Coolant issue........... couple of ???

[Mr95Gl]

Yesterday I decided to take the SHO to school, because I was running too late for a final to take PT. On my way there, the throttle felt alittle different. I had just filled the tank, so I figured it may have been bad gas. Now it was about 20 deg yesterday, I saw some smoke from the rear, but I figured it was exhaust fumes from my 5K blast. Then the low coolant light came on, and I immediately pulled over. Came to a full stop, and enough smoke was coming out of the engine bay to signal fire house from 15miles away. I pop the hood, and there's antifreeze splattered on the firewall. It's 4:50pm, and outside is dark, and the hoodlight blew(been meaning to replace it).

Check the resevoir and it's empty. Fill back up with antifreeze and limp 2 miles to an autoparts place. I thought it was the heater core hose, because I had the heat full blast so I turned it off (big mistake) bought another bottle of antifreeze, poured it in, and limped home. This morning, I go out to further investigate start the car, turn the heat on and it turns out the leak is coming from a coolant hose the runs under the throttle body, and goes into the engine. Talk about a PITA to remove. I'm not the most mechanically inclined, and it took me 45min, just to remove the godforsaken hose. Removing it from the throttle body was nothing, but to try and wiggle my hands down in there with pliers to remove the hose clamp, christ!!!!

My question is. . . . . from the firewall theres two hoses. The one more to the driver side is the heater core hose? It's a rubber hose from the block, then turns into a metal line, then back to a rubber hose going into the firewall. If so, do they sell replacements for the metal line? Same goes for the other hose on the passenger side of the firewall. Reason for asking is because they are completely corroded, and very rusty and sooner or later they are going to go. Next one is, those clamps that they have on the metal lines. . . . . do I have to cut them off, or can they be removed with a pair of vice grips? Guys, any info will be very appreciated! I'm about to go back outside to get the hose for the TB and put it on. Also, could the slight difference in throttle response be affliated with that hose? Thanks alot!!


Frantzdy

 

[SHO#7]

That TB hose takes warm coolant up through the throttle body. In alot of cars they are bypassed. In the COLD states it is not a good idea as the butterfly valve ( intake valve that allows air into the motor ) will slightly hang up. Making the throttle " feel " different. In some cases it has actually hung up. That is why it is not a good idea in the cold areas.

As for the metal/rubber line. I would imagine that they are avaliable. Where I can not tell you. You may be able to use just some std heater hose. I have yet to replace mine. In fact, I do not have the car here to even look at. But I would imagine that some heater hose would work fine. And in all honesty, unless it is very rusted, I would not replace it until it broke. If the rust is very bad, then you may be doing the right thing.

And lastly. There are all types of funky bent needle nose, and other types of pliars, that make this job much easier. I own tools that I may only use once a year. But when I need some strange arrangement, and I have it. Life is good.

Mike

 

[wood_e]

Harbor freight tools has a set of angled needle nose pliers for under $20... they're a life saver

 

[SHOtimer]

Those metal lines are discontinued. What I did was took the rubber/metal lines out. Cut off the clamps that hold the rubber on. Totally stripped, cleaned, and restored the metal lines then repainted them and sealed them so they won't rust anymore. Then replace the rubber hose and use hose clamps to attach it to the metal line.

Doug

 

[BallsoutSHO]

Those metal lines are discontinued. What I did was took the rubber/metal lines out. Cut off the clamps that hold the rubber on. Totally stripped, cleaned, and restored the metal lines then repainted them and sealed them so they won't rust anymore. Then replace the rubber hose and use hose clamps to attach it to the metal line.

Doug

My buddies dad owns an auto parts store and when i went to replace that i found out that they are in fact discontinued. This is a good solution though just do what he says. The hard part is finding a hose that wont kink. I think he found something that was close but i dont think it was from a ford. I think that he just found something that looked the same and would work.

 

[Mr95Gl]

That TB hose takes warm coolant up through the throttle body. In alot of cars they are bypassed. In the COLD states it is not a good idea as the butterfly valve ( intake valve that allows air into the motor ) will slightly hang up. Making the throttle " feel " different. In some cases it has actually hung up. That is why it is not a good idea in the cold areas.

As for the metal/rubber line. I would imagine that they are avaliable. Where I can not tell you. You may be able to use just some std heater hose. I have yet to replace mine. In fact, I do not have the car here to even look at. But I would imagine that some heater hose would work fine. And in all honesty, unless it is very rusted, I would not replace it until it broke. If the rust is very bad, then you may be doing the right thing.

And lastly. There are all types of funky bent needle nose, and other types of pliars, that make this job much easier. I own tools that I may only use once a year. But when I need some strange arrangement, and I have it. Life is good.

Mike

It's very rusty. At first glance, that's where I thought the leak was coming from because of how bad it looks. What made the job more difficult was my judgement. I didn't realize that the hose clamp was the type that expands when you grip them with the pliers. I thought it was one of those clamps that are sealed and need to be cut, so I went hacking away until it I noticed those 3 teeth (or whatever they're called). Smart huh?

Those metal lines are discontinued. What I did was took the rubber/metal lines out. Cut off the clamps that hold the rubber on. Totally stripped, cleaned, and restored the metal lines then repainted them and sealed them so they won't rust anymore. Then replace the rubber hose and use hose clamps to attach it to the metal line.

Doug

How did you restore the metal lines? What did you use to restore them rather? All in all, I replaced the line and no more leak!! Again, thanks guys for the info!

Frantzdy

 

[ManySHOs]

How did you restore the metal lines? What did you use to restore them rather? All in all, I replaced the line and no more leak!! Again, thanks guys for the info!

Frantzdy

Anything that isn't rusted out can usually be restored by sanding the rust off of it and repainting it. You can sand by hand or use a sanding disc attached to a drill. Lately I've been fond of taking rusted or corroded parts to a local machinist and having him beadblast them. I'll then take them to get powdercoated. I've learned that I can actually cut the machinst out of the equation and save some money because the powdercoating place usually sandblasts stuff anyway. I just think that the machinst does a better job.

Ian

 

[SHOZ123]

You can make the metal lines out of soft cooper tubing and sweat in/on some fittings.