Beware: Cooling System Leak On 1995 LeSabre (3.8)
CarDude225
05-15-2007, 05:48 PM
Wife came home last night and car smelled like it was "cookin' coolant". Of course SHE DIDN'T NOTICE it! Found no visible coolant in radiator or recovery tank. HOLY SMOKES! Pulled 195F thermostat and stove tested it. not sure if it was working properly or not because it didn't start to significantly open until beyond 200F.
Anyway, purchased a new thermostat but purchased a 180F. My thinking is if I keep the temp a little less then there will be less pressure in the cooling system should I NOT be able to find the obvious coolant leak, and thus I would lose LESS coolant over time.
Anyway, installed the new 180F thermostat, flushed & filled system. Tested to op temp and found leak immediately to the left of alternator. Pulled alternator and found leak where the pump bypass hose connects to a plastic nipple that screws to the block. The plastic nipple CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS and now I have a piece of plastic nipple still in the block! AGGGGGGG.
Used drill, dremmel, and knife to eventually work out the remaining plastic nipple from the block hole. Ruined the front few rows of threads on the block. UGGGG.
For $2 Autozone provided a METAL nipple and I was able to install this without a thread problem.
Put all back together and tested: NO LEAKS / problem solved.
In Summary
BEWARE OF THE PUMP-BYPASS-HOSE-TO-BLOCK-PLASTIC-NIPPLE LOCATED UNDER THE ALTERNATOR ON THE 1995 BUICK LESABRE 3.8.
More info found at this post: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=318746
Anyway, purchased a new thermostat but purchased a 180F. My thinking is if I keep the temp a little less then there will be less pressure in the cooling system should I NOT be able to find the obvious coolant leak, and thus I would lose LESS coolant over time.
Anyway, installed the new 180F thermostat, flushed & filled system. Tested to op temp and found leak immediately to the left of alternator. Pulled alternator and found leak where the pump bypass hose connects to a plastic nipple that screws to the block. The plastic nipple CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS and now I have a piece of plastic nipple still in the block! AGGGGGGG.
Used drill, dremmel, and knife to eventually work out the remaining plastic nipple from the block hole. Ruined the front few rows of threads on the block. UGGGG.
For $2 Autozone provided a METAL nipple and I was able to install this without a thread problem.
Put all back together and tested: NO LEAKS / problem solved.
In Summary
BEWARE OF THE PUMP-BYPASS-HOSE-TO-BLOCK-PLASTIC-NIPPLE LOCATED UNDER THE ALTERNATOR ON THE 1995 BUICK LESABRE 3.8.
More info found at this post: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=318746
jconatser
05-19-2007, 11:06 AM
As I recall, I got the broken plastic fitting out by driving the squared end of a metal bar into the opening and turning it out. Then I went down to Advance Auto and bought the part made out of metal that should have been used in the first place.
Using a plastic part at that location is one of the stupidest things GM has ever done, IMO. That kind of stupidity is the reason they're having the troubles they're having today.
Using a plastic part at that location is one of the stupidest things GM has ever done, IMO. That kind of stupidity is the reason they're having the troubles they're having today.
Hapynzap
05-28-2007, 07:03 AM
Sounds like some engineer was trying to save 2 cents on a length of pipe.
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