coolant leak from tube in intake help please!

'96 3.8L leaking from a tube in the (engine) front of intake

My wife was rear ended and now the engine is leaking coolant from the a tube that comes out of the front of the intake manifold. I've no idea what to call this part to get another one. Its roughly 1/2 in diameter plastic tube with a 90 elbow in it that comes from the front of the intake and turns to the right side of the engine and apears to go into or thru the base of a tension pulley. Its a few inches above the thermostat housing if I remember right, but basically in the front upper center of the engine.

If someone has some info on what this is and how it connects to the intake (i'm really hopng i don't have to replace the whole intake) so I can get it fixed would be great!

Thanks
Popa Tim

this will take a picture to figure out!

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22247&highlight=intake+elbow
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24391&highlight=intake+elbow

finally some information about upper intake failiers on your l36 motor:
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5349&highlight=A
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16562&highlight=intake+elbow
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26043

Hansnet thanks for the links. They were right on the money and I had been googling for 2 days now. I appreciate them! Its not good news but it confirms the dealer est of $750 <cries> Usually big repairs wait for my tax returns come in, I guess this year has to be different.

Thanks once again,
Popa Tim

thats a plastic pipe that has o' rings on both ends,to replace the pipe and o' rings the tension adjuster has to be removed and the assy replaced (dealer items) Note: you don't have to remove the intake manifold,Good Luck

thats a plastic pipe that has o' rings on both ends,to replace the pipe and o' rings the tension adjuster has to be removed and the assy replaced (dealer items) Note: you don't have to remove the intake manifold,Good Luck


Ok, I got the plastic pipe from the dealer (what a rip-off he is) and I pulled serpentine belt, alternator, heater hoses, and the bolts from the tensioner housing. I now have a few more questions.

How does that housing assembly come off. It's loose and will rotate on the the lower portion where it looks like it routes coolant into or out of the engine. I don't just want to pry it off without at least asking first. I'm a bit nervous being this is my first time...hehehe {hums 'like a virgin'}

Secondly, why do they route coolant thru this assembly in the first place? Is there some reason that houseing needs to be cooled? or heated? LOL just seems it would have been easier and chaper for them to just route hose the few inches.

Thanks for all your help!!
Popa Tim

I don't recall exactly how the tensioner is mounted but to install the plastic pipe and o" rings ,the pipe is mounted on the tensioner and that the assy is put back as a whole and all parts put back on.I think the reason for the location is the position of the tensioner as to the ports for the heater water.

Ok, it just puls off with a bit of muscle.
All assembled, flushed, and filled with no leaks!
Sometimes I amaze even myself :evillol:

Now i need to find how to purge the air out of the system even though I did switch to Prestone instead of Dexcool.

Thanks,
Popa Tim

Sometimes you can remove the thermistat and fill the block,just an idea,Good Luck.
A quick question for you,was there another o' ring at the rear of the tensioner?