# 96 Buick LeSabre 3.8L Leak

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-buick-lesabre-3-8l-leak/68909>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** lesabre, buick\
**Created:** [October 24, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-buick-lesabre-3-8l-leak/68909 "2011-10-24T15:33:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-buick-lesabre-3-8l-leak/68909/1 "2011-10-24T15:33:16Z")

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Under the pcv valve housing is a short plastic 90 deg. elbow, about 3/4inch wide. The elbow looks like it comes from the upper plenum and goes into a metal housing behind the belt tensioner. This elbow leaks from behind the belt tensioner side. My question: what is this elbow called? How do I fix it?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-buick-lesabre-3-8l-leak/68909/2 "2011-10-24T15:40:01Z")

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Sorry! Wrong year-1996 Buick LeSabre 3.8L

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**Author:** ![chaissos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/chaissos/32/2347_2.png) [@chaissos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chaissos)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-buick-lesabre-3-8l-leak/68909/3 "2011-10-24T16:56:15Z")

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What is it leaking? Air, coolant, oil??

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**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-buick-lesabre-3-8l-leak/68909/4 "2011-10-24T19:43:58Z")

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Sounds like the belt tensioner itself, if it’s leaking coolant. The Series II 3.8L has a belt tensioner that also acts as a bypass hose. Unfortunately, they are pricey and sort of a pain in the butt to replace.