Cooling System Urgent Question

[Glisella]

Hi all, just pulled off the interstate and smoke pouring out of engine bay. Looks like this hose came loose and antifreeze got all over the engine...I obviously can't touch it at the moment because it's all smoking and hot but does anyone know should I do a push this back on do I need a new hose is it a crimp fitting is there more to changing this out? It's the hose on the left toward back passenger side of engine.

 

[intheburbs]

Heater hose. Looks like the plastic fitting broke. Do not drive it as is. Your coolant has boiled off and it won't hold pressure

As a roadside fix to get you where you need to go, just clamp it off tightly with vise grips or some kind of clamp, refill cooling system, and drive to a repair shop.

Or, if you have AAA or some kind of emergency road service, have it flatbedded to a shop.

 

[Rocket Man]

That’s called a quick disconnect and it’s kind of a pia to replace. Very common problem. I suggest using a genuine AC Delco not Dorman because the latter are known to fail quickly. But if all you can get is a Dorman then that’s ok too. If you’re doing it yourself, use a pair of snips to cut away the old plastic part, the quick connect is hard to release. There’s 2 different ones, one black and one white. You might just want a shop to do it.

 

[Rocket Man]

There’s YouTube videos on replacing them.

 

[Glisella]

Thanks all...there is an advance Auto down the street and I have tools with me so going to attempt in parking lot here...appreciate the quick replies.

 

[02Lightning]

Anyone know the part numbers of the AC Delco ones?

 

[Glisella]

Wanted to just say thank you again for those of you that replied quickly the other day. I had to quickly try and search auto parts stores close to me for who had parts in stock and having you post the part helped get it done quickly.

The Autozone that was about 2.5 miles away had a new quick connect heater hose fitting in stock (Dorman) so I went there thinking that was what was needed. Having never encountered this problem before, turns out the fitting wasn't broken but the quick connect attachment to the hose that goes on this fitting was. Turns out the store did not have that quick connect in stock, so I bought 2.5' of new hose and some clamps and voila. Returned from MD back to NY (over 400 miles) and holding up no problems. Will order proper hose and fitting connection now that I'm back home and get done properly.

 

[swathdiver]

Wanted to just say thank you again for those of you that replied quickly the other day. I had to quickly try and search auto parts stores close to me for who had parts in stock and having you post the part helped get it done quickly.

The Autozone that was about 2.5 miles away had a new quick connect heater hose fitting in stock (Dorman) so I went there thinking that was what was needed. Having never encountered this problem before, turns out the fitting wasn't broken but the quick connect attachment to the hose that goes on this fitting was. Turns out the store did not have that quick connect in stock, so I bought 2.5' of new hose and some clamps and voila. Returned from MD back to NY (over 400 miles) and holding up no problems. Will order proper hose and fitting connection now that I'm back home and get done properly.

I'm sure you'll appreciate the work @kbuskill is doing with Gruven to get these made from metal. Might want to sign up for a set.

 

[gooffeyguy]

I'm sure you'll appreciate the work @kbuskill is doing with Gruven to get these made from metal. Might want to sign up for a set.

The fitting wasn't broke, the quick connect on the hose that connects to the fitting was.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18

 

[08HoeCD]

Glad that this worked out okay in the end!

This incident is a perfect example of how dire things can get when any portion of the plastic connector fails. If it was something that would show symptoms before failure, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. The problem is that it can let go completely without any prior symptoms.

Some argue that all you need to do is plan to replace them every x number of years, treating them as a preventative maintenance item. While I'm sure that would help, sometimes the connector lets go way ahead of 'schedule.' Sucks to have to endure that excitement on the side of the road.

 

[Glisella]

Glad that this worked out okay in the end!

This incident is a perfect example of how dire things can get when any portion of the plastic connector fails. If it was something that would show symptoms before failure, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. The problem is that it can let go completely without any prior symptoms.

Some argue that all you need to do is plan to replace them every x number of years, treating them as a preventative maintenance item. While I'm sure that would help, sometimes the connector lets go way ahead of 'schedule.' Sucks to have to endure that excitement on the side of the road.

