Thread: help with highport heater hose replacement

Hey guys,

during my dyno, radiator fluid started leaking from the passenger side underneath the power steering. when i got home, i ran the car and looked under to find the leak coming from the heater hose under the intake manifold.

I've spent all day trying to replace that damn heater hose. It's about a 6in length hose 1" diameter. trying to get it off was already a PITA. I went to the local auto shop to get a foot long of 1" heater hose only.

any tips on getting it back on? I've spent the past 3-4 hours with no luck. I had removed the starter to make things easier, but trying to get the hose to flex into the 2" gap between the metal hoses is extremely frustrating. I can get one side on but i can't get the hose to slide to slide the other side in!

i've cut the hose shorter than the hose that was on there to make it easier to slide in. i've warmed the hose up to make it more pliable. any other wasy to get this sucker on?!

TIA!

-Penguin

I've always wondered how people did those with the engine in the car. I've only ever had to deal with that hose while the engine is out, and I could remove the water necks for access.

If I had to do that hose, I'd take the water necks off the engine At least make them loose. It would make things much easier.

Three long bolts holding the thermostat housing to the block need to be removed. Then one bolt randomly below the intake runners but close to the #4 cylinder. Then you should have some free play. You might also have to remove the other thick hose there too.

This is all talking about a low port setup. I don't know what the highports are like, but they should be similar.

If you want clear pics of how it looks back there, let us know and we can post some.

thanks for the response ben. but i somehow got it done today without having to unbolt the water pipes! pretty amazing actually.

so here goes the procedure to Remove Heater Hose under the intake manifold (i forgot to take pictures)

1. drain radiator fluid, remove intake hose, starter, and idle regulator from the motor.
2. now you have more space to remove the old hose. if it's a really old hose and it's leaking anyway, undo the clamps, and then cut the hose in half longways so you can slide it out.
3. cut the new hose to length and then put it in the oven for a minute or so at 350* just so it can be more pliable to flex in the gap. be careful! it'll be hot! once that's done make sure it's pliable enough to flex into a "V" and go outside
4. use liquid soap as the greaser to get the hose into the pipe. put it on both pipes and inside the new hose. add a small amount of water to make it slippery.
5. flex the new hose into a V to fit in between the 2" gap between water pipes. make sure each end of the hose is halfway fitted onto each side of the metal pipe. so now the hose should be fixed in between the pipes like a letter V.
6. time to apply a lot pressure to the middle of the hose to flex it upwards to be straight! i was able to use the palm of my hand and push upwards until the hose popped right into both pipe ends! MIRACULOUS!!
7. clamp down new hose with new clamps.
8. reinstall starter, idle regulator, and intake pipe
9. refill radiator as per manual, bleed cooling system, have car running and check for leaks

nice. i did mine on a highport from above. removed the intake mani, used something to lube it up but i forget what, and put it back on, pain in the arse. i did both even though only 1 was leaking, didnt want to have to do it again. i used oem nissan since i figured it lasted 16 years before needing to be replaced, i shouldnt have to do it for at least another 10.