'96 Windstar 3.8L 124K miles

How do you work out the quick disconnect hose that is next to the thermostat? It has 2 white tabs that appears to be the locking mechanism. I can't seem to figure out the technique how to take it off. I'm getting a coolant leak on the connector. After remoal of the hose, is there an o-ring or seal that could be replaced or do I need to replace the hose? The hose "T's" to the firewall and drop down to I don't yet where.

wiswind posted a picture of the hardware involved:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2306736350011220610LKbEKH

I hope this helps...

His webshots album has a number of useful pictures.

Phil-l, thank you so much for showing me the link. This helps a lot.

Wiswind, thank you as well for the picture.

You can buy a repair kit for this......that contains the clip...and "O" rings.
Mine fell apart......which is not unusual for as old as mine was...and the miles....all the heat / cool cycles over the years.
I think mine was a 3/4" size....and I had bought a 5/8" repair kit.....
So I ended up just cutting the "quick connect" end off and pushing the hose onto the metal end on the lower intake manifold....and using a hose clamp.
I feel more comfortable with that then the fancy connector.
You can get the quick connect (heater hose) removal tool from AutoZone through their "loaner" program.
I bought one from them...and kept it.....as I needed to cut it in half as it was too long to get in there at the correct angle.
But.....even then the clip part still broke as it was so brittle.

DO NOT forget the "O" rings, as it will leak for sure, in a big way if you don't get them in correctly.

I found a nice description online in a Aerostar manual.....seems that they used a few of them on that vehicle.

To remove the hose, squeezed together the white end clips with two fingers to release the locking tabs and pull the hose with the other hand. To remove the white clip, pull same both white end clips outward and slide it off the metal tube. The replacement kit (plastic clip, 2 o-rings, and spacer - $11.00) did not work. I was still getting a leak. I appears the o-ring I received was not thick enough to get a good seal. I too end up cutting the fancy plastic quick connect and used a hose clamp to fasten the hose to the tube. It had enough slack that the hose reached the tube although it is now shorter. Leak is gone.

Thank you for everyone's input.