1992-1999 Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's and Buick Lesabres Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

Rear valve cover won't come off!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-21-2003, 04:40 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
Thread Starter
 
bigJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bigJ is on a distinguished road
Default Rear valve cover won't come off!

On the left side of the rear valve cover, there is this big fat wiring harness that'* sandwiched between the lip of the valve cover and the power steering pump. I've removed all the bolts but I can't lift up the left side of the cover because this stupid wiring harness is in the way!

My Haynes manual, useless as always, advises me to "Remove the power steering pump if necessary." So is this really necessary on my car? The heater outlet pipe is mounted to the same bolt that the power steering pump assembly is mounted to. The pipe doesn't have enough play in it to pull it off the end of the bolt. So it looks like I would basically have to bend the pipe, running the risk of snapping it off inside the water pump. Oh Joy!!

Any suggestions before I go commit hari-kari? Yes I know I need to buy the service manual...

Jeremy
Old 12-21-2003, 06:36 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
Thread Starter
 
bigJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bigJ is on a distinguished road
Default

Well, I got it off but I'm not sure I'll be able to get it back on very easily. I removed all the steering pump assembly bolts except the one that the heater pipe is sitting on. Then I was able to pivot the steering pump assembly around that one bolt until there was just enough room to squeeze the valve cover off.

I noticed that my rear rocker arms are a completely different color than my front ones! The front ones are a silvery-metallic color. The rear ones are a reddish-brown color. I thought they were just dirty so I put a little intake cleaner on a rag and rubbed one, but the color didn't come off. Has the oil baked on from high temperatures in the rear of the engine?
Old 12-21-2003, 06:44 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
 
willwren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
willwren is on a distinguished road
Default

The only rear cover I ever removed was on an L27, but very similar to my L67. We didn't have to move the PS pump that I recall. Must be just a 'tight' harness there.

The color difference you noticed is normal. Because of the way the motor is positioned in the engine bay, and the routing of the exhaust, the rear is always hotter. This is why rear plug wires and plugs typically fail first.
Old 12-22-2003, 08:37 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
DeathRat's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Edmonton, AB Canada
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
DeathRat is on a distinguished road
Default

My 92 SE'* Rear Valve Cover was a real PITA too. I did however have to unbolt the PS Pump to get it off. The Harness can be disconnected at it'* connector once the PS Pump is moved to allow access to it too.
Old 12-24-2003, 01:52 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
Certified GM nut
 
DrJay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
DrJay is on a distinguished road
Default

hmm mine were all the same light brown
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
2000binbc
2000-2005
15
12-12-2009 08:02 PM
milkman11
1992-1999
4
08-12-2008 10:17 AM
kcoop99
2000-2005
3
02-24-2007 12:07 PM
wjcollier07
Lounge
12
11-23-2006 09:43 PM
odiwan
1992-1999
11
07-08-2006 04:43 PM



Quick Reply: Rear valve cover won't come off!



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:13 PM.