When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I droppped off my '97 A8 4.2q at the shop this morning for a full timing belt, water pump, serpentine, etc. service. Just got a call saying that the upper radiator hose literally fell apart in the mechanic's hands. Alas, now I have to wait an extra day for them to order and receive the part. Grrrr!!!
Here's my question... I had a thorough buyer's inspection done at a different independent shop (near the seller's town) that also specializes in German cars. They mentioned a bit of corrosion at the upper radiator hose and recommended (as a low priority) a coolant flush ($289). How could they have missed a hose that is that far gone? Would the $289 price have been JUST for a coolant flush or would that have included a new hose?
about a hose from the outside. Hoses rot from the inside, so it's difficult to asses their condition with just a visual beyond obvious cracks, bulges, etc.
It's very possible that when it was removed it fell apart.
That hose is very delicate where the small hose "T"s off of the larger one....
and can be broken easily. If the hose is old, I can almost believe that it "fell apart". More likely it broke when the mechanic was trying to remove a stubborn connection. If it the stock original hose, it needs to be replaced anyway.
I was more concerned that either the original shop wasn't careful enough on the inspection or that the repair shop doing the work now hadn't been careful in handling it. And even then, if it was a $25 or $50 hose instead of a $150 hose, I would have had less of a problem.
You need to disconnect it at the expansion tank versus the hose T fitting....I broke one before and then realized that they need replacing every 90K miles, well, at least the top one, it's heat soaked in traffic.
fixed my broken tee fitting on the upper radiator hose for cheap
The little plastic tube coming off the top broke off in my hand, inside the little hose. I pulled that part out of the little hose, and drilled out what remained sticking up out of the tee, and tapped it for 1/8" pipe. The plastic crumbled a little at the start of drilling but when I was done the 5/16 diameter drilled hole was in about 1/2" deep section of solid plastic. Tapping it made a nice clean set of threads. Then I screwed in a 1/8" male pipe x 3/8" hose barb brass fitting (with Permatex #2 on the threads), and put it all back together. Been OK for a couple of days now. Under 3 bucks. Fingers crossed. The rubber hose itself seems very flexible, not stiff.
I did an emergency repair with a brass tee at the firewall last winter and it worked well. I've heard it might react with the proper coolant though. Not sure if there is any truth to that.
Should we be swapping brass plumbing bits for Aluminum?
12-22-2005, 11:31 AM
Upper radiator hose "fell apart in my hands??"
