How do I unclip this hose?

[Howard-]

Hi all,

I've found the source of my coolant leak and it's this relatively short piece of hose which goes from the thermostat housing to the heater matrix.

Releasing the spring clip clamp from the 'stat end is easy but I thought I'd ask how exactly to release this end before I start fumbling at the metal clip with a screwdriver!



Also how much coolant loss can I expect when I pull the hose off, on a cold system?


Thanks

[dave_s13]

That metal spirng clip looks like it pops out from right to left. The hose should come off easy then.


Coolant loss... Suck it and see. Just have enough of the right type to refill, shouldn't be a problem as long as you can find the bleed screw (if it has one).

[chimp427]

The clip does pop from right to left with a screwdriver, it does not come out all the way just until those metal legs to the right hit the plastic stoppers on the housing.
They can be tight fittings to pull off sometimes.

[Higgs boson]

chimp427 said:

They can be tight fittings to pull off sometimes.

Too right. You'll probably need to be next-to-brutal with them!
I was knackered after I'd managed to free up 3 or 4 of them.

[andyiley]

Surely you mean left to right?

[DIYMechGuy]

I've just recently replaced the coolant in my vehicle, and as has been advised, the clip is probably gonna be the easiest to come off.... just take something like a screwdriver to it to pry off.
However the pipe itself could be a nightmare.
The section of pipe you've got to deal with is slightly different from what I was doing, but I used a pair of pliers with deliberately bent metal end, as leverage, to 'push' to rubber pipe off. Bit by bit, I'd also press on both sides of the pipe as your trying to push, so you can 'feel' where the end of the internal pipe is, if you get what I mean by that. I used this method to avoid the surprise of the pipe suddenly coming off and coolant going everywhere. Also, if you can, try and put something underneath the pipe to catch as much of the coolant, otherwise just make some new up and add.

[Howard-]

Thanks folks, I'll give it a go and be prepared to wrestle the old hose free.

[BigTom85]

andyiley said:

Surely you mean left to right?

No, right to left. The clip is horseshoe shaped and in the released position the end of the 'legs' will sit in little groves which hold the clip open whilst making it a doddle to clip it back together again once reassembled.

[andyiley]

I stand corrected, there are some similar ones on some beamers that go the opposite way.

[bearman68]

andyiley said:

Surely you mean left to right?

LOL I thought this, but look at it more closely - it is right to left

[CrutyRammers]

For coolant hoses, I usually find that getting a small screwdriver under the edge to lift it, then spraying some WD40 or similar in there, makes it much easier to slip them off.

[buzzer]

CrutyRammers said:

For coolant hoses, I usually find that getting a small screwdriver under the edge to lift it, then spraying some WD40 or similar in there, makes it much easier to slip them off.

I find this as well. Penetrating oil is even better, makes a big difference to how easy or hard they come out!

[Howard-]

Turns out it was a piece of cake! Had to lever the plastic end off a bit with a screwdriver once I released the clip, and had to prise the other end off the thermostat a bit with a small screwdriver but it was pretty simple all in all. Thanks guys