My 1992 Firebird GTA, 5.7 is overheating.
As you can see from the photo, I have a coolant leak at whatever this thing is. I need to know what this piece is called so that I can replace it. The top hose from it goes into the firewall, the other goes into a T-section that goes to the firewall and to the radiator. That very top small tube is a vacuum. Another hose looks like it goes into the throttle body. I've looked all over the place and can't find any information on it, so I'm hoping someone here can help. I can hear a sizzle everytime this thing drips onto the engine and when I stop anywhere I can smell the coolant leak.



The reason I need this replaced right away is today the car completely overheated on the Interstate on my way back home from work, at night, in the rain, with lightning popping around me. What's wierd is the resevoir was almost completely full and the radiator turned out to be completely empty. Normally the resivoir is at it's normal levels while the car is running, so this has me very confused. I had to put water into the radiator and it appears to be cooling well now, however the resevoir is still full. Any thoughts or ideas on what might cause this? And of course, can anyone tell me what this thing is I have pictured here?

 

its a heater diverter valve . top port is vacuum , controls water to heater core . mine took a dump last month also , less than $20.00 at advance . good time to replace hoses to . at the same time i relocated the valve to right rear of eng. comp. . no preformed hoses required to relocate , cleans up look of eng. comp. . about an hour job , you will have to purge cooling system to remove air . be sure to at least change hose that goes to intake manifold near dist. . good luck .

 

Man you are a lifesaver, thank you!

 

glad to help , good to get reply on help . i am also gulf coast 228 , wade . PM me let me know how it works out .

 

looks like it was leakin for a while, and judeging by the amount of rust residue it left behind you should really flush your whole cooling system out cause its probably pretty nasty..

 

Gulf_Coast, it also looks like you are over due for plug wires. When you replace your hoses, don`t forget to replace the clamps, do a system flush, replace your cap etc.

 

Where in the Gulf-Coast. Home base is in Houston, where we wait
for hurricanes by parking on the Freeways trying to evacuate.

Pay attention to Uncle Tom.
Sounds like wise man, many moons experience.