So... couple issues.

Apparently I have a leaking coolant system. I unfortunately noticed this when the temp got to about 110c on the gauge. It wasn't anywhere near the red on the gauge.

Waited for the car to cool off... opened the radiator. I don't see coolant. I added a bunch and burped the air out.

So after troubleshooting I found a loose clamp on a heater hose. Yay! Except that only fixed part of the problem. It looks like the elbow is seeping past the o-rings. I spoke with the PO and they said the day after they bought it the plastic elbow exploded and it was replaced at no charge. They did put a metal elbow on. It looks like it might've been leaking and they tried applying rtv to the bottom half of the elbow that goes into the block. Makes no sense right? I can see it is seeping past the ring in the tensioner so I went to GM and ordered the replacement elbow and seals.

Note: I have a 1997, early style. Only one elbow according to GM, the tensioner itself goes into the block sealed with two o-rings for the bottom.

So has anyone had experiences with the metal elbow o-rings leaking? The elbow itself seems to be fine. I'm going to compare it when I take it off... but if everything goes well, I'm thinking of using the GM seals on the metal elbow, that will hopefully stop it. I'm also changing the thermostat at the same time, as I have to drain the rad and block anyway. Is there any reason that I shouldn't use the GM seal with the metal elbow.

Anyhow, that aside. I was thinking... there's supposed to be an indicator for low coolant, why the hell didn't it light up? Oh, someone unplugged the sensor. Plugged it back in and the light now comes on even though the radiator is full. Well. I guess I'll replace that sensor, cause it's damn handy knowing if the coolant has dropped. Bah.

Another thing: I have a Canadian car, and the manual lists warning lights in English, but my instrument cluster has international symbols of some sort, some of which I don't know the meaning to. I found an owner's manual on GM's website that shows the English worded warnings and saying Canadian models are similar, but we don't have ANY English warning lights at all, they're all symbols. Does anyone have a cross-reference?