I am going to replace the orginal heater hoses and I notice there is some type of part in the middle of one of them. This part doesn't go to any thing else, it just connects the hoses in the middle.The part actually broke before I started this project. It looks like some type of orfice. It is the hose going from I believe the waterpump to the heater core at the firewall. First what is it and do I need it?

Sounds like someone at one point T'd into that hose to flush the cooling system. Perfectly normal, you can replace and not worry about keeping the T.


Ed

It doesn't look like a T. It looks like a GM part(it has some logo on it) but there is so much dirt and oil on it I can't read what'* on it.

Could you get a picture for me and anyone else to see?

Please post a picture of it. We have no clue what you're talking about until you do.

Here are some pics. The piece is secured with original spring clips so my guess it is needed.


Here are two of both sides of the part



Here is the one end with a small opening



It looks as if this part restricts some of the flow through the heater hose as one has a smaller opening than the other

It wasn't already sitting open like that when you got in there was it?

It looks like the fitting that goes into the LIM. The factory used plastic fittings. You can get a metal one from most car parts places.

Or the fitting that goes onto the heater core. Can that part be replaced without a new core? I don't know.

There was a sudden coolant leak there. I looked around and slighly moved the hose to see where the leak was and the part just came apart. It is in between two sections of one hose going from another elbow that enters the engine to the firewall(almost like a T but no openings.

Ok, sounds like someone cut the hose for some reason before and put it back together with a plastic fitting. Get the broken ends out of both pieces of hose and get a new fitting, metal would probably last longer.

That might be the case but it looks like orginal spring clamps though. Below is some more pics as I got the part out. It seems to be a flow control device as the hole in the center is quite small. One side is missing a piece as it is in the other side of the hose.I just want to know if it'* ok to just put a straight hose in there.