QuestionQUESTION: Hi Ted,
My 1995 Camry LE 4cyl has 172K miles. I never replaced the heater hoses but did replace the upper and lower radiator hoses twice.
I sometimes noticed an odd sound while driving that sounds like water running or a wire brush being brushed on something lightly and slowly. I never hear this sound idling. The heater fan is off and the setting is set to hot and I always run for outdoor air. The sound also happens with using passenger compartment area too.
I checked under the hood and noticed a thimble full or so of radiator fluid on the rear (driver's side) of the engine on that part just about where the bell housing used to be on old motors but now there is no housing there but a flat sort of recessed area. This area is under where the distributor bolts to the block.
In searching with the mirror I discovered the following. On the hose that runs from the thermostat on the motor to the heater valve, there is corrosion (gummy radiator fluid) all the way around the end of the hose connected to the heater valve. There is also a bit of wet radiator fluid on the bottom of the valve closest to the hose. I am guessing the hose is leaking fluid at times? I have never seen fluid spraying anywhere with the car running at idle. I don’t see any cracks in the hose itself but with my eyes I would not see tiny cracks.
The short hose running from the valve to the heater does not seem to have any corrosion on either end. The clamp on this hose on the heater valve side is not a normal clamp that one uses pliers to open by squeezing the pliers. This is a strap with a cotter pin holding it together. How does one remove that type of clamp?
The hose running from the heater to the pipe on the middle of the motor is also pretty damp with some corrosion. The radiator fluid lying on the motor is not far from this connection. I never noticed fluid dripping, but this is a hard area to access with a light and mirror.
I also noticed that the rubber hose running from the thermostat area on the motor to the water pump pip has a lot of corrosion on the end connected to the thermostat and a water stain running about 2 inches or so down the hose from that part of the motor. There is no leak or corrosion on the other end of this hose where it connects to the water pump pipe. Is this hose a plain larger heater type radiator hose or is it a special molded one? If it is not a molded one or a plain hose can be put used, what is the ID for this hose that runs from the thermostat area to the water pump pipe?
As far as the heater hoses go they are original. To try to stop the leaking on the end of the hose, I don’t want to remove the original clamp to replace it with a hose clamp one uses a screw driver to tighten with because tightening that 15 year old hose would most likely crack it. Should I replace all three heater hoses: thermostat to heater valve, valve to heater, and heater to pipe on motor?
The hoses that flow radiator fluid through the idle air control valve, how often do they fail and since I will have this all tore apart, should they be replaced too or let it go? (These hoses are original too.)
Ted, thank you for your assistance,
Sincerely,
Mike
ANSWER: Those strange looking clamps are removed by turning the cotter pin to the left to release it and then pull it out. I would recommend only using factory OEM hoses as they are preformed, replace all that appear to be leaking.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I am wondering how much coolant I will lose when I remove the hoses from each of the following fittings:
The heater hose from the water intake where the upper radiator hose also attaches?
The pipe that runs to the water pump which has a short hose that attaches to the water intake?
The pipe on the motor where the heater hose directly connects to the motor from the heater?
Is there a way to do this without spilling a lot of coolant or draining the radiator?
Do these hoses normally come off the plastic fittings on the heater valve easily or should I cut the end of the hose?
Thanks Ted!
Sincerely,
Mike
AnswerI would recommend draining then radiator, if the coolant is clean you can always re use it,the hoses can get stuck on the plastic fittings so it would be adviseable to cut them off then use a single edge razor blade or box cutter to split the hoses and peel them off. Using to much force can break the plastic fittings, after all the hoses are replaced it can be difficult to get all the air out of the system, there is no sir bleeder on these engines.
Whe putting the coolant back in fill the engine through the top radiator hose slowly, when all the ai seems to be oyt connect the hose to the radiator and star the engine, turn the heater all the way to hot with the fan on HI, when the heat is hot recheck the coolant and add more, these steps may have to be repeated to get all the air out, by the way I hope you are replacing the thermostat at the same time the hoses are replaced.
