Replacing Upper Radiator Hose

[jodu]

This will be my first time attempting to do this. I have a 1998 Venture. I've checked around on a few websites, the person at the auto parts store briefly explained, but I thought that I would check in with any of you and see if you've done this before.

What are some precautions that I might take? Is it really as easy as unhooking the clamps, sliding the hose out, and then putting the new one on?

Thanks!

[Glen_T]

Shouldn't be too tough. However, the radiator is plastic, so you might be safe and careful slit the radiator hose to get it off. If you have to twist/yank it off because it is stuck, you potentially could damage it.

If you're not replacing the coolant, I'd suggest just draining about a 1/2 gallon out of the radiator (drain is on the drivers side, accessible from below) and then remove the hose clamps. Make sure the new hose is the same size/shape, and then see if the hose will come off easily on the engine side. If it does, you can then test the radiator end to see if it will come off easily. If it feels pretty stuck, you may want to carefully slit it and peel it off like I mentioned above.

You're going to lose a little coolant, but not too much.

You'll need to bleed the cooling system when you're done. Not hard, but necessary. You can search the archives, or look for another posting I had on doing it....

Hope this helps....Glen

[mhall02]

Let us know how this works out for you. I looked at doing my '99 Montana last year when I did my water pump , but I couldn't figure out what tool to use to get ahold of the hose clamp where the upper radiator hose hooks into the radiator. Do you have to move something or un-hook something to get to it, it looks buried behind some wiring and other suff, no easy access. The other three look fairly straight forward.