say 20 mins ..why is it coming from the overflow hose??? the temp is about 3 marks over 90 i am in canada middle of the temp gauge is normal last week its been about 3 lines over not sure that means anything or plays a factor ...thanks for any advice

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by ramairgt19

question i discovered the coolant overflow hose is leaking coolant after driving for lets say 20 mins ..why is it coming from the overflow hose??? the temp is about 3 marks over 90 i am in canada middle of the temp gauge is normal last week its been about 3 lines over not sure that means anything or plays a factor ...thanks for any advice

Is the engine coolant reservoir tank cap holding pressure ?
If the cap does not hold pressure of 15 psi; the coolant will boil over.

Did you "top-up" the reservoir tank recently ?
If you put too much engine coolant in, when topping-up; (when hot) the excess coolant is disposed of through the overflow tube.

[ramairgt19]

i havn't touch the coolant never added any in .....know the cap i am not that good with cars so how do i check to make sure the pressure on the cap?

[ramairgt19]

it was the cap i got a new one and everything fine thank god

I just replaced the lower intake gasket on my 00 GT and got it all put back together, my fans work and all but my car still wants to overheat. What is the deal? I also replaced the thermostat with a fail-safe tstat so I know it isn't that. The initial prob was a stuck thermostat and that caused the blown gasket, but now what is the prob? I'm feeling pretty clueless at the moment.

Can't find the answer here or in the Haynes book.

I know after installing the LIM gasket you need to adjust the rocker arms to 14ftlb + 30degrees. Question is do you have to have the #1 piston at TDC to do all of them or do you need to have each piston at TDC to adjust each rocker?

[2003SCT]

Well, assuming that all you did was replace the lower intake manifold gasket...cylinder position doesnt matter. The only reason that you ever remove the rockers(or the pushrods for that matter) is because they are in the way of the gasket. Anyway, TDC doesnt matter at all for this install/repair...again this is assuming the heads didnt come off or the cam wasnt replaced. Just torque to spec....

This is my view on it...anyone else care to add a second opinion?




CHRIS

[djrkd]

Originally Posted by djrkd

i know this is off topic, but im gettin ready to get rid of the http://www.grandampc.com/leak domain, and host for somethin new, if anyone wants to take over, or host the files please let me know, I dont visit here often since i no longer own a grand am, please contact me on AIM (rkdm6) or email me: xtckidxx@aol.com

as i previously posted my grandamgt domain is running out, I will not be renewing it, so if anyone wants the pics...... contact me.

[HeyMelo27]

hey im just wondering if you had revised this list at all. im doing the job myself and need to order the parts. i dont know wat u mean by distribuor plug gasket. we have distributorless ingintions..coils. and why TWO EGR gaskets?? please let me know asap

does anyone else have any added info for doing the job themselves?

Mike
EMAIL/MSN: HeyMelo55@hotmail.com
AIM: HeyMelo55

Ive had a mixed problem with coolant also and dont know what it is.

Low coolant light started coming on randomly for no reason back in the summer while at work. did that ever since, checked the coolant and the level was fine but their was like milky gunk crap in the coolant tank and on the bottom of the cap. I figured it was causing the coolant sensor to get stuck and unstuck every so often. I decided to flush it out. Took off the hose coming from the bottom of the coolant tank and drained all the fluid out then ran warm water through it a dozen or so times to get it clean. reattatched the hose and refilled with new coolant, it was the other color choice then the one that is stock in the GA.

coolant light went off car and a/c worked fine for a few days then the light came on again. checked the coolant it was almost empty.....filled it again, empty the next morning.

Now my a/c blows cold air and wont heat up unless im drivign for like 20 minutes. Perfect for the winter eh?

I dont know the problem, it didnt leak before i flushed the system to get the gunk out and the light off, now it just causes more problems..? WHATS WRONG

[gaowners32]

Originally Posted by wushdishmeen

Ive had a mixed problem with coolant also and dont know what it is.

