My bonnie is leaking coolant, drips off the oil filter and the rear cradle area.
I replaced the little plastic pipe and the water pump. Still leaking. So today I take a closer look and noticed that the plastic that covers the heater core area is broken off (very brittle) So I see the yellow insulation. There are some wet streaks running down that insulation. So now I am thinking the heater core is the problem. Or is just splash from something else. I am thinking of just getting a hose to by-pass it and see if I am correct. It leaks but it does not do it when I am watching it. It is driving me crazy. I have checked around the motor and I did not see any leaks on the front or back or the middle of the firewall side. Just looking for opinions before I go any farther.

Also, if it is the heater core..how difficult is it to change? Something I can do after work or do I need a whole day?

Thanks,

Static

I'd be looking at the intake manifold gaskets 'quickly, also check oil for coolant.

I already replaced the upper intake last year. No oil/coolant mix that I can find. I don't see any wet spots or old traces of coolant anywhere around the upper or lower intake. The only area I can't see well is behind the power steering pump.

Car motion and the fan tend to make coolant flow down and to the rear, I'd also assume it'* the radiator if I had to pick something to replace. There'* a little room to work so it isn't an all day job. Conceptually it is quick and easy but there'* always some little bolt that gets stuck or a part that breaks requiring another trip to the auto parts store so I'd call it a half day job, not one I'd want to start in the evening if I needed the vehicle to drive to work the next morning... though I've an Autozone only 2 miles away open 24/7 which helps, YMMV.

Looks like the pipe that connects the idler to the front cover cracked. I took it off again and it was broken. I could not get one of the elbows that connect to the heater hoses off the old one. Looks like a dealer item as I have not been able to find it locally and it does not come with the new idler. (I found the leak by bypassing the heater core. when I did this I could see water spray from around the connection on the front cover.) Any one know the part # for the elbows?

Are you talking about the one here circled in red???


I don't know of anyone that sells those. I noticed on Autozone'* website, the new tensioner does not include those. Are you near a junkyard somewhere? You could probably get one for maybe a couple bucks. I seen about 40 of those at my junkyard the other day.

Mike1995: That is the part.

I know a guy that got me one for dealer cost $28 from the local Chevy dealer. I called a yard but I did not want to deal with pulling one in the cold and mud since they did not have any on the shelf. The original one has one o-ring, the new one is a bit longer and has 2 o-rings. I put it on yesterday and so far it looks like the leak is gone.

Outstanding!! Thanks for the update!