So after my upper hose spontaneously came off, I took it apart to fix. I found the upper fitting partially broken as follows:







Is this able to be fixed? I was thinking of cementing a piece of pipe to it and attaching the hose to that.

What do you guys think?

 

I would think that with a quality fastner you should be able to get the radiator hose to stay on. At least that is what I would try first. I might even pick up a T-bolt from NAPA for a couple bucks so you know it will be on secure, just don't tighten a t-bolt down to tight on plastic. it will break it.

 

I would get a new hose, your old one is likely stretched and becoming more brittle, then get a quality hose clamp like Mike said and be very careful tightening it.

 

Not time yet, if it was closer then yes. Just get a good fastner, and make sure there are no leaks, or punctures on your hose.

 

Yea that fitting broke probably because the hose clamp was overtighted too much. Which brings me to my situation. I just put in an aftermarket radiator a month ago and somehow anti-freeze keep seeping thru between the upper radiator hose and the fitting. At first I figured that the hose clamp was not tight enough. So I tightened it up. It was fine for a while until today, I noticed that it leaked again as it left dried out anti-freeze leak marks. I tightened it just a tad more, a quarter turn and its good again. I don't want to keep tightening this thing until the fitting cracks and breaks off. Do you guys think the t-bolt will do a better job? What does a t-bolt look like? BTW, the upper hose is new.

**edit**

I googled for radiator hose clamps and saw some really good ones online. I like the constant-torque clamps, they also make them for t-bolts. I'm going to look for these ones at the local auto part store.

 

the end tanks come off. you could buy a beat up used rad and swap the tops..

 

Jsutter have you done that? that would be a nice alternative. In the meantime I went to home depot and got a good hose clamp like this:



and a new upper hose. It seems to be holding well. I'll put new coolant in it and let it warm up and get back to you guys. By the way, what's a t-bolt?

Thanks for the quick responses. I know i can always depend on the org.

 

This is a t-bolt:


But I like this better, its called a constant-torque clamp:

 

Is the clamp i used significantly diffrent from those? Where would i get one of those clamps?

 

These clamps will most likely have a better clamping force than the regular one. In my situation, I kept re-tightening mine. I figured that you can try several local automotive stores.

 

i havent tried it but its shown in the fsm

 

Ok well after clamping down the upper hose, when i went to refill, to my dismay, I hear leaking from under the car. It's dripping from the passenger side onto the plastic shield viewed from under the car. I can't tell where it's coming from other than that. Any ideas?

 

Sounds like waterpump. Look behind the alternator or from the radiator, at the bottom radiator hose follow it from the radiator to the engine. That's where the thermostat and water pump will be. If you see leaks coming from there then you need to replace the water pump.

 

You need a new radiator.

 

well, which is it? Waterpump or radiator?

 

Why don't you jack up the car and look under the engine? We can only give you our best guest, you are the person that can actually find out for sure.