The other end of the elbow will not fit into the tubing. Do I need to take the plastic piece off?

It's worth fitting the elbows as they stop any tight bends or kinks in the hoses. It also helps the heater core fit without any extra problems.

GM 3 8 coolant bypass elbow leak tensioner repair

Leaking Water Pump Housing the Plastic elbow from Manifold to WP Housing...

Amazon com APD 58176IQ Coolant Bypass Fitting Tube Upgraded Metal Aluminum...

autozone and such sell o rings, replace both elbows, I would move to metal rather than plastic

It's a plastic piece, right, like an elbow fitting?
Only two ways those are held in the engine: they have threads and screw in, or it is a smooth fitting just pushed in with a rubber O-ring on it to keep it from leaking. If it is threaded, stick something just bigger than the diameter of the hose into the broken off piece and try unscrewing it out. Not as hard as it sounds, I have seen those just turn right out easy (most of the time!).
If that broken off piece is smooth with an O-ring around it, you might need something like a stiff wire with a little hook or "L" on the end, stick it in past the fitting and get that hook on the end and yank it out.
Good luck.

Double check the elbow at the base on the right hand side (back facing you) of the vacuum for clogging.

Many times it will appear free but be packed solid at the elbow just out of sight, there should be a screw on lower right that when removed will detach let you detach the elbow from the base of the plastic tube that holds the upper attachment hose this will help you straighten it bit to free any clogging, remove the beater bar & belt, apply suction with a shop vac or another vacuum to the front tube just behind the beater bar, you should feel suction at the elbow where you detached it if it's clear. If not you may need a stiff piece of wire or something similiar to help carefully clear it out.

I've worked on many of these and they somehow seem notorious for clogging in that particular spot.

It is only a 2" x 2" plastic elbow and will pull out when the tensioner is removed. Both ends of the tube are sealed using an "O" ring. The tube can be purchased at your local Auto Zone and replaced.
Good luck.

For optimum performance, the converter must be installed so exhaust flows through it in the proper direction. When laying beneath the vehicle with your feet towards the rear, the converter should be installed so the numbers stamped into it are readable.
s Random Technology Super Flow catalytic converters are designed to fit a variety of vehicles. Special adapters may be required or special air tube adapters may be required.
s If a converter with air tubes is installed on a vehicle not equipped with an air management system, both air tube fittings must be plugged.
s If a converter is installed on a vehicle with an air management system, one air tube elbow & one plug must be used.

Plug Installation
Determine which air tube fittings (if either) are to be used to make air connection in your application. (Plug the side away from the vehicle's air supply management system.) Plug the fitting(s) not used before installing converter.
1. As in Figure 1, place converter on a secure surface with air tube fittings up, being careful not to crush the converter body or heat shield.
2. Place plug(s) into airtube fitting(s). See Figure 2 for direction of plug.
3. With a hammer tap plug(s) into airtube fitting (s) until seated. The top of the plug(s) will be flush with the end(s) of the tube. See
Figure 3.
4. Crimp the end of the tube over the plug with pliers. Crimp in at least 4 places. See Figure 4.


Airtube Elbow Installation
The airtube elbow is installed on the same side of the converter as the
vehicle's air supply management system. The remaining tube should be plugged (See above). If your vehicle is not equipped with an air management system, both tubes should have been plugged.
After installing catalytic converter on the vehicle:
1. As shown in Figure 1, insert the airtube elbow into the converter's airtube fitting.
2. Position elbow in correct direction to connect air management system and secure either by welding or by using a small clamp.
3. Complete connection to the vehicle's air management system. (An airtube attachment kit may be required.)

For optimum performance, the converter must be installed so exhaust flows through it in the proper direction. When laying beneath the vehicle with your feet towards the rear, the converter should be installed so the numbers stamped into it are readable.
s Random Technology Super Flow catalytic converters are designed to fit a variety of vehicles. Special adapters may be required or special air tube adapters may be required.
s If a converter with air tubes is installed on a vehicle not equipped with an air management system, both air tube fittings must be plugged.
s If a converter is installed on a vehicle with an air management system, one air tube elbow & one plug must be used.

Plug Installation
Determine which air tube fittings (if either) are to be used to make air connection in your application. (Plug the side away from the vehicle's air supply management system.) Plug the fitting(s) not used before installing converter.
1. As in Figure 1, place converter on a secure surface with air tube fittings up, being careful not to crush the converter body or heat shield.
2. Place plug(s) into airtube fitting(s). See Figure 2 for direction of plug.
3. With a hammer tap plug(s) into airtube fitting (s) until seated. The top of the plug(s) will be flush with the end(s) of the tube. See
Figure 3.
4. Crimp the end of the tube over the plug with pliers. Crimp in at least 4 places. See Figure 4.


Airtube Elbow Installation
The airtube elbow is installed on the same side of the converter as the
vehicle's air supply management system. The remaining tube should be plugged (See above). If your vehicle is not equipped with an air management system, both tubes should have been plugged.
After installing catalytic converter on the vehicle:
1. As shown in Figure 1, insert the airtube elbow into the converter's airtube fitting.
2. Position elbow in correct direction to connect air management system and secure either by welding or by using a small clamp.
3. Complete connection to the vehicle's air management system. (An airtube attachment kit may be required.)

If the plastic insert has come off then that is not normal. It should be all one piece to the hose. You might have a hose problem that needs replacing.

for sure its the pcv elbows and hose.
you can only get the part from the dealer and they do not sell the elbows seperatly.you will need to get the whole hose.
they are 30 dollars from the dealer .you get the tube with new elbows on both ends.
its on the driver side under the hood and goes under the thermostat housing.
it is very easy to confuse it with the water heater hose.
the pcv tube connects to the pcv valve then routes back to the bottom of the intake tubes.both elbows are heat burt and torn open.
you will have to replace this new part and for sure all your check engine lights will stop as this air is getting by the mass sensor and not accounting for it in the fuel delivery there for showing a lean mix.a vaccum leak will let unaccounted air in the system and the computer will not deliver fuel for this air .not enough fuel is a lean burn.i just did one on this car 2 days ago.take off the intake tubes so you can reach down in there to take off the old .
let me know if it helps.
512 704-6925
joel mitchell

Remove the drain bucket. on the top there are two pieces that can be removed just by taking them out. they are just laying in there. 1 is the brush the other is the "drain tube insert" it is a plastic tube and has a threaded fitting on one end. take your garden hose with a female connector on one end just like you were going to install on your spicket outside of your house and connect it to the threaded end of the "drain tube insert" make sure you knockout the round plastic drain plug cover hole located in the back of the unit (it is behind where your power cord was stored) it has three tabs to break. remove drain bucket. take the drain tube with hose attatched and insert it into the drain plug hole in the back and attach it onto the drain outlet (the drain outlet is inside the drain bucket side at the top it looks like an elbow fitting) push the tube so that the flap with the arrow is flush with the back. once you get the "drain tube insert" almost all the way flush with the back -->if you look inside the drain bucket side you will see where it fits over the drain outlet

There unit should have come with a small plastic tube. One end should have a thread connecion for hose hook-up. There should be an opening on the back of the unit that you push the tube through to connect with a little elbow tube inside the unit. You should be able to see the elbow connector from the front of the unit by removing the water bucket. Just push the plastic tube in from the back until it fits snuggly over or into the elbow tube and replace the water bucket. Run the connected hose to your sump pump.