WTF! Coolant Leak...

[KiLLeR2001]

So I'm pulling into my driveway, and suddenly I hear a faint hissing sound, and then I smell the dreaded steaming coolant... So I pull my car in the garage and try to pinpoint the leak, it was steaming all around the intake manifold, so I'm praying to god its not something serious...

My immediate thought was one of the heater hoses split and its leaking somewhere, so I check those and they are fine. Now I get a little worried (coolant shooting out of the intake mani = me owned)... So I'm looking under my car and I spot the culprit hose. It's one of those short ones under the intake manifold that connects somewhere, its hard to tell with the intake manifold in the way...

http://tehl33tsite.com/240sxdd/help/Img_1387.jpg

It's one of those hoses that its leaking from, no way possible to get to from under or over the car.

I was wondering if anyone had to replace these hoses and whats the best and easiest way to get to them or any other information you can give me to help me out.

btw, this is a Redtop SR.

[LA_phantom_240]

Looks like a heater hose.

[KiLLeR2001]

Looks like a heater hose.

Yeah its under the intake manifold, I was hoping it would be one of the ones that are easily accessible like the ones you have to do when you swap from KA --> SR, but its one of those short ones...

So do I need to remove the intake manifold? Need new intake manifold gasket?

[Vernal]

that is the heater hose and that shit is annoying as hell to get back on. You dont have to take the intake mani off. U just gotta push the hose back on. Good luck and have patience it took me an hour to get that one back on.

[LA_phantom_240]

Patience is the best way.

[Xandy Boosts]

You sure it's leaking from only there?

I had a leak on one of my coolant hoses than run along the lower intake mani. I replaced one, two weeks later, another one blows. Just do what I did, take off mani and replace ALL the hoses withi new ones. Better peace of mind.

I never tried replacing the heater hoses with the manifold still on but I bet it surely is a bitch. And becareful with the plastic heater nipples that stick out of the firewall, don't tighten clamps too hard or they'll crack.

[JeremyR]

i had a problem with that hose too, i replaced it with a 5/8 90* heater hose cut to fit, couple hose clamps..bam..problem solved..

althought it is a VERY tight spot and a bitch to get to..

[fliprayzin240sx]

Take the intake manifold off, you can reuse the paper gasket as long as its not falling apart when you take it off, and replace all the hoses under there. If one pops now, more will pop later.

PS: Dont run high pressure Radiator Caps if you dont wanna blow more hoses...

[KiLLeR2001]

I'm going to attempt to try it without removing the intake manifold. If it becomes a major bitch I'm ripping the manifold off.

[LA_phantom_240]

Just take your time, man. You rush stuff and it gets sticky fast.

[slider2828]

You need to rebuild the whole motor, cause it sucks... hahah just kidding... good luck.

[HalveBlue]

Easiest is such a subjective term.

If I were in your shoes I'd probably just take the intake mani off. That way you have more room to work with and you can see if anything else is fucked up. Then again, taking the manifold off can be a pain in the ass in its own right.

Good luck!

[Raycampos]

Its not a hard task
Replace all hoses with silicone grade hose
You'll need bout 6" of 3/4" 3' of 5/8" and bout 2-3 ' of 1/4 plus 2 1/4" 90 bends
Use worm drive hose clamps and your set you'll never have to worry bout itEasiest is such a subjective term.

If I were in your shoes I'd probably just take the intake mani off. That way you have more room to work with and you can see if anything else is fucked up. Then again, taking the manifold off can be a pain in the ass in its own right.

Good luck!

[srstan]

good job bringing this back from the dead...look at the date. Im pretty sure its fixed by now.