Hi guys. Are those clips on the radiator hose reusable without any problem? I'm going to change my hose and I don't want any stupid surprises. Thanks!

Are you talking about the ones with the 8mm head, that are attached to the hose with small staples? Like the one you see on the Water Pump side of my Lower Radiator Hose in my sig pic?

Yeah, you can.. but don't. If you are replacing the hose, get some real hose clamps. If you do happen to reuse them, don't be surprised if the hose you replaced pops off within 10 miles of doing that. If they are the real type of hose clamps, then yes, you can reuse them. As long as the bolt moves the clamping mechanism, it'* good to go.

A little problem I ran into with the new hoses, is they are very tight. Go out on a sunny day, and leave the hose in the sun for a few hours. Then grab some brake/wheel bearing grease [any grease should do, but that'* what I used], and liberally coat the inside of the hose, and the outer nipples of the WP and Radiator. This makes installation much less difficult. Although the hose was pretty hot for me.. I just wore some gloves, and it was fine.

Good luck, if it'* the original, you will have a lot of fun getting it off.

Cool! Thanks man!

Okay, I got a stupid surprise anyway; it wasn't the hose but...


I'm no ASE certified technician but it appears that I have a cracked radiator :( am I correct?

Howdy! It is metal and I have not owned the car since new; I've had it for just over a year now. :( Auto Zone has them new for about $300; is that the only viable option?

I know this may sound kinda shitty and half-assed.. but couldn't you JB-Weld that? It doesn't look that bad... but I mean $3 on JB-Weld sure beats $300 on a new radiator..


-justin

It'* a band aid solution at best. My dad epoxy'ed a leak on the plastic end tank on the old Cressida, it lasted maybe a month before leaking again.