I was more pissed I had to pay for $40 of antifreeze than having to take the ~30 minutes to clamp on a new hose that cost about $10. I just changed my thermostat a couple months back..all that good fluid gone to waste!

 

[kbuskill]

The fitting wasn't broke, the quick connect on the hose that connects to the fitting was.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18

Yes... but with the new metal parts you don't have that plastic quick connect crimped onto the hose any longer.

 

[Kenny D]

I had this exact thing happen to me today. Broke in the same place. Nobody had the quick connect so I had to order it. Dorman of course. I'll hunt down an AC delco one later but the wife has surgery Thursday so I got tomorrow to fix. I was at highway speeds and "ding ding ding" the engine overheating light came on. I pulled over immediately and I was about to kill it, the reduced power kicked in. What are the chances that it screwed up a head or something else? 2009 5.3 Tahoe I looked for a complete hose but no luck, only one I could find was for no rear heat. So naturally you have to get a hose and the connector.

 

[Doubeleive]

I had this exact thing happen to me today. Broke in the same place. Nobody had the quick connect so I had to order it. Dorman of course. I'll hunt down an AC delco one later but the wife has surgery Thursday so I got tomorrow to fix. I was at highway speeds and "ding ding ding" the engine overheating light came on. I pulled over immediately and I was about to kill it, the reduced power kicked in. What are the chances that it screwed up a head or something else? 2009 5.3 Tahoe I looked for a complete hose but no luck, only one I could find was for no rear heat. So naturally you have to get a hose and the connector.

if you pulled over right away and shut it off you should be fine, it happens to practically everyone eventually unless you are proactive and replace it early or just get lucky it's a pretty common problem.

 

[Rocket Man]

I had this exact thing happen to me today. Broke in the same place. Nobody had the quick connect so I had to order it. Dorman of course. I'll hunt down an AC delco one later but the wife has surgery Thursday so I got tomorrow to fix. I was at highway speeds and "ding ding ding" the engine overheating light came on. I pulled over immediately and I was about to kill it, the reduced power kicked in. What are the chances that it screwed up a head or something else? 2009 5.3 Tahoe I looked for a complete hose but no luck, only one I could find was for no rear heat. So naturally you have to get a hose and the connector.

It should be fine. Mine did the same thing.

 

[Kenny D]

Thanks, this is the last thing I needed right now

 

[Kenny D]

I found the factory hose at the dealership today. Instead of the Dorman connection, I will replace with AC Delco. $41 and change.

 

[Rocket Man]

I found the factory hose at the dealership today. Instead of the Dorman connection, I will replace with AC Delco. $41 and change.

Hell yeah.

 

[02Lightning]

I found the factory hose at the dealership today. Instead of the Dorman connection, I will replace with AC Delco. $41 and change.

Part number?

 

[89Suburban]

I was more pissed I had to pay for $40 of antifreeze than having to take the ~30 minutes to clamp on a new hose that cost about $10. I just changed my thermostat a couple months back..all that good fluid gone to waste!

I had this exact thing happen to me today. Broke in the same place. Nobody had the quick connect so I had to order it. Dorman of course. I'll hunt down an AC delco one later but the wife has surgery Thursday so I got tomorrow to fix. I was at highway speeds and "ding ding ding" the engine overheating light came on. I pulled over immediately and I was about to kill it, the reduced power kicked in. What are the chances that it screwed up a head or something else? 2009 5.3 Tahoe I looked for a complete hose but no luck, only one I could find was for no rear heat. So naturally you have to get a hose and the connector.

Welcome to the "I Got ****** by the GM Plastic Tee Fitting" club. I was hauling my boat in a rain storm when mine took a shit and I was in a town and had to go 6 blocks before I found a place I could get off the main drag. One of these broke on me before when I was replacing spark plugs so I kept a spare piece of brass tubing and 2 clamps so if this happened again I could bypass the heater all together to get by until I could get parts to fix it. I always keep extra fluids/tool kit/McGuyver parts in a milk crate in the back of the truck in case shit like this happens. Especially running around with over 300K on the ticker.