[davidadrian140]

Hello. I have a 1999 Buick Park Avenue with the 3.8 series 2 motor. I had an antifreeze leak which looked like it was coming from the manifold gasket. But when I inspected further it seemed to be leaking from the plastic elbow that connects from the manifold to the tension pulley bracket. When I removed the tension pulley I noticed that the elbow that is located on the upper part of the tension pulley was broken. I checked inside the engine block to look for the other piece of the broken elbow but the only thing I found was the O ring. I double checked and still found nothing. So I replaced the both elbows. Now when I filled my car with antifreeze my low engine coolant comes on. My heater blows out cold. And my temperature gauge starts climbing all the way to the red area. Can anyone tell me what or how I can fix this problem?

[RickMN]

Sounds like you didn't bleed the air out of it.

[smearcase]

I'm not saying that this is the correct procedure for you vehicle (it does mention Buick Park Avenue) but the point is that you need to use the proper procedure for refilling your system. Do you have a reference?
GM Pontiac Grand Prix Engine Coolant (Antifreeze) Change Guide - Picture Illustrated Automotive Maintenance Instructions

[davidadrian140]

Well I went out to the garage and bled the cooling system. Turns out that was the problem. I have never heard of such a thing. You learn something new everyday. Thank you RickMn and smearcase for your help. This was very helpful.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Not following the instructions on how to fill your cooling system, in your Owner's Manual, can cost you big bucks. I've seen it be directly responsible for warped heads and blown head gaskets.

[RickMN]

In late model cars with aerodynamic front ends, the radiator sits lower than the top of the engine. So you get air pockets in the top of the engine. That's why you need to bleed the system. Never happened in the good ol days because the top of the radiator was higher.

Pros use a vacuum tool for installing coolant. Pull a vacuum on the whole system and let the vacuum suck the coolant in. Repeat a few times and you get a full system that's self bled. Here's the tool

Well I went out to the garage and bled the cooling system. Turns out that was the problem. I have never heard of such a thing. You learn something new everyday. Thank you RickMn and smearcase for your help. This was very helpful.