Overheating

Hi,

Normally, we don't recommend using products to seal. I can tell you that I have heard of people that used it and it has worked, but it was a temporary repair. If I recall, it lasted about a year.

If interested, here is a link that explains how to test and confirm a head gasket issue:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

What I would suggest is the replacement of the gasket, but that is your call. If you decide you would like to replace it, let me know the engine size and I will be happy to provide directions. The 4.3 wasn't used in these vehicles.

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Let me know. Also, let me know if you have other questions.

Take care and God Bless,

Joe

Hi,

It a somewhat big job, so what I suggest to first make sure that is the issue. Here are directions for cylinder head removal and replacement. The pics attached correlate with the directions.

Note: Each section of the process includes removal and replacement.

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2003 Pontiac Grand AM V6-3.4L VIN E
Upper Intake Manifold Replacement
Vehicle Engine, Cooling and Exhaust Engine Intake Manifold Service and Repair Removal and Replacement Upper Intake Manifold Replacement
UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT
Intake Manifold Replacement- Upper
Removal Procedure
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the air cleaner assembly.
3. Drain cooling system.
4. Remove the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) pipe, if equipped.
5. Remove the brake vacuum pipe at the plenum.

Pic 1

6. Disconnect the fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose (1) from the fuel pressure regulator (3) and the PCV valve (2).

Pic 2

7. Remove the electronic ignition coil and module assembly.

Pic 3

8. Remove Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) canister purge solenoid.

Pic 4

9. Disconnect the Throttle Position (TP) sensor.

Pic 5

10. Remove throttle cable bracket with cables.

Pic 6

11. Disconnect the Idle Air Control (IAC) sensor.
12. Disconnect the Injector harness.

Pic 7

13. Remove the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor vacuum line (3).
14. Disconnect the electrical connector.
15. Remove the MAP sensor bolts (2).
16. Remove the MAP sensor (1).
17. Disconnect the coolant hoses from the throttle body.

Pic 8

18. Remove the upper intake manifold bolts

pic 9

19. Remove the upper intake manifold and gaskets.
20. Clean the gasket surfaces.

Installation Procedure

pic 10

1. Install the upper intake manifold gaskets on the manifold.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

2. Apply thread lock GM PN 12345382 to the threads of the bolts. Install the upper intake manifold bolts.
Tighten the bolts to 25 Nm (18 ft. Lbs.).

Pic 11

3. Install the MAP sensor bolts (2).
4. Install the MAP sensor vacuum line (3).
5. Connect the MAP sensor electrical connector.
6. Connect the vacuum modulator.

Pic 12

7. Install the vacuum hose (1) to the fuel pressure regulator (3) and the crankcase ventilation valve (2).

Pic 13

8. Connect the Throttle Position (TP) sensor.

Pic 14

9. Connect the IAC.
10. Connect the injector harness.
11. Connect the coolant hoses from the throttle body.

Pic 15

12. Install the EVAP canister purge solenoid.

Pic 16

13. Install the electronic ignition coil and module assembly.
14. Install the EGR pipe, if equipped.

Pic 17

15. Install the throttle cables and bracket to the throttle body.
16. Install the air cleaner assembly.
17. Install the brake vacuum pipe.
18. Fill the cooling system.
19. Connect the negative battery cable.
20. Inspect for proper fluid levels.
21. Inspect for leaks.

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Lower intake manifold.

2003 Pontiac Grand AM V6-3.4L VIN E
Intake Manifold Replacement - Lower
Vehicle Engine, Cooling and Exhaust Engine Intake Manifold Service and Repair Removal and Replacement Intake Manifold Replacement - Lower
INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT - LOWER
Intake Manifold Replacement- Lower

Tools Required
- J 23600-B Torque Angle Meter

Removal Procedure

pic 18

1. Remove the upper intake manifold.
2. Remove the valve rocker covers.

Pic 19

3. Remove the fuel rail with injectors and position aside.
4. Disconnect ECT.
5. Remove the power steering mounting bolts. Position the pump aside.

Pic 20

6. Remove the inlet cooling pipe from the coolant outlet housing.
7. Remove the heater by-pass at the coolant pump and the cylinder head.
8. Remove the radiator hose from thermostat housing.

Important: Retain the washers in the same orientation on the center bolts.

Pic 21

9. Remove the lower intake manifold bolts.
10. Remove the lower intake manifold.

Pic 22

11. Loosen the rocker arms.

Pic 23

Important: Keep the pushrods in order. The pushrods must be installed in the original position.

12. Remove the pushrods.
13. Remove the intake gasket.
14. Inspect the flatness of the inlet flanges.

Pic 24

15. Clean the following items:
Gasket material from the mating surfaces
Excess RTV sealant from the front and the rear ridges of the cylinder
The block
Sealing surfaces Use degreaser in order to clean the sealing surfaces.
16. If replacing intake remove the following components:
ECT
Thermostat housing
Thermostat

Installation Procedure

pic 25

1. If removed intake install the following components:
ECT
Thermostat housing
Thermostat
2. Install the intake manifold gasket.

Pic 26

3. Apply a small drop 8 - 10 mm (0.31 - 0.39 inch) of RTV sealer GM P/N United States 12378479, GM P/N Canada 10953472, or equivalent to the four corners of the intake manifold to engine block joints (1).
4. Connect the small drops with a bead of RTV sealer that is between 8 - 10 mm (0.31 - 0.39 inch) wide and 3.0 - 5.0 mm (0.12 - 0.20 inch) thick (2).

