I actually have the service manual! I believe you sent me a link to one on eBay when I was changing the upper/lower manifold gaskets. I am not really good at reading them but am getting better at understanding how they work. Anyway, I don’t know where to find what I’m looking for- example- if it tells me I need to drain the heater core, it doesnt tell me HOW to do it. (That’s where it would help to have more experience working on cars.. I lack experience!). The one diagram for knock sensor is mislabeled in the manual I think. It says F- knock sensor, and there is no F in the photo, but there is a G pointing to something and no letter G in the key.

Ideally it’d be best to drain those things. I don’t want to mess something up by removing the wrong thing. It would be helpful if someone has a video on how to remove the knock sensor, block drain bolt, and heater core drain bolt. Can any of you accurately describe what it is that I’m looking for (location, size of bolt etc).
I’m going to start putting things back in today.

I looked at Shbox but I can’t tell what I’m looking at... Oh cool story- some mechanic at some point left their nice extendable mirror in my engine bay next to the heater hose assembly. It was like a little present to me from the camaro- like here you go! You need this! 😂 thankfully it never dislodged and broke something!

 

Your heater core is inside the car behind the glove box, The best way to flush it is to pull off both heater hoses from the front of the motor and leave them connected to the firewall (heater core) hold a garden hose to the engine side of one of the hoses and the water and crap should come out the other hose. Think of a heater core as a small radiator and the two heater hoses carry the hot coolant to the heater core and back to the engine.

 

don't forget there is a flow restrictor on one of the hoses. that's why I recommended you remove the hoses at the firewall. if your replacing the hoses anyways hook one back up that does not have a restrictor, should be able to tell by running water through it. should not have to drain core if your flushing it. for some reason im thinking the 3.8 only has one block drain, getting the knock sensor out can be a pain in the butt.

 

Ok! Thank you. I’ll do that with the heater core.

And about the block- if knock sensor is a pain in the butt I’m not going to worry about it. As for the drain on the block... do you guys know where it is and how to get it off? I’m thinking it would be on the exact opposite side as the knock sensor. There’s a bolt in a recessed opening on the side just above the oil pan. I feel like maybe that’s it, but I don’t know.

Or I could not worry about it, flush the core like you guys said, flush through the thermostat opening (did that yesterday) and once it’s all back together run the car with water in the coolant 2 or 3 or 4 times (using some flush chemical) and then I can use the regular green coolant. Does that sound like a decent plan? If I wasn’t able to ask you guys advice that is what I would do, but it’s nice to have someone confirm. Thanks for all your help! Oh and my new heater hoses have a bleed screw on it- so that’s nice!

Jenn

 

yes it should be on the opposite side. take it out and see if you get coolant... lol. you may have gotten lt1 heater hoses. far as I know they will work,,, not sure.

 

Using the right tool makes things a little easier although that heater hose assembly was still a PITA to get off. I have little lady hands and it was still hard to get in that confined space. Also- they did give me the lt1 hose assembly. I’m taking it back. For $200 I’m not gonna hope it works. I’ll get the one I’m supposed to use. Thanks dealership. I love driving 25 minutes out to your property...

For anyone reading this thread wanting to change out your heater hose assembly- you need a t40 torx bit and a ratchet with an 8 mm socket. Put the torx bit in the socket and have at it. It’ll take about a million turns because of the lack of space for movement, but it will work.

 

Success!! I had the pleasure of driving around a camaro today that wasn’t overheating! I decided not to mess with the knock sensors. With my shoulder healing from surgery still it’s probably best to not be cranking on things under the car more than I already have. Flushed the heater core like you guys said, and did as best as I could flushing through the hole where the thermostat goes. I must have done pretty good. The water doesn’t have a lot of color to it. Anyway, added the cooling system flush stuff and bled out air, and now I’m driving it. My repair shop said if I drain the radiator three times after driving and refilling that they will do a coolant flush and put in the regular green coolant for me. Thank you all so very much for all your help. I’m going to hang the old radiator on the wall in the garage. ��

 

kool, if you ever down to the coast stop by tokeland and we can compare our Camaro's

 

We’ve been to Tokeland! I believe we bought some fireworks at the reservation there for 4th of July one year. We don’t bring the camaro though. It can’t pull the travel trailer. 😂

 

lol,,, Ill be danged, I sell fireworks and live on the Rez. only stand after you turn to go into tokeland.