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My lower radiator hose (passenger side) sprung a leak. My non-Porsche Indy mechanic quoted me basically $1,000 to replace it because he wanted to do the upper radiator hose and serpentine belt as WYAIT items. I do a quick forum search and confirm that the lower hose is a bit of a challenge. But, the part is only about $60, and I’m not too keen on spending another $900+ just to replace the upper hose and serpentine belt. The trick is getting the lower end fitting separated from the radiator. Everything else is easy. There is a good DIY on Pelican Parts, but it doesn’t give any tips on how to get that bottom fitting to break loose.

Regarding coming at the lower radiator hose bottom connection from under the vehicle, I have a lift so I thought it might making removal of that VERY stubborn connection easier. It didn’t help really at all. My tip for getting that bottom fitting off is to come at it from above. Grab the plastic neck with your right hand and begin rocking it up and down. At the same time, with your left hand, use a large screwdriver or pry bar to get behind the flange or end of the hose and pry outward. The fitting popped right off when I did this.

Here is a link to the Pelican DIY:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticl ... _Hoses.htm

Sounds like the alternator in my old Escape. Gotta wonder about the engineers that look at something like this and think "oh this will never fail, no one needs to get to it easily"...

Has your coolant T been replaced (or is that only a TT issue, I forget)? If not I guess it sounds a little late to say you should do that while you have the hoses off...

Well, since it’s the bottom radiator hose, the car is nice enough to change it’s coolant itself as soon as that lower fitting pops off. And no, I didn’t spring for the pink stuff. I used the Prestone kind that says “safe for European vehicles”. Yeah, I know, so sue me.

FRUNKenstein wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:48 pm Well, since it’s the bottom radiator hose, the car is nice enough to change it’s coolant itself as soon as that lower fitting pops off. And no, I didn’t spring for the pink stuff. I used the Prestone kind that says “safe for European vehicles”. Yeah, I know, so sue me.

Well given that you could simply replace the P!g for the 400 gallons you need of the pink stuff, sounds like you made the smart financial plan

Not only am I topping my 996 off with pre-mix Prestone - which is a DIFFERENT COLOR ENTIRELY than what's in my car - it's a gallon jug I did not open myself and that is of unknown provenance.

Catastrophic failure in 3...2...1...

You're probably going to need remote hose clamp pliers like these to access that clamp.

https://www.tooltruckrebrands.com/rebra ... se%20clamp

sweet victory wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:21 pm You're probably going to need remote hose clamp pliers like these to access that clamp.

https://www.tooltruckrebrands.com/rebra ... se%20clamp

The lower radiator hose was held on by a screw/band (worm gear) clamp on the top fitting, and then just a wire spring clip on the bottom.
So, the clamps weren’t a problem. . . except where you wouldn’t expect it. To refill the radiator, you must either have a radiator vacuum tool (the recommended method)
or you must remove the engine side fitting on the upper radiator hose and fill through that hose (which is messy). But,since I don’t own a vacuum tool, that’s the route I went. That fitting is held on with a standard spring clamp, and it’s sitting right there at the top center of the engine. But unless you are willing to remove the throttle body and associated wiring and hoses, it’s tough to get a pair of pliers on the clip ends. That tool would have been very useful there. The upper hose is the one on the right in this pic:

Photos borrowed from Pelican website

FRUNKenstein wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:42 am

sweet victory wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:21 pm You're probably going to need remote hose clamp pliers like these to access that clamp.

https://www.tooltruckrebrands.com/rebra ... se%20clamp

The lower radiator hose was held on by a screw/band (worm gear) clamp on the top fitting, and then just a wire spring clip on the bottom.

85418FF3-3BBA-4ACA-A6A3-27C4958627DC.jpeg

Ahhhh