coolant leak need help

#1 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 12:50 AM

I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months ago. Today
it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water pump again but
the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it is getting dark
and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree bend in it. This
looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but it appears to be steel
not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?

TIA

#2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 01:31 AM

The leak is directly below an electronic device. It says 16187556 pressure
sensor 5130. Hope this helps.

"Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
news:2Z-dnZnvxZN6NHvVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months ago. Today
>it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water pump again but
>the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it is getting dark
>and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree bend in it. This
>looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but it appears to be steel
>not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?
>
> TIA
>

#3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 01:31 AM

Google says this is the MAP sensor but I don't think it would have coolant
in it. The leak is below it.

"Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
news:M8adnTs4wKwHMHvVnZ2dnUVZ_ofinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> The leak is directly below an electronic device. It says 16187556 pressure
> sensor 5130. Hope this helps.
>
>
> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
> news:2Z-dnZnvxZN6NHvVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months ago.
>>Today it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water pump
>>again but the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it is
>>getting dark and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree bend
>>in it. This looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but it appears
>>to be steel not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>
>

#4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 01:31 AM

Cooolant by pass hose elbow, most likely cracked common problem. All the
parts stores carry this, autozone.com, repair guides should have the how to.
"Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
news:bcqdncn2C5XlLXvVnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Google says this is the MAP sensor but I don't think it would have coolant
> in it. The leak is below it.
>
> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
> news:M8adnTs4wKwHMHvVnZ2dnUVZ_ofinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> The leak is directly below an electronic device. It says 16187556
>> pressure sensor 5130. Hope this helps.
>>
>>
>> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
>> news:2Z-dnZnvxZN6NHvVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>>I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months ago.
>>>Today it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water pump
>>>again but the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it is
>>>getting dark and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree bend
>>>in it. This looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but it appears
>>>to be steel not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?
>>>
>>> TIA
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

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#5 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 02:35 AM

Tim,

My 95 Olds 88 with a 3800 developed a coolant leak in the belt tensioner on
the right side (passenger side) of the engine towards the top. Weird, but
that's what was leaking coolant on my 3800 series II car; I think the
heater/bypass hoses go through the tensioner.

Hope this helps.

Bob.

"Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
news:2Z-dnZnvxZN6NHvVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months ago. Today
>it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water pump again but
>the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it is getting dark
>and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree bend in it. This
>looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but it appears to be steel
>not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?
>
> TIA
>

#6 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 02:35 AM

I don't think this is the by pass hose as it is not near the t stat. It is
directly below the Mass Sensor and seems to be a metal pipe. It goes into
the mount bracket to what I think is the air pump. It is about 3 inch long
and takes a 90 degree bend at mid point.

"Shep" <djsljsrn@capital.net> wrote in message news:1223078361_3369@isp.n...
> Cooolant by pass hose elbow, most likely cracked common problem. All the
> parts stores carry this, autozone.com, repair guides should have the how
> to.
> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
> news:bcqdncn2C5XlLXvVnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Google says this is the MAP sensor but I don't think it would have
>> coolant in it. The leak is below it.
>>
>> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
>> news:M8adnTs4wKwHMHvVnZ2dnUVZ_ofinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>> The leak is directly below an electronic device. It says 16187556
>>> pressure sensor 5130. Hope this helps.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
>>> news:2Z-dnZnvxZN6NHvVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>>>I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months ago.
>>>>Today it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water pump
>>>>again but the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it is
>>>>getting dark and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree bend
>>>>in it. This looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but it
>>>>appears to be steel not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> ----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet
> News==----
> http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000
> Newsgroups
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#7 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 02:35 AM

I don't see a hose clamp on it

"Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
news:Ns6dnemTIYwxInvVnZ2dnUVZ_vCdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>I don't think this is the by pass hose as it is not near the t stat. It is
>directly below the Mass Sensor and seems to be a metal pipe. It goes into
>the mount bracket to what I think is the air pump. It is about 3 inch long
>and takes a 90 degree bend at mid point.
>
>
> "Shep" <djsljsrn@capital.net> wrote in message
> news:1223078361_3369@isp.n...
>> Cooolant by pass hose elbow, most likely cracked common problem. All the
>> parts stores carry this, autozone.com, repair guides should have the how
>> to.
>> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
>> news:bcqdncn2C5XlLXvVnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>> Google says this is the MAP sensor but I don't think it would have
>>> coolant in it. The leak is below it.
>>>
>>> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
>>> news:M8adnTs4wKwHMHvVnZ2dnUVZ_ofinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>>> The leak is directly below an electronic device. It says 16187556
>>>> pressure sensor 5130. Hope this helps.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:2Z-dnZnvxZN6NHvVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>>>>I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months ago.
>>>>>Today it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water pump
>>>>>again but the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it is
>>>>>getting dark and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree
>>>>>bend in it. This looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but it
>>>>>appears to be steel not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?
>>>>>
>>>>> TIA
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet
>> News==----
>> http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000
>> Newsgroups
>> ---= - Total Privacy via Encryption =---
>
>

#8 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 05:51 AM

"Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in
news:2Z-dnZnvxZN6NHvVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com:

> I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months
ago.
> Today it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water
pump
> again but the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it
is
> getting dark and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree
> bend in it. This looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but
it
> appears to be steel not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?
>
> TIA
>

On a series II 3800, the belt tensioner is water cooled. When it
goes, the whole tensioner assembly has to be replaced.

#9 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 05:31 PM

That's what is causing the leak. I am off to the Zone to see if they have a
new tube (it is plastic) and O rings.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

"Bobk" <BobkJUNK4000@JUNKJUNKyahoo.JUNKcom> wrote in message
news:M8OdncjDjpBhJ3vVnZ2dnUVZ_orinZ2d@posted.visi. ..
> Tim,
>
> My 95 Olds 88 with a 3800 developed a coolant leak in the belt tensioner
> on the right side (passenger side) of the engine towards the top. Weird,
> but that's what was leaking coolant on my 3800 series II car; I think the
> heater/bypass hoses go through the tensioner.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Bob.
>
>
> "Tim" <T&L@askme.net> wrote in message
> news:2Z-dnZnvxZN6NHvVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>I have a 95 Buick with a 3800. I replace the water pump 6 months ago.
>>Today it is leaking coolant. At first I thought it was the water pump
>>again but the leak is coming above the WP. I did a quick look as it is
>>getting dark and it appears to be a short tube that has a 90 degree bend
>>in it. This looks like the old by pass hose for the t stat but it appears
>>to be steel not a hose. Any ideas what could be leaking?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>
>

#10 (**permalink**) 10-05-2008, 01:31 AM

"JJ" <JJ99@bogus.INVALID.com> wrote in message news:gc6oi0$tdh$1@aioe.org...

> On a series II 3800, the belt tensioner is water cooled. When it
> goes, the whole tensioner assembly has to be replaced.

Yeah, Ive been through this. Looks like the belt tensioner is mated to a
"manifold".
If this is it, there is nothing to do but replace it.

I had this happen when I was on the road, no tools, etc. Belt flew off,
wrapped around the
mounts, etc.

There was a dealership nearby which replaced the whole mess for about $400.
Under
the circumstances, I considered myself lucky.