Hey guys got a new 99 2gnt I'm a total new car gal, Did my first battery change today, yay!

I have the repair manual and want to learn this stuff! While changing the battery I noticed the radiator hose conected to the radiator cap was slowly leaking underneath. The condition of the hose seems okay, do you think if I replaced it the problem would be fixed? or could it be the thermostat not opening?

Like i said i'm new to cars so i thought i would ask the experts here?

Thanks

Where exactly is it leaking from? This could be as easy as moving the hose around a little bit and retorquing the hose clamp at the thermostat housing, or it could be as much as pulling the t-housing and changing the gasket where it meets the head. You also might just need a new hose.

You need to track down exactly where its leaking from before we can give you an accurate answer.

It is right where the radiator cap connection is.

I did retighten the clamp, was apprehensive about taking it off. Woulden't that leak out alot of the fluid? When I rub my fingers underneath the clamp it is wet


So maybe i should take the clamp off then the hose and check for cracks? I just didn't want to open stuff and end up with a big mess without knowing what to expect.

Thanks for your help, I'm sure i'll need alot of it ! :)

Wait, I am still a little unsure of where the leak is coming from. Is it coming from the metal radiator cap on top of the T-housing, or is it coming from where the radiator hose connects to the front of the T-housing?

If it is just coming from under the cap, buy yourself a new cap from Autozone or Advance for a few bucks and put it on the car when its cold.

If its coming from the radiator hose connection, loosen up the hose clamp and inspect the end of the hose for cracks or holes. If it looks good, give the hose a little twist to "reset" it and then retighten the hose clamp.

Again, make sure to do all this work with the car fully cooled down.

Chances are the whole area might be soaked from leaking for so long, may need to just wipe everything clean, then start it up, let it idle and inspect around to see if you can see where the leak is coming from.

Hey, Thanks

I ended up taking off the upper radiator hose, inspected it but did not see any leaks/cracks. so I cleaned up the area and tried to reseat it like suggested. I moved the metal clamp up higher on the hose tightened it up, waited an hour and there was no leak.

Then i remembered I needed to open the radiator cap and fill it up there. I did then replaced the cap. Gave the hose a little squeeze and saw it shoot out the side!

Maybe from overtightening? the metal clamp was covering up a pen hole size leak. So off to the store to find a replacement! Maybe i could cut it and reuse? I think it would be too short.

Thanks for your help guys!

and remember squeeze your hose to check for leaks!

You should just get a new one, there not expensive. But if its too short it will pull off under heavy excelleration due to the engine torquing away from the radiator.

Originally posted by marges
Hey, Thanks I ended up taking off the upper radiator hose, inspected it but did not see any leaks/cracks. so I cleaned up the area and tried to reseat it like suggested. I moved the metal clamp up higher on the hose tightened it up, waited an hour and there was no leak. Then i remembered I needed to open the radiator cap and fill it up there. I did then replaced the cap. Gave the hose a little squeeze and saw it shoot out the side! Maybe from overtightening? the metal clamp was covering up a pen hole size leak. So off to the store to find a replacement! Maybe i could cut it and reuse? I think it would be too short. Thanks for your help guys! and remember squeeze your hose to check for leaks!

Personally, I rather have someone else to squeeze my hose, preferably the other gender of course. Just my 2 cents. :thumbsup

Originally posted by megaskillz
Personally, I rather have someone else to squeeze my hose, preferably the other gender of course. Just my 2 cents. :thumbsup

Quit the leg humping. We'd actually like to keep most of the female members around here (with one shining exception)

To the OP, Just get a new hose. If the old one has a pinhole leak then it'll pop somewhere else if you try and fix it.

Agreed. Just get a new hose. Cheap and easy fix and then you wont have to worry about more trouble down the road.

Ok guys, I bought a new hose. It has a metal wire through one end though? I didn't notice it when I picked it up, is that normal? should I cut the wire out or cut the hose after the wire? It's a metal wire going through both sides on one end.

Eh, this stuff has to be confusing!
Thanks!

Sounds like you bought a generic flex hose. The metal wire should be spiraled inside the hose and not exposed on either end. If you cut the hose to fit and exposed that wire you just wasted your money. Get a proper pre molded hose.

Our hoses from the dealer are really cheap (in price, I mean).