Help! Major coolant leak.

93 Grand am se 2.3L SOHC
All of the sudden today I smelled coolant. When I looked I notice antifreeze leaking from a little elbow shaped hose on my firewall on the passenger side under the evaperator. It started out just a little bit but now it leaks out as fast as I put it in. It looks like an overflow or something but I don't know why it is suddenly leaking.
Does anybody have any idea what this is and what do I need to do to fix it?

The elbow is the drain for the evaporator and heater core. The heater core has ruptured or cracked. Replace the heater core and the problem will go away.

yepp yepp i will have to agree you have a blow heater core just got mine done today took me and a buddy about 6 hours all together not too bad be carefull you get all te screws on the heater core cover good luck

I was afraid it would be something like that.
I don't have the time and money right now, and it is summer time, can I just take the hoses off the heater core and connect them to each other for now for a quick fix so I can drive it? If so, does anybody know what size hoses are on it so I know what size nipple to buy?
Thanks guys for the fast reply's. You are a great help.

I just hade the same problem...same car... same year...same engine...almost at the same time.... I've never done a heater core so I wasnt confident enough to do it myself. IF you decide to take it to a garage, Make sure to get a few estimates. I almost paid one place 400 bucks. Checked around and found a place to do it for 240! Just wanted to put in my :2cents: .
GOODLUCK!

i see no problem w/connecting the lines to bypass but if it gets cold one night and you start to fog up that heat could help

i see no problem w/connecting the lines to bypass but if it gets cold one night and you start to fog up that heat could help

well, there's anti-fog stuff u can use for that problem; or a soap & water solution to wipe on the inside to keep it fog-free...

there's only 2 major sizes when it comes to heater core hoses 5/16" or 3/4"...

click on this for more info (http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread/165004)
:2cents:

Well I got it bypassed. It is doing good now. Temps are staying where they need to be. At least now I can drive it. I will put in a new core later when I have more time and money.
I do have one little problem now though, the low coolant light stays on now even though it is full. Anybody know why it would be on now and how to get it off?

The float tends to stick on these cars, I just tap the side of the tank with the handle of a screwdriver until the light goes off. Make sure you don't slam it, you might crack the tank and be in a world of hurt as you watch your coolant run all over the ground.

Other than standing on your head, the heater core isn't that bad of a job. If the mounting bolts aren't rusted, removing the passenger seat will make the job easier. There are 7 or 8 screws that hold the cover on, and another 4 that hold the core in. Disconnecting the heater hoses is the hardest part, and may require you to get them from underneath.

well i think i bought my core at napa for like 36 dollars and put about 6 hours of work in to it.... did it my self this one is one of the easer ones to do i have a 94 gagt with 3.1 but i think core wise there all located in the same place and unless u really get a kick out of standing on your head i would definetly remove both seats if not at least the passenger seat makes life easer that way good luck