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What part is this? (Anti-Freeze Leak)

Elite6 said:
Make sure you replace both elbows while doing job. Also make sure the four insertion points are cleaned. I used steel wool then lubed elbow o rings with motor oil.
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IIRC, the 97's had the 2nd "elbow" molded into the aluminum alt. bracket and is not replaceable separately. Just the o-ring is.
 


Alright I just got back from town with a package of 2 new elbows and I got both belts off and flipped the alternator up but the thing the elbow is attached to is still not free. It looks like the water pump? And also I can only find one elbow?
 
Bologna said:
Alright I just got back from town with a package of 2 new elbows and I got both belts off and flipped the alternator up but the thing the elbow is attached to is still not free. It looks like the water pump? And also I can only find one elbow?
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you can only find one elbow because there is only one PLASTIC elbow. the other is molded aluminum. and be careful not to break it or your gonna be buying a new alt bracket
 
99pgpgt said:
you can only find one elbow because there is only one PLASTIC elbow. the other is molded aluminum. and be careful not to break it or your gonna be buying a new alt bracket
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Well where is it at so i wont break it? and I still can't get the plastic elbow off?
 
or timing cover.


do not pull it on an angle, its okay to wiggle it, but do not pull on an angle.

Pull in the same direction the front of the motor faces, towards the passenger fender.
 


matt5112 said:
or timing cover.


do not pull it on an angle, its okay to wiggle it, but do not pull on an angle.

Pull in the same direction the front of the motor faces, towards the passenger fender.
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Pull the waterpump towards the passanger side?
 
No need to pull the waterpump. They are referring to the alt. bracket. Did you remove all the bolts that hold this bracket to the engine?
 
I removed the alt bracket, which was just roughly a foot long black bar, and the alternator is pulled upwards, but it looks like the plastic elbow goes into the water pump?
 
That black bar was just a support for the alt. Here are some pics of what your 97 alt bracket should look like. In this example the person did actually snap the coolant elbow that is molded into the bracket. You can see that in pic #1. That also shows the bolt locations for the bracket. IIRC, there is one bolt that is hidden on the left side kinda set back from the rest. You will have to feel for it as you cannot see it.

In Pic #2 the red circle to the right shows how the coolant flows through the bracket and into the timing cover, hence the built in elbow w/ o-ring.




altbracket1.jpg
altbracket3.jpg
altbracket2.jpg
 


I am having problems finding that hidden bolt. Here is a picture I took an I think I found the bolt but not sure, the second picture shows the bolt.

img0757e.jpg



It is to the left of the top pulley.



img0760lh.jpg
 
That looks like it. There should also be another bolt on the left side of the bracket over/behind the power steering pulley. That is the one you will have to feel for. I can't remember for sure, but I recall having to take the PS pump loose from the motor and just move it out of the way a but in order to get a clear shot at that bolt, as it will hit the top of the PS pump pulley on the way out and not be fully removed. Might be different on the 97 tho.
 
Bologna said:
What is this piece that I have red arrows pointing at? I have a feeling that it is leaking anti-freeze and as you can tell from the second picture, it drips all over my engine. I found a big puddle under my car today (about 1.5 feet wide).
I have a 1997 Grand Prix GTP 2 Door Coupe
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Most call it coolant elbow, I call it a effin design fail WTF put a plastic piece of sh1t in that part of the eninge talk about "weakest link" dammit! Anyway I replaced mine with copper tubing and hasn't given me any problems yet.
 
You won't see that bolt from the top. Its kind of underneath those other two hoses if that makes sense. You don't have to pull the PS pump to pull it off as mentioned above. That is a pain in itself to go back on since you do it blind.
 


Alright, I got it lose and it wiggles forward and backward but I can't seem to pull it off. I cut the plastic elbow in half because I thought that that might be holding it back but that didn't help much. I tried wedging a flat head screw driver in the crack to give me some more leverage but it didn't work either. Any suggestions?
 
Maybe try turning it back and forth (clockwise and counter-clockwise) some as you pull straight out towards the strut tower. The large o-ring may be sticking in the cover. Whatever you do don't pull on it at an angle.
 
I've tried that too but still nothing. Should I pull as hard as I can or would that be too much force for it?
 
Without being there it's kinda hard to tell, but yes, it may need a good strong pull. This may also be a good time to teach you about making sure there is nothing in the way for when it does pop loose that you will smash/cut your hands on. Always check your surroundings or you will be throwing the bracket once you remove it ;)
 
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