Thread: Engine overheating/ Need Help

2004 Pontiac GT 3800 Series 3.

Recently, the power steering pulley fell off, thus the belt, which caused the engine to overheat. Everything got put back together, but now the car's been losing coolant and overheating again. After taking it for a drive and temp. needle nearing the red zone, pulled in the driveway and noticed a hissing sound. Found the hissing coming from a plastic elbow out of the block and into a passage between the water pump and tensioner. How do you replace this elbow? Does it just push into the block and into the passage under the tensioner, screw in or what? Do I need to remove anything to change this? Are there any other elbows I should be looking at, and if so, where are they located? Water pump does not appear to be leaking, so I'm thinking this may be my only problem. There is enough coolant in the system right now, and though I'm losing it, it's not losing a lot but still overheating the engine. Thanks for any help.

It is called a coolant elbow they are made of a weak plastic fiber from gm the ones that are aftermarket naps ext. are a good rigid plastic.They are a common problem on these 3.8 there is another one behind the heater core block. It is not that hard if you know how to do them and yes they just push in. If and when you do it its pretty much doing a lower intake job take job and remember to do both elbows never have to worry about them again.

Thanks for the valuable information. I'll let you know how it went.
Do you recommend I drain all the coolant, or just let what comes out, come out?

I'd drain the coolant to save what you can to put back in and be less of a mess. But just my opinion.

I think you're right. Thanks.

Are these coolant elbows also referred to as "heater hose connectors"? The only thing I found was on NAPA's sight that looked like these fittings. The p/n is 6601943. If anyone knows if this is the right part, would you let me know? Thanks.

24503423 Upper coolant elbow GM Part#

When you put the new elbows in place its wise to place a bead of black rtv in front of the orings. Peace of mind is nice too, theyll seal up great that way.

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Thanks again for all this advice and info.

Update: Job went smooth. Used scotch brite inside openings and cleaned up with acetone. Did this because ends of fittings all stayed inside the ports. Took a little while to get two of them out, but not bad. Smeared black rtv in front of o-rings, kind of wish I would have left the bead instead of smearing it, but hopefully it'll be alright. Decided to wait till tomorrow morning to refill with coolant, giving rtv time to cure. Don't know if it makes any difference or not. Will update again tomorrow. Any opinions on what I've done so far is sure welcome.

Refilled cooling system, drove car until up to operating temperature then bled air from system. Everything looks ok. Thanks to all of you who guided me through this. Very appreciated.

One question. The temperature needle goes up to 1 mark before the 1/2 mark on the gauge. Does anyone know if this is where it should be? Just curious.