DIY Network

Auto Primer Basic: Blown Radiator Hose From "Auto Primer" episode DAPR-103

Host Leilani Munter gives valuable tips on dealing with auto-hose failure and cooling system problems.

DIY's Auto Primer is an introductory course on the basics of keeping your car safe and trouble-free. In this episode, host Leilani Munter provides basic information about your car's cooling system and tackles the problem of a broken radiator hose.

From emergency hose-repair to preventive cooling-system maintenance, Auto Primer gives viewers the knowledge to handle unforeseen cooling system problems. Also included: tips on stocking your car with tools and supplies to be ready for roadside repairs. In this first segment of episode 103, Leilani details the procedure for repairing several common radiator-hose problems.

Materials used in this segment:

Radiator hose
Coolant
Screwdriver or nut-driver
Knife
Hose repair kit
Funnel
Rags
Safety Glasses

Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection when working with power tools or hazardous chemicals.

A small split like this one near the end of a hose can usually be repaired just with a knife and screwdriver.

With proper maintenance, cooling-system should be a rare occurrence with your vehicle. But not all problems are preventable. If you should see or smell steam coming from you vehicle while driving, there are some steps you should take to assess the condition. In some cases, you may be able to make a roadside repair to at least get you back behind the wheel. Here's a summary of some things you should know if you should encounter a blown radiator hose while driving.

Find a safe place to stop and attempt to isolate or identify the problem by safely assessing where the steam is coming from.

Important Safety Precautions

Though work on your vehicle's cooling system is typically not a difficult automotive procedure, there are several safety issues that you must be of before you begin work. Here are some important safety precautions:

Safety Alert: Radiators and engines get extremely hot, and opening a radiator before it has cooled is extremely dangerous. Before you begin work, be certain to let your engine cool fully.

Safety Alert: Coolant, or antifreeze, is extremely toxic and harmful to the environment. Because it has a sweet smell but is highly poisonous, it is especially hazardous if young children or animals around. Always keep coolant away from children or pets. Wash your hands thoroughly after working with coolant to prevent contact with the eye.

Safety Alert: Always dispose of automotive fluids and other hazardous materials responsibly. Many auto centers have auto-fluid recycling centers.

Safety Alert: As a standard safety precaution, disconnect your car's negative battery cable before you start any mechanical or electrical work on the vehicle. For this procedure, this is especially important if the car has an electric cooling fan.

Figure A

Repairing a Damaged or Blown Hose

If you've been driving for a while, you'll likely need to let the engine cool for about an hour before beginning any repair work. After about an hour, test the coolant temperature by touching the radiator where the hose attaches. If you can hold your hand there for 20seconds, it is cool enough to start the repair.

While you're waiting for the engine to cool, gather the supplies you will need for the repair. Things you're likely to need (figure A) include a pair of work gloves, screwdriver or nut-driver, a multi-tool or knife and safety glasses.

Small leaks or splits near the end of the hose are common because this portion of the hose is exposed to hot metal and higher temperatures. Leaks like these can often be repaired (at least temporarily, so you can get back on the road) with a screwdriver and sharp knife. (Larger breaks, or breaks in the middle of the hose, will require a hose repair kit.)

• Use a sharp knife to cut the hose beyond the damaged portion (figure B). Make the cut as straight as you can.

• Using a screwdriver or nut-driver (depending on the type of clamp), loosen the hose-clamp enough so that you can remove the damaged piece of hose (figure C). (You may need to remove the clamp entirely and cut the damaged portion away.)

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

• Remove the damaged portion of hose and set it aside (figure D)

• Place the clamp over the end of the good portion of hose and reattach to the fitting (figure E).

• Move the clamp so that it's over the fitting and tighten.

  Figure D

  Figure E

  
  

  Figure F

  
  

Here are the basic steps for this type of repair.

	Figure H
	Figure G