need part number for bypass hose fitting

[joshua333]

Hello,

Thanks in advance for the help to everyone.

I 'was' driving a 1994 Buick Regal, that I recently picked up.

I'm trying to find a part number for a brass "Heater bypass hose fitting," which from everything I've read so far is a manufacturer part.

There is a heater bypass hose located under the alternator and like all bypass hoses runs between the water pump and intake manifold. At the intake there is a plastic fitting that has a hose barb on one end and threads that screw into the manifold at the other.

That fitting must have cracked, and was causing me to loose coolant. When I started looking at the engine, I saw a leak near that hose. I pushed on the hose, and the thing just broke off from my engine.

I have read many posts about this problem, but no one yet has listed a part number. I can't find the part on any Web sites. And the people at the local auto parts shops aren't much help either.

I'm sure I can fix it myself and save quite a bit of cash if I can figure out the part number.

Thanks,
Joshua

[HotZ28]

Welcome to AF!
I assume that you have the 3.8 engine and if so, the coolant bypass fitting is the same as LeSabre & Park Avenue. This link should help.

BTW: Most dealers usually stock a metal replacement for a premium price.

[joshua333]

Thanks so much for the help. I coudn't even figure what to call the flippin thing until I searched for an hour on the web! LOL.

I've been losing coolant since I've had the car, and a radiator guy thought it was the intake gasket, which can be a $300 fix. I'm glad the Lord pointed out the real problem for me, even though it's a bit frustrating. But fixing this won't cost nearly as much to repair.

I just hope the part numbers are the same. I'll let you know how it works out.

Any idea on how to get the threaded piece out of my engine?

Also, I'm not familiar with teflon tape. What is that for? Does it only come in one size, etc?

Thanks again,
Joshua

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by joshua333

Any idea on how to get the threaded piece out of my engine?

Also, I'm not familiar with teflon tape. What is that for? Does it only come in one size, etc?
Thanks again,
Joshua

I usually use a flat chisel about the size of the I.D. of the threaded piece. The cutting head of the chisel should go in the threaded piece about 1/2 in and since it is tapered, you will need to bump it in with a hammer enough to get a grip on the fitting. Once the chisel is snug, use a crescent wrench to turn the chisel counterclockwise to loosen the fitting. It should start coming out. If the chisel slips, tap it in a little further and try again.

If you can find a new fitting with the "O" ring attached, normally you would not need a thread sealer. Just tighten the fitting until the "O" ring makes snug contact with the manifold, without distortion.

BTW, the threaded fitting with the "O" ring is; part #56359 and is labeled "HELP" on the package. About all national parts chains have the "HELP" section, consisting of all types of fastners & fittings.

[joshua333]

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I got it fixed!

Thanks HotZ28 for your help. I really appreciate it.

I hope I don't have to come back to post another problem too soon! But if I do have one, I know where to start.

Thanks again,
Joshua

[HotZ28]

"I Love It When A Plan Comes Together!

George Peppard (Col. Hannibal Smith) from TVs “The A Team”

Thanks for the update! I assume the part numbers were still good?

[joshua333]

Well, no. The part number wasn't good at Auto Zone. But I have the part number for O'Reilly.

It's called a heater fitting, or heater hose fitting. $4.99 at O'Reilly.

The part number was MTM 56359

Thanks again.

Joshua

[Ironheart01]

You can not by pass this josh it is to cool your motor by passing the intake will cause severe overheating chisel out the old part, if you can not find a 5/8" easy out It is only ABS plastic so go easy . If you decide to chisel it out start with a sharp screw driver try at first to get an edge from the top and work your way in "NOT BITCHING UP THE THREADS" You can feel when you hit the threads ., I did it this way it took 20 minutes but I got it out I went to advanced auto and bout Part #56359 in the fitting isle, after the guy behind the counter all of 16 told me they didn't have the fitting I needed , he told me it "Thats a hose fitting for a garden hose or something"
I said it came off a 3.8 Tuned port SE V6 GM motor. Well it doesn't belong on there the kid tells me I had given up on him at this point, It seems he just wants to argue with someone, you know the type always in a rush .. causing himself more stress than anyone else around him! I went to the fitting isle and found what I needed. i schooled the kid , who said . Well the computer says it isn't here, I said well there are 7 more over there Since the computer says it inst there I can just take this right? The replacement part #56359 is all metal with an oring at the hex It fit wonderfully. While you are there you may want to replace the belt since you have to take it off anyways. Why wait till it breaks ?

[Ruley73]

Originally Posted by Ironheart01

You can not by pass this josh it is to cool your motor by passing the intake will cause severe overheating chisel out the old part, if you can not find a 5/8" easy out It is only ABS plastic so go easy . If you decide to chisel it out start with a sharp screw driver try at first to get an edge from the top and work your way in "NOT BITCHING UP THE THREADS" You can feel when you hit the threads ., I did it this way it took 20 minutes but I got it out I went to advanced auto and bout Part #56359 in the fitting isle, after the guy behind the counter all of 16 told me they didn't have the fitting I needed , he told me it "Thats a hose fitting for a garden hose or something"
I said it came off a 3.8 Tuned port SE V6 GM motor. Well it doesn't belong on there the kid tells me I had given up on him at this point, It seems he just wants to argue with someone, you know the type always in a rush .. causing himself more stress than anyone else around him! I went to the fitting isle and found what I needed. i schooled the kid , who said . Well the computer says it isn't here, I said well there are 7 more over there Since the computer says it inst there I can just take this right? The replacement part #56359 is all metal with an oring at the hex It fit wonderfully. While you are there you may want to replace the belt since you have to take it off anyways. Why wait till it breaks ?

You should have showed him the back of the package on the new fitting where it says it fits GM 1990-1995 3.8L engines. I had to replace the same fitting about 8 years ago on my 1995 Buick Regal GS. I had a tough time finding it back then. I can't believe some auto parts stores still carry it in stock since I'm sure the demand for it has dramatically decreased.

[Ironheart01]

I can not understand why any imbecile would put an ABS fitting on such an extreme temperature point on an auto mobile Up here in NE or Massachusetts it can get 15-20 below zero in winter imagine the stress that fitting takes and it is plastic WHY? hot to cold crack!!!

What can you expect I guess from an engineer that puts a V6 in a car sideways ?
Josh It's called a plastic Male adapter that never should \have been put in the car in the first place