That last darn coolant hose...

[jrj512]

I installed my new OE radiator today, along with 8 of the 9 hoses. Guess which hose is not yet installed? Yep, that hose between the heater core and the back of the engine. That thing is diabolical!

Does anyone know of a trick for getting to the connection behind the engine? Anyone want to come help get it off? (The hose.) I am considering driving the car over to Rogue's and see if he can do it while I wait, but we would have to drain the coolant again.

[onething]

Hiley Mazda of Arlington did an excellent job with replacing my water pump and all the hoses

[ChaseVenters]

I just cut the dang thing off. Obviously you have to be more careful with the knife when cutting on the end connected to the heater core, but with a good slice it will come off very easily. The next thing to do is to actually replace those spring clamps with worm-style band clamps. Use some adult lubricant to help get the hose back on there, and then use a driver to run down your band clamps. (As an aside, I haven't tried this before but if you happened to have access to a 72-tooth 5/16" gear wrench that could make it even easier than using a driver.) Make sure to feel the surface of the band to make sure rubber is pushed up through the holes in the clamp... that way you know it is tight enough. Be slightly more gentle with the end on the heater core... it's very easy to bend.

I had no problems doing this... the job took 15 minutes at most. Some people have reported pulling the coil pack and the CAS (replacing the CAS gasket in the process). I found this unnecessary.

[jrj512]

I just cut the dang thing off...

Thanks! I already replaced all of the other clamps with the worm-style clamps. I'm not a fan of the spring clamps, either.

Thank you WRX74, too, for the advice via PM.

I will give it a go tomorrow when I am fresh. I waited until the end to try that hose today.

[riverracer]

Hiley Mazda of Arlington did an excellent job with replacing my water pump and all the hoses

Very Nice....

[POS Racing]

Well Princess did ya get it fixed??

[jrj512]

I didn't get to it today, but I appreciate your concern.

[POS Racing]

Hiley is just down the road from your house, I'm sure that you can talk Onething into delivering it to the dealer.

[Radio-Active]

I have a small hose removal plyers that will pop them off fairly easy.



I think I bought mine off a Mac tool truck and these are listed on the Snap-On website. Linkie:

I'd be happy to bring them over for you to try.