Coolant Leak

[aptmx]

I am aware of many problems with Coolant Leaks in Grand Ams. Mine is a 99 with the 3400 V6. When the low coolant light came on I went to GM to have it serviced. They replaced the Intake Manifold Gasket for a INSANE 700 dollars. About a month later the light came on again! So I added more coolant and the light stayed off for about a week and came right back on. I do not see a visible leak but could it be coming from a radiator hose somewhere?? Could the gasket went again because they replaced with the factory one? I just dont know what to do and need help. Thanks, I apreciate it.

[mtnagel]

In my 2000, the coolant light came on a few months ago (~65,000 miles) so I added more coolant and it stayed off for a awhile then it came on again and I added more coolant and it came back on again. So I bought some AlumiSeal (I think that's the name - someone correct me if I'm wrong). It's a small tube (about the size of a quarter roll) and it has silver powder in it. I think it cost about $2 (maybe a little more). You have to wait till the car cools down and take off radiator cap and start the car and pour this stuff in and then I drove it for awhile (just follow the directions on the tube). I think it's supposed to melt and then find and fill leaks??

Anyway, it's been about a month and a half and the light hasn't come back on. I'm assuming this is for small, minor leaks (I'm doubting that if you are squirting coolant, that it could seal that). I've used it on a previous car successfully and I figured "why not try?" for how cheap it is.

Oh, BTW, mine wasn't visible either. I never saw coolant under my car, but it was low??

[99capergrandam]

I'm replacing my intake manifold gaskets myself tomorrow. I noticed that mine were leaking last night so off to the dealer I go to get the gaskets. Surpisingly enough, after calling about 10 auto parts places, the dealership was the least expensive at just over $90 CAD. I've replaced them before on other vehicles and it is quite a complex repair. Start to finish will probably take me a good 8 hours. I'm beginning to think these cars are big lemons. Nothing but a money pit!

[mom2mac]

OH GOD...NEVER use that radiator seal stuff...ACK... :lol:

well, at least that's what I've been told....get the car in for service...

as for the original problem....700 sucks....didn't you still have warrenty or good faith or something to help ya out...DANG!

[1996v6corsica]

the timing chain cover gasket on my 96 corsica broke and was squirting coolant out... had to take apart the engine mount and all the pulleys to fix it, big pain in the ass, took 4 hours... but now i am confident in taking apart my engine next time something breaks... which will happen... no car is perfect

[4kQuad]

Raditor seal stuff does not know the differance between a hole is the system and a hole in the raditor as a drain tube to cool the water. Unless I'm standed some where along the road I would not use sealer.

In passing, if you ever are out and about and a small leak apears in the raditor, a can of Pepper will stop the leak till you can get it home. It also flushes easyier than Stop Leaks sold at parts stores.

Look at your water pump close there is usally a leak/swet spot just bigger than the lead in a #2 pensile. Look for green anti freeze.

[daisy14298]

my car has the same leak, its a 2000 GA GT. also my other car had the same problem GA SE 1996...... thanks a lot GM
but i have no warranty on my 2000:2up:

[99capergrandam]

Completely stripped plenum and intake manifold on Saturday. Installed new gaskets both upper and lower. Re-installed everything and when I turned the key ahead........gas started spraying everywhere's. So off with the Plenum and it turns out that I had accidently destroyed the O-ring when hooking up the Fuel feed line to the fuel rails. Nothing is open hear on Sundays so I had to wait till Monday before I could get a replacement O-ring. The only place I could get one was at the dealer and it cost 26.00 CAD. Once I replaced the O-ring and re-assembled everything she started first click. After driving it for a day there's still no leak....knock on wood! All told it took about 11 hours start to finish. If I hadn't had to replace the O-ring it would have only take 9. This was a very complex repair. In order to replace the lower intake manifold gasket you need to remove the pushrods remembering the exact location of each one for when your ready to re-install. I also wasn't expecting to have to remove the fuel rails but when you start to take out the vertical bolts in the intake they hit on the bottom of the fuel rail. Good luck to anyone thinking of attempting this repair. If you can afford it.....have a professional do it.

