Engine to Firewall Coolant Leak

[rickr84]

Hi,

I posted this in the General section but wasn't getting much luck. Thought maybe someone who's worked on the engine could help.

I borrowed an Aveo from a friend, drove it for a week, and then the coolant line right under the intake manifold started leaking pretty well. I feel bad and want to change it before giving it back to him fixed. (its an 05 sedan Auto with 68k miles). Its the line that goes from the what appears to be bellow the intake manifold on the right side, near the coil packs, to the firewall.

Is there a trick to getting to this line easily? Does the intake manifold have to come off? As of right now I really have no idea how to get that thing off with the little access I have. I barely could still my hand in there just to get my fingers wet and make sure thats where the leak was.

Any help would be appreciated because I dont have much experience with these things, although Im a fairly competent mechanic.

Thanks,
Rick

[rickr84]

I actually took my own advice from the Stop Leak forum in General Discussions, put $3 worth of Barbs Stop Leak Heavy Duty (the one with the pellets), and by the time I got home from the store where I put it in, the leak had stopped. Let it run for 30 minutes, cycling between heater on and off, and shut it off. Not a drop leaked out.

Told my friend he has to do the timing belt soon anyway, so when hes that deep into it, spend a bit more time and take that intake manifold off and get to that hole for real. Or if its as good as my previous stop leak experiences, itll be fine for years.