Mr. Timewise

While trying to remove the left side combi valve for the secondary air injection system (I still can't figure out how to remove the two screws! How in the world does anyone remove those screws?) I was lifting the coolant expansion reservoir / tank out of the way and a hose attached to the bottom of the tank came loose from where it normally resides. This 18" or so hose might not have been connected to anything at its other end ... it just has a diagonal cut on the far end and it is kinda oily there. At the coolant tank it is connected to what <i>might</i> be a pressure relief valve located on the bottom outside of the tank.

Does anybody know anything about this hose? More specifically, how does it wind its way down past the left side combi valve and the exhaust pipe? I could just feed it downward through the open area there, but prior to it coming free, I do know it was not just loosely hanging there. It might have been attached to some tube at the bottom of the engine.

Any help would be appreciated.

watauga2.7T

I take it you have a 2.7T. If so, that hose does not connect to anything. It is as you thought, it is for overflow. When you put every thing back together, make sure that hose is between the finder well and the heatshield. I hope this help.

Ron

allroaddave

If you're talking about the 10mm (wrench size) nut on the secondary air injection pump bracket, you're right, it's a bitch kitty to get to. I used a socket on a 3" extension, a universal joint, then a 3" + a 10" extension to the ratchet. You only have to loosen it some, the bracket has a slot that the nut tightens up to.

Mr. Timewise

Yes, a 2.7T...

Just as I thought, the hose just hangs there, held away from the exhaust pipe by the heat shield. I stopped at the dealer today and asked a mechanic...he confirmed what you stated.

I also asked about those two screws holding the left side combi valve onto the port pipe at the left back of the 2.7T. He, too, said they are a real pain. I was told they have a special 90 degree offset 10mm box wrench, with a very short end where the 10mm box end is. The offset is huge...about 12".

I also mention that the two screws on the left combi were hex head, whereas the two screws on the right combi were allen head. The allen head screws were originally supposed to be used in both locations, so it is likely the left combi has already been worked on in the past.

I may just leave the left combi valve in place (I haven't bought the part yet...I wasn't going to spend $175+ for something I may not be able to use.) Anyone got a left side combi for sale...part number 078131101 AB (078-131-101 AB)?

Thanks for the help!

Mr. Timewise

I was able to get the left combi valve off. I used a 10mm box end x 9mm open end ignition wrench that came in a kit from Sears. (10 piece Metric Combination "Ignition Wrench Set", Item #00942339000; Model #42339.) The wrench was still a little long so I heated the shaft to red hot with a propane torch and bent it about 90 degrees. The bend is about 65% towards the open end (9mm) side.

Then I tied a string around my wrist and around the wrench shaft. This was so that were I to drop it at the back of the engine it would not drop out of sight forever.

I did have to work by feel alone.

Loosening the two bolts wasn't too bad, but unscrewing them was a real time consuming task. Each bolt has a freely spinning washer that prevented an easy grip as I reached with my fingers to turn the bolt little by little until it was off.

The real problem now will be starting the threads as I install the new combi valve (and new gasket...the old one fell behind the engine into never-never-land).

Here's a photo of my custom made SAI left side Kombi Valve removal wrench:

<a href="http://s839.photobucket.com/albums/zz320/MrTimewise/SAI%20Kombi%20Valve%20wrench/?action=view&current=DSCN0009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz320/MrTimewise/SAI%20Kombi%20Valve%20wrench/DSCN0009.jpg" border="0" alt="Kombi Valve Hex Head Bolt removal wrench"></a>

allroaddave

The string was a good idea, I lost a good Snap-On 10mm wrench when I fixed the SAI pump on the bride's car......

Mr. Timewise

That is exactly what I did.

SCBlaufuss

Thanks, I just replaced the coolant expansion tank in my 2001 Allroad 2.7T and was wondering where that hose on the bottom of the tank belonged. It came out way to easy if it was to have been connected to anything.

MrKid

It's not connected to anything. Just fish it down below the tank, but don't kink it, and keep it away from the exhaust.