Pic 27

5. Install the pushrods and rocker arms.

Pic 28

6. Install the lower intake manifold.

Notice: Failure to tighten vertical bolts before the diagonal bolts may cause an oil leak.

7. Apply sealant GM P/N United States 12345382, GM P/N Canada 10953489 to the threads of the bolts.
Install the lower intake manifold bolts.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

Pic 29

9. Install NEW lower intake manifold bolts.

The torque specification is a 2-step process; tighten the vertical lower intake manifold bolts (the four middle ones) to 7 Nm (62 lb in). Tighten the diagonal lower intake manifold bolts (two on each end) to 7 Nm (62 lb in). Tighten the vertical lower intake manifold bolts (the four middle ones) to 13 Nm (115 lb in). Tighten the diagonal lower intake manifold bolts (two on each end) to 25 Nm (18 lb ft).

9. Install the valve rocker covers.
10. Install the radiator hose to the thermostat housing.

Pic 30

11. Install the heater inlet pipe to the thermostat housing.

Pic 31

12. Install the fuel rail with injectors.
13. Install power steering pump.
14. Connect ECT electrical.

Pic 32

15. Install the upper intake manifold.

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cylinder head removal

2003 Pontiac Grand AM V6-3.4L VIN E
Cylinder Head Replacement - Front
Vehicle Engine, Cooling and Exhaust Engine Cylinder Head Assembly Service and Repair Procedures Cylinder Head Replacement - Front
CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT - FRONT
Cylinder Head Replacement- Left

Tool Required
- J 36660-A Torque Angle Meter

Removal Procedure

Important: During disassembly, keep the valve train components together and identified in order to install the parts in the original locations. Perform a compression test. Record the results before you perform the following repairs:
Remove the cylinder heads.
Disassemble the valve mechanism.

Pic 33

1. Remove lower intake manifold.
2. Remove the exhaust crossover.
3. Remove the valve rocker arms and pushrods.
4. Remove oil level indicator and tube.
5. Remove the cylinder head bolts.
6. Remove the cylinder head.
7. Clean the mating surfaces of the following items:
The cylinder head
The cylinder block
The intake manifold
8. Clean the cylinder block bolt threads.
9. Clean the cylinder head bolts.
10. If replacing cylinder head, remove the following components:
Exhaust manifold
Engine lift bracket
Spark plugs

Installation Procedure

pic 34

1. If removed, Install the following components:
Exhaust manifold
Engine lift bracket
Spark plugs
2. Place the cylinder head gasket into position over the dowel pins. Ensure that the THIS SIDE UP note is showing.
3. Install the cylinder head.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

Pic 35

4. Install the cylinder head bolts.
Tighten the bolts to 60 Nm (44 ft. Lbs.) In the sequence shown. Use the J 36660-A in order to tighten the bolts an additional 95°.
5. Install the intake gasket.
6. Install the push rods.

Pic 36

7. Install the crossover pipe.

Pic 37

8. Install the upper and lower intake manifolds.
9. Connect the negative battery cable.
10. Install oil level indicator tube and indicator.
11. Fill the cooling system.

Rear Cylinder head

2003 Pontiac Grand AM V6-3.4L VIN E
Cylinder Head Replacement - Rear
Vehicle Engine, Cooling and Exhaust Engine Cylinder Head Assembly Service and Repair Procedures Cylinder Head Replacement - Rear
CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT - REAR
Cylinder Head Replacement - Right

Tools Required
- J 36660-A Torque Angle Meter

Removal Procedure

Important: During disassembly, keep the valve train components together and identified in order to install the components in their original locations. Perform a compression test. Record the results before you perform the following repairs:
Remove the cylinder heads.
Disassemble the valve mechanism.

1. Remove lower intake manifold.
2. Remove the exhaust crossover pipe.
3. Raise the support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
4. Remove catalytic converter from exhaust manifold.
5. Lower the vehicle.
6. Remove the rocker arms and pushrods.
7. Remove the cylinder head bolts.
8. Remove the cylinder head.
9. Clean the mating surfaces on the following items:
The cylinder head
The cylinder block
The intake manifold
10. Clean the cylinder block bolt threads.
11. Clean the cylinder head bolts.
12. If replacing cylinder head, remove the following components:
Exhaust manifold
Accessory studs
Spark plugs

Installation Procedure

1. If removed, install the following components:
Exhaust manifold
Accessory studs
Spark plugs
2. Place the cylinder head gasket in position over the dowel pins. Ensure that the THIS SIDE UP note is showing.
3. Install the cylinder head.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

4. Install the cylinder head bolts.
Tighten the bolts to 60 Nm (44 ft. Lbs.) In the sequence shown. Use the J 36660-A in order to tighten the bolts an additional 95°.
5. Install the intake gasket.
6. Install the pushrods and rocker arms.
7. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
8. Install catalytic converter to manifold.
9. Lower the vehicle.
10. Install the exhaust crossover pipe.

Pic 38

11. Install the intake manifolds.
12. Connect negative battery cable.
13. Fill the cooling system.

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I hope this helps. Let me know if you have questions.

Take care,
Joe