spiderw31 Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I swear this car has never liked me for some reason. I always seem to be chasing my tail on problems, but I digress... Yesterday I was changing the starter (again!), and I noticed coolant dripping off off the front of the cradle. After getting under the car and pulling stuff out, I noticed that most of the coolant was actually dripping off the flywheel shield at the very bottom of the tranny, and that a small amount of coolant seemed to be running down various lines and cables in order to drip onto the front of the cradle. It looks as though the leak is coming from the drivers side of the car somewhere, and it also seems to stop leaking once warmed up. A little searching leads me to the o-ring between the plenum and the LIM, or possibly the lines under the throttle body. Do these seem like the most likely places to be looking? Where else should I be looking? All the intake gaskets (FelPro) have less than 3k on them since the timing job, and everything was properly torqued, so I doubt it's those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 If it's not more serious, say like intake gaskets or such, i could almost bet that its probably the little coolant hoses that run to the throttle body as they are directly above the rear main seal/ bell-housing area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 The line under the throttle body is where mine started leaking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I really doubt it is the intakes, as they are practically new and I was meticulous during reassembly. I'm hoping it is something simple like the bottom of the throttle body. I'll look when it's dry outside and I can see drips coming off the car. I'm thinking I can probably just remove the air box and look around with a flashlight, and hopefully I'll see where the problem is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z34duck Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 the quick connect on the intake (heater pipe) love to leak on the 3.4 or at least mine do lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted December 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 So much for meticulous. It's the LIM. Saw coolant dripping off the corner of the front head clear as day, and everything else in the area is bone dry. At least I've got a spare set of unused gaskets already though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 What gaskets did you use? I used the felpro metal ones, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted December 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 What gaskets did you use? I used the felpro metal ones, I used FelPro, but I'm not aware that they made a metal version for the 3.4TDC. I suspect that either I missed a bolt torquing the intakes on, or possibly they worked loose. I'll know more once I tear into it. Heh... at least it isn't my daily driver! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted December 16, 2009 Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 When you bolt down the intake again, get the bolts that you are supposed to use to help align the intake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted December 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 When you bolt down the intake again, get the bolts that you are supposed to use to help align the intake. I have not heard of those... do you have any info on them? Also I'm thinking that the bolts might have just backed out a bit. Maybe locktite on reassembly would be a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 If you look at the intake there are two empty bores in the center of the intake that go unused. I don't have the specs on the bolts but it helps to "seat" the intake. Almost no one uses them but its good practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted December 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Hmmm... I vaguely remember seeing what you are talking about. I'll have to remember that once I get to the re-assembly. Thanks for the tip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 HINT: the bolts to hold the lower intake in position ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. they are the bolts that hold the upper intake down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 HINT: the bolts to hold the lower intake in position ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. they are the bolts that hold the upper intake down. Wow, and I went out and got different ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted December 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 HINT: the bolts to hold the lower intake in position ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. they are the bolts that hold the upper intake down. Pffft... Seriously? Ok then! So I use them to temporarily hold it in place, and torque the LIM back down. And use locktite this time. I think I can do that Thanks for the help all! Now if only the weather will cooperate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99screaminregal Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 what a coinkydink. mine went at the same time as yours. thought that sounded all too familiar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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