3.8 L V-6 - a small black plastic elbow under Alternator is leaking coolant.
No photo in manuals, don't even know what to call it .... BARS leak no help.
YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE BELT TENSIONER.
IF YOU BUY THE CARTER BELT TENSIONER AT ADVANCED AUTO, IT COMES WITH: A PLASTIC ELBOW WITH O RINGS, TENSIONER, PULLEY, NEW O RING WHERE THE BELT TENSIONER MATES TO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND NEW O RINGS FOR THE INLET AND OUTLET CONNECTIONS ON THE BELT TENSIONER TO THE HEATER CORE (COST $72).
IF YOU DON'T REPLACE ALL THE ABOVE O RINGS THEN YOU CAN EXPECT MORE LEAKS.
IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC ELBOW YOU MUST REMOVE THE BELT TENSIONER ANYWAY. IF THE BELT HAS SEVERE CRACKS REPLACE IT ALSO.
STEPS:
-REMOVE BELT
-DISCONNECT BATTERY
-DRAIN ANTIFREEZ AND DISCARD
-REMOVE ALTERNATOR
-REMOVE BELT TENSIONER
-REMOVE PLASTIC ELBOW (DO NOT ALLOW BROKEN PIECES PLASTIC OR DIRT TO GET INSIDE THE ENGINE WATER CAVITIES.
-CLEAN ALL CONNECTION WHERE O RING WILL MATE.
-TO REASSEMBLE GO IN REVERS ORDER
-REFILL THE RADIATOR WITH COOLENT 50% MIX USE THE 5 YR GUARANTEE TYPE.
-MAKE SURE THE COOLENT RESERVIOR IS
FILLED TO THE HOT LEVEL MARK.
-RUN THE ENGINE UNTILE IT IT REACHES THE 1/4 % TEMP MARK ON THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE THEN TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN THE BLEED SCREW ON TOP OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING.
ALLOW THE AIR TO EVACUATE, YOU WILL SEE COOLENT COME OUT THEN CLOSE THE BLEED SCREW.
-BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU OPEN THE RADIATOR TO REFILL TO THE TOP.
-REPEAT THIS ONE MORE TIME.
-RUN THE ENGINE AND KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE' IF THE TEMPERATURE GOES BEYOND THE 1/2% MARK, SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE QUICKLEY AND LET THE ENGINE COOL.
THIS MAY TAKE HOURS TO COOL DOWN BUT THE COOLING SYSTEM WILL TURN FROM PRESSURIZED TO VACUUM AND DRAW COOLENT FROM THE RESERVOIR TO REFILL THE SYSTEM.
YOU WILL NOTICE THE LEVEL DROP IN THE RESERVOIR .
This is the water pump bypass elbow ,,auto zone has them in a 2 pack ,2 sizes in the pack ,first disconnect the neg battery cable,take off the alternator and set aside leave the wires attached , find ur heater hoses they come from a box that gets it water from the pump ,,the bow is bolted on un bolt it and u will be able to change the small elbow , might have to unbolt the power steering pump too kinda hard u have to use a socket through the holes in the pulley , and might have to take off the water pump pulley also ,,
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Does this thing have a name?
Don't waste your time with Bars Leak or J&B Epoxy - They
won't work !! - Follow one of the above fixes ....
I spent over $60 and two days trying to fix the little "Elbow with no
name" - all I did was gum up the thermostat & radiator with
stop leak ... more $$$ and repairs
Do it Right the FIRST time!
Leaking antifreeze from front of intake it looks like a plastic elbow and goes to the tensioner
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