[cprock98]

I just had my upper & lower intake gaskets replaced by the dealership. I bought the car used and luckly paid for that extended warranty. They covered almost everything. I only paid $150 insteaded of $850. I had this same problem with my '85 grand am. I wouldn't trust that sealer stuff either.

[99SEDude]

Have you noticed if the coolant sprays anywhere? Like around the belt or the underside of the hood? It could be a bad water pump too. They will leak coolant like crazy when they go bad.

[debbyt]

ACK ACK yes I have the SAME PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!

Disappearing Oil........disappering COOLANT (actually it BLEW UP at our GAOC meet in albany this year...that is the first time and man it EXPLODED OUT).

anyways I took it to the shop and the owner told me - get out of here go to the dealer this is a 6 -8 job now you have a blown gasket in the lower intake manifold.

finally got ahold of the service department and they say they are 98% sure it is covered under warranty (got the extended thank GOD this is a 2000 GT1 Sport Coupe that has 90,000 miles on it)

After reading how many V6 3.4s have this problem I am thinking next car I better check issues BEFORE I buy cause obviously this has been a big deal with all GM 3.4s for a long, long time.

deb

[gt1 rida]

I have a 99 grand am gt & it has 36,500 miles & i had my upper lower intake manifold gaskets replaced at 24,xxx miles due to the antifreeze getting into engine + i had my rack N pinion replaced at 24,xxx miles, front right wheel speed sensor, right front complete hub assembly, new pressure hose, front pads & rotors, engine belt all this at 24,xxx miles, lower control arms left & right replaced around 24,xxx-27,xxx miles & it was all under warranty except pads, rotors & engine belt
& now at 36,500 i just got my rack n pinion changed for 2nd time + had antifreeze spraying allover leaking & got all over my belt creating the most annoying squeling THEY REPLACED WATERPUMP, and a blower resister because the A/C didnt work or anything didnt come out of vents on #s 1&2 & im due for rear brakes & new front breaks in 5-8,000 miles

ALL UNDER WARRANTY IM A LUCKY SON OF GUN NOT PAYING 1PENNY!
the rack alone is 750$ w/o labor LOL
PEACE

[AznGA]

Ok, so the only way to find out about intake gasket leak is low coolent light?

[4kQuad]

No, if you smoke blow smoke at the gasket, it will suck it up or blow it away.

Be careful, but I use Crab Cleaner, I spray it along the intake gasket, if the motor rpms change..... it sucked the carb spray in. So it is leaking.

You don't have to spray much.......just a mist along the gasket.

[XxJuleSxX]

Originally posted by gt1 rida
I have a 99 grand am gt & it has 36,500 miles & i had my upper lower intake manifold gaskets replaced at 24,xxx miles due to the antifreeze getting into engine + i had my rack N pinion replaced at 24,xxx miles, front right wheel speed sensor, right front complete hub assembly, new pressure hose, front pads & rotors, engine belt all this at 24,xxx miles, lower control arms left & right replaced around 24,xxx-27,xxx miles & it was all under warranty except pads, rotors & engine belt
& now at 36,500 i just got my rack n pinion changed for 2nd time + had antifreeze spraying allover leaking & got all over my belt creating the most annoying squeling THEY REPLACED WATERPUMP, and a blower resister because the A/C didnt work or anything didnt come out of vents on #s 1&2 & im due for rear brakes & new front breaks in 5-8,000 miles

ALL UNDER WARRANTY IM A LUCKY SON OF GUN NOT PAYING 1PENNY!
the rack alone is 750$ w/o labor LOL
PEACE


HOLY LEMON OF A CAR!!!!!


i jsut replaced my Manifold Gaskets to
but i heard knocking, so while he was in there, he found all my lifter just ****ed!
whoever owned my car b4 deserves a beating!!
hes costing me to much $$!!

[PhunkAssassin]

Just replaced the lower and upper gaskets in a 2000 Grand Am V6 with 90K miles. I had a very visible leak. Cost $544 (but included an oil change and new radiator cap...big deal). I put in a new waterpump in March!