Coolant Problems 96 Grand AM 3.1

[DaemonDeacon]

I have a 96 Grand AM and it has a terrible coolant leak. As soon as i put coolant in it, the coolant just gushes out near the firewall. I haven't found a thread that has a similar problem. HELP

[Tech II]

If it gushes out "near" the firewall, you have to be more specific....

Attach a pressure tester and see exactly where the coolant is coming out....could be an overflow tube, heater core, heater hose, freeze plug, head gasket, etc.

[DaemonDeacon]

It doesn't hold enough coolant to do a pressure test, its all gone before we can attach the tester.

[Tech II]

If it comes out that fast, it should be easy to spot......

So you are saying it pours out as you add coolant to the reservoir/radiator?

If it came out between the tranny and engine, I would be suspicious of a freeze plug.....

Between the tranny and the firewall, I would be leaning towards damaged heater core hose or heater core(coolant would come out of the condensate drain).......what you could do is use a couple needle nose vice grips and clamp off the heater core hoses.....then at coolant.....if you don't lose coolant, then it's either the heater core or one of the hoses on the other side of the vice grips.....if it still leaks, you will need a flashlight and extendable mirror to get behind there and look while someone adds coolant.....

[DaemonDeacon]

Any suggestions on how to pul the engine far enough forward so i could do that?

[Tech II]

Can't remember if this year has the two dog bones that attach the engine to the radiator support....if it does, remove them, apply e-brake, put in neutral.....pull engine forward, and wedge a block of wood between alternator and firewall to keep it forward...

[DaemonDeacon]

We are going to work on it this weekend, thanks for all the help though, i will be using this thread as a guide