1999 Grand AM GT leak

[mjtr21]

I have a 1999 Grand AM GT with the 3.4 and I noticed a leak underneath the throttle body. It is almost underneath the thermostat housing and it looks like a small puddle that formed. I thought it was the thermostat leaking but now i have reason to believe it's not. I am hoping its not the intake manifold gasket problem. As far as I know it hasn't been changed. Same thing is going on with my mother Monte Carlo LS with the 3.4 engine. So I guess I will be taking both to the garage to get new lower intake gaskets. what brand gaskets should I get and what is the range for what i will pay for my Grand AM? Thanks

[gmack221]

Im not familiar with the 3.4L's, but you mentioned the puddle was forming under the thoratle body ... is there a small coolant hose running thru the thoratle body? GM started putting those on thoratle body's and they have been known to leak, so i'd make sure it isn't just that hose before you pay to have a lower intake manifold gasket changed.

[xeroinfinity]

Yes I would agree that you should check the TB heater hoses. But as you suspect it's probly the LIM.

Cost varies from place to place.
The dealer could run around $800-1500 ,
and an independant shop maybe as low as $600-700.

[crazy Jim]

do it yourself, it aint that diff, I fixed my LIM myself for fifty bucks

[xeroinfinity]

Originally Posted by crazy Jim

do it yourself, it aint that diff, I fixed my LIM myself for fifty bucks

A call !

You cant even hardly buy the vavle cover gaskets for that.

Apprearently you didnt buy GM or Fel pro gaskets, they are the only ones I've seen with the upgraded metal rings around the jackets.
I pay around $150-175 for Fel pro's gaskets and thats at a WS discount price w/free shipping.

So what were the gaskets you bought crazy Jim ???

[mjtr21]

well i looked and it does seem like it could be one of those coolant lines. is it one of the metal ones or a rubber one? it also looks like it could be coming from the sensor the goes into the thermostat housing too. but im not really sure. well ill find out later the monte carlo is going in to the shop to find where the leak is coming from. but yeah can you tell me exactly which of those coolant hoses were known to leak?

[mjtr21]

well i checked other threads and other people mentioned coolant transfer pipe or other lines that go under the throttle body could be leaking. please help.

[crazy Jim]

I don't remember the brand, but they are the improved style. 20K miles and no issues. Gasket kit was 50$, did all the work myself, read um and weep.

as for the transfer pipes, there are two, one on each side of the TB. Each has a short length of rubber hose attaching them to the TB, check those.

[mjtr21]

okay ill check those rubber hoses as soon as i get that f-ing fuel filter off.

[xeroinfinity]

It isnt uncommon that the coolant temp sensor leaks.
It should have teflon tape on the threads to keep it from leaking though.....

Get that filter off yet ??

[mjtr21]

well thats where it looks like the leak is coming from. i will check tomorrow because unfortunately all day today i was stuck with that filter. tomorrows another day though.

[mjtr21]

well the mechanic just called about the monte carlo with the 3.4 and found that it was the lower intake gasket that was leaking. it is a 2003 with around 125,000 miles. my Grand AM is a 1999 with about 78,000 miles. so what ways can i check to see for sure if it's my LIM gasket before getting the engine apart? thanks.

[mjtr21]

also i have to ask would a intake gasket leak cause that wierd idle i get when i start the car up? i think i posted a thread aout it when i start the car it would fluctuate and then smooth out after a couple minutes. would this leak cause that?

[gmack221]

Originally Posted by mjtr21

also i have to ask would a intake gasket leak cause that wierd idle i get when i start the car up? i think i posted a thread aout it when i start the car it would fluctuate and then smooth out after a couple minutes. would this leak cause that?

It could be causing that, if its letting air into the head ... it will take a min for the thoratle body to adjust the air coming in, adjust the spark, then it smooths out. If you want to know if the intake is leaking the only way to test it that I know of is start the car wait until it idles smooth & spray carb cleaner where the coolant leaks, if your idle changes then its a bad gasket ... this is an old school way of testing intake leaks, I think it will work here also.

[mjtr21]

alright i will try that. it wont do any damage will it? well thanks and i just went up to my car dealer and he said yes it's leaking so i get to bring it in next week.