Low coolant light started coming on randomly for no reason back in the summer while at work. did that ever since, checked the coolant and the level was fine but their was like milky gunk crap in the coolant tank and on the bottom of the cap. I figured it was causing the coolant sensor to get stuck and unstuck every so often. I decided to flush it out. Took off the hose coming from the bottom of the coolant tank and drained all the fluid out then ran warm water through it a dozen or so times to get it clean. reattatched the hose and refilled with new coolant, it was the other color choice then the one that is stock in the GA.

coolant light went off car and a/c worked fine for a few days then the light came on again. checked the coolant it was almost empty.....filled it again, empty the next morning.

Now my a/c blows cold air and wont heat up unless im drivign for like 20 minutes. Perfect for the winter eh?

I dont know the problem, it didnt leak before i flushed the system to get the gunk out and the light off, now it just causes more problems..? WHATS WRONG

Im in the same boat you are bro and im from CT i feel your pain. IV had the lower and upper intake manifold gaskets replaced, thermostat replaced, water pump and return line replaced. And the car still has the same problems that occur with yours. Mine just over heats and comes to a dead stop on the road. Currenly mine is in the shop for the 8th time with this problem and I am sick and tired of this car. Good luck with your problem.

[HeyMelo27]

ok so i brought it into work yesterday and got started. got the upper manifold off, air box, coil packs, etc off, just enough to expose the LIM. been on it since 10am this morning...its 12:45 now and im beginning to reassemble everything...after i take a dump . ill keep you up to date...not that you really care im sure but if theres any questions to ask then nows a good time

[HeyMelo27]

yep...11 hours later as im finishing up i realize i have two bolts that im unsure where they belong...they look exactly like intake manifold bolts. hmmm. there are 4 black bolts for the inner LIM, 4 Diagonal LIM bolts, and 6 UIM bolts. i dont know where else they could go...any input please?

no..their not extra parts...i didnt modify the design

The thing is there obviously is a leak on my car somewhere but I honestly don't believe it's major work like the LIM gasket because I dont think flushing the system would ruin the gasket... It has to be a lose hose somewhere it's the only thing that will make sense. Im going to recheck everything tomarrow. Theres no coolant in my oil so thats my only proof.

bump.....any ideas whats exactly wrong in my case??

[Sonders]

I scanned through this thread and didn't see the problem I just had with my car in here anywhere, could be wrong though. I have a 97' gt and as I pulled into work the other day all of a sudden i can smell the sweet smell of anti freeze and then I see a nice cloud trail behind my car and just like that the temp gauge shoots up to the red and overheats. I put it in neutral and let it coast into the parking lot. It ended up being the gasket that goes around the timing chain having a big ass leak; the anti freeze ran out below the valve cover on passenger side near the back of the engine. It was like a damn faucet, it was running out so bad. Everything on the passenger side of the engine had to come off including serpentine belt, power steering pump, altenator, support brackets, tensioner pulley, the whole timing chain cover with the water pump, harmonic balancer, wheel and bottom plastic panel in fenderwell. It was a pain in the ass to replace. I've had it back on the road for two days and now the damn heater core went out of it today. I am beyond pissed right now. I really wanna just throw a for sale sign in it and sell it as is.

Yea since the car runs fine still except the air conditioning not working cuz of the antifreeze...the thought of selling the car came across my head too..

seems like its a ticking time bomb waiting to happen, and thats pretty freaking unfair i havent even hit 40k miles yet and ive had enough problems already.

[Sprucegagt]

Originally Posted by wushdishmeen

Yea since the car runs fine still except the air conditioning not working cuz of the antifreeze...the thought of selling the car came across my head too..

seems like its a ticking time bomb waiting to happen, and thats pretty freaking unfair i havent even hit 40k miles yet and ive had enough problems already.

A/C not working because of the antifreeze? I think you mean the heater isn't working. When you flushed the tank did you bleed all the air out of the system? Sounds like that's part of your problem. But if it doesn't fix it, have the coolant system pressure tested. That should find the leak.

Originally Posted by Sprucegagt

A/C not working because of the antifreeze? I think you mean the heater isn't working. When you flushed the tank did you bleed all the air out of the system? Sounds like that's part of your problem. But if it doesn't fix it, have the coolant system pressure tested. That should find the leak.

Not to sound retarded, but how do you bleed the air out? I'm guessing this means i didnt do that, heh. Let me know thanks!

And yes the heater isnt working it takes like 20 minutes for it to heat up and even when it does heat up it randomly turns cold.

bump...anyone??!?