coolant elbow broken inside engine

**bjlandt** · 08-14-2011

Hi! I'm new to this forum, so I was wondering if anyone could help me. I have a 2002 GTP and thought the water pump was leaking, but after I took off the belt tensioner, I found out that the front L shaped elbow on the tensioner was broken off inside the intake manifold. This is where the coolant is leaking from. I wondered if anyone knows how the coolant flows inside the engine or specifically inside the intake manifold? I can't reach the piece that broke off, if I take off the water pump will I be able to reach it? I can barely feel it with my finger. I really don't want to take apart the manifold to reach a small piece of plastic.

**Explicit_Spade** · 08-14-2011

Have you tried using a screwdriver at an angle to pry it out?

**bjlandt** · 08-14-2011

Yes, it moved down and to the left, and I can't get anything inside the hole to get it out. I can barely feel the piece with my finger and there is not enough room to get a tool inside there to remove it. I wonder if I could push it down more and took off the water pump if I would be able to see it?

**txslow6** · 08-14-2011

Just pull the lower intake manifold that's gonna be your best bet. I typically use a pic type tool that has a L on the end of it. Never has an issue doing it that way. Good luck.

**Scottydoggs** · 08-14-2011

dig that sucker out. get a pick tool or very small screw driver and crack it and pull it out.

**dmahlikGT** · 08-14-2011

I just did my elbows last week and same thing happened. I just used all 5 fingers, a few tools, and curse words and bam i got the lil piece out after 25min.

**bjlandt** · 08-14-2011

I wondered if the water pump that sits just below this hole immediately leads to the lower intake manifold? If I remove the water pump will I be able to access the piece of plastic?

**buck531** · 08-15-2011

It goes out of the Lower intake manifold and goes from the coolant elbow into the tensioner. Behind the tensioner there's a larger plastic elbow that it goes to and into the water pump. I'd just take the other 3 bolts off the tensioner and replace that as you might as well replace both coolant elbows. Both elbows are around $5 at the parts store under the "Help" section.

**BillBoost37** · 08-15-2011

I've always been able to dig them out. It's one of the most common things we all get to do.

Pulling the wp won't help. the timing cover is the backside to the water pump and that would be in your way.

FWIW I use a blind pilot bearing tool to pull the pieces. Can't use it on the LIm while it's on the motor, but otherwise, it's the quickest easiest way to getting the whole piece out in record time.

**bjlandt** · 08-15-2011

Thanks!!!

Followed advice and found elbows at NAPA and AutoZone. $3.95 for both in a package. I couldn't reach the broken piece, it broke just after the o-ring seal and the ring size piece kept moving further into the manifold. So.... I got out my shop vac and sucked the hole out until the piece was where I could reach it and pull it out.

Thanks for all your advice!!!

**0 lbs boost** · 10-26-2012

need help on step by step replacing this part please if anyone could. the elbow just blew apart today while driving and drained all the coolant. i had the same part replaced about 3 months ago. i had no choice to drive the car home about a mile and was running almost to the red on the temp gauge, and is now making some slight knocks and ticks when i cooled it down and then ran it again for 30 seconds or so.. did i do major damage or is this normal?

**Scottydoggs** · 10-26-2012

a 3 second search shows this jem.......http://www.grandprixforums.net/how-c...ows-49779.html

**0 lbs boost** · 10-26-2012

thanks. its similar but i have a GP and the elbow is directly into the block and seems to be a different than the one hes doing.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-26-2012

what engine? is it a 97 or 98?

**0 lbs boost** · 10-26-2012

nope, 2002 GP GT, bone stock. the same piece had cracked before and was leaking but i had it replaced and was working fine for a few months with no leaks. then today it literally blew up and shot coolant everywhere while i was driving. im not sure why this happened and im hoping it didnt cause major damage

**Scottydoggs** · 10-26-2012

if its a 3800 engine, follow that link, they are all the same. except for the 97 and 98, they have a cast elbow for a lower elbow.

**0 lbs boost** · 10-26-2012

thanks man ill give it a shot.

**FordMan77** · 10-26-2012

Originally Posted by 0 lbs boost

i had no choice to drive the car home about a mile and was running almost to the red on the temp gauge, and is now making some slight knocks and ticks when i cooled it down and then ran it again for 30 seconds or so.. did i do major damage or is this normal?

Well, was it making this noise before you blew the elbow? These motors can take some overheating but anything is possible. Best bet would be to replace the elbows, clean the belt and ALL the pullies off so no coolant is left on them and fire it up after refilling w/ coolant and see what it sounds like. Worst case take a vid of it and post it here and we can try and help.

**ExLimey** · 10-26-2012

When you get the new elbows, get the aluminum ones from Dorman. I got mine at OReilly's for about $12. They're much better than the plastic ones.

**88formula** · 10-28-2012

Has anyone used the Aluminum elbows from ZZP? seems like these would be much less prone to breakings, so they would be a great investment assuming they work good. Anybody have any input?