Changed the idler pulley elbows on my 00 3.8

[WhiteRodeo4x4]

Just got done doing the idler pulley elbows on my 2000 Impala 3.8...Found it easier to remove the Alternator than to gut wrestle with the entire unit. Took about 2 hrs to do the job. I replaced the plastic ones with Aluminum ones. Figured if I had it apart might as well do it the right way. No leaks and seems good. Next up is to replace the injectors, I'm getting a P0304 and I've done the plug and switched coils so it's either a bad wire or injector. Will switch wires tomorrow to see if the P0304 becomes either a 02 or 06

[MikeCStig]

I just can't help but ask, what is it with the idler pulleys and elbows on GM engines? I've seen more of them fail than I care to count. Especially on 3.8s and 4.3s.

[Stealthee]

I don't know who ever suggested not removing the alternator, but if they did they weren't very smart since it's all of two bolts to set it to the side and make life easier.

And Mike I agree about these damn elbows. I don't know who at GM thought it was a good idea to keep them on the 3.8's for as many years as they did. Any other manufacturer would have found a better solution to the problem, rather than keeping steady.

I've replaced the elbows on my 07 supercharged GP a few times over the 4+ years of ownership. The first time was because the o-rings we leaking. The 2nd time was because I thought they were leaking again, but it turned out to be my water pump. The third time the top one split while I was about 20 miles from home. I bought the aluminum ones and replaced them in the parking lot of a gas station.

[WhiteRodeo4x4]

Originally Posted by Stealthee

I don't know who ever suggested not removing the alternator, but if they did they weren't very smart since it's all of two bolts to set it to the side and make life easier.

And Mike I agree about these damn elbows. I don't know who at GM thought it was a good idea to keep them on the 3.8's for as many years as they did. Any other manufacturer would have found a better solution to the problem, rather than keeping steady.

I've replaced the elbows on my 07 supercharged GP a few times over the 4+ years of ownership. The first time was because the o-rings we leaking. The 2nd time was because I thought they were leaking again, but it turned out to be my water pump. The third time the top one split while I was about 20 miles from home. I bought the aluminum ones and replaced them in the parking lot of a gas station.

Chances are I won't have this car more than a year or two so I put the Aluminum ones in first

[WhiteRodeo4x4]

Originally Posted by MikeCStig

I just can't help but ask, what is it with the idler pulleys and elbows on GM engines? I've seen more of them fail than I care to count. Especially on 3.8s and 4.3s.

POOR ASS GM Design never should have used cheap plastic parts BUT then again it os a GM design

[Blue Bowtie]

My original plastic elbows lasted 14 years and 160K miles. Actually, only one of them failed at that age, and the lower/rear elbow was still intact.

Bad design? Let's discuss a "good" design, like the 60,000 mile timing belts on a Honda/Nissan/Hyundai/Kia/BMW/Isuzu/Lexus/Mitsubishi./Toyota, and if that breaks you don't lose just coolant, you lose valves, heads, and pistons (in other words, the engine becomes an anchor worth 4¢/pound).

Please provide a clearer definition of your impression of "bad design" so that we can all have a better understanding.

Agreed about the alternator. Trying to perform this task without removing the alternator makes it unnecessarily difficult. Mine was done in 45 minutes from beginning to bleeding off the air in the cooling system as the engine warmed up.

[WhiteRodeo4x4]

The term "BAD DESIGN" should explain it all.