LIM - My Turn

Well, it looks like it's my turn for the lower intake manifold gaskets....:disappoin I discovered a leak coming from the area at the transaxle end of the LIM after the engine is shut off. I'll be doing the job myself, so if any of you have had any experience with the job and have any advice or suggestions, let me know.

99 Alero GLS, 3.4L

Thanks

Checkout the post at our N Body Forums which has info to include a link which has guidelines for replacing LIM gaskets on the GM 3400 engine. Also, the post has the revised LIM bolt torque values. Good luck!

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=688030

Thanks Bob,

I just got the LIM off and the pushrods out, so now begins the tedious process of cleaning everything up, replacing gaskets, fuel injector o-rings, etc.

I appreciate the link to the revised torque values. I printed off a copy so I'll get it right.

I'll let you know how the rest of the job goes...

Well, the saga continues. I had everything cleaned up and had the LIM going back on, and in the process of torquing the bolts, one of the diagonal bolts gave way before I got to the final torque value. Pulled the LIM back off and found the threads in that hole were history. :banghead:

So, I have a plan. There is still a good bit of threads left in the lower half of the hole. I plan to cut down one of the old longer bolts to a length that will reach the remaining threads in the hole and see if it will hold torque. I figure I really have nothing to lose. If it doesn't hold I still have to take the head off and have it repaired or get a new one, or oversize the hole and use a larger bolt.

I'll keep you posted.

Job complete - Had to put a Helicoil in the bolthole that the threads gave up in, but it worked fine. All appears to be good so far, no leaks and runs good.

What's the best way to ensure I've gotten all the air bled from the cooling system. I followed the method of adding anti-freeze to the cold system with the bleeder port open. Is there anything else I need to do or can do to be get any remaining trapped air out?

Thanks for the feedback. It should benefit other Alero owners with the 3400 that plan on doing a LIM job.

It helps to get the front end of the car up higher than the radiator which helps the process of bleeding air out of the cooling system. Just repeat the bleeding using the same bleeder valve on the tower at the water pump over the course of a few days just to be sure all air is out. Good luck.

Well, everything's still going pretty good more than two weeks later, with one minor exception.

On the way home after work, I have to drive about 10 miles on the interstate. When I get off, the coolant temp rises about a needle's width above centerline and pretty much stays there until I get home about 2 miles later.
The same interstate trip in the mornings on the way to work doesn't result in any elevated temps.

I've bled the system three times since replacing the LIM gasket and I haven't gotten any air the last two times. Coolant level is good and haven't had to add any since about two days after completion of the LIM gasket job.

Any ideas???