So I'm changing my upper radiator hose (Rachael'* first DIY car fix), and THIS



Is becoming the bane of my existence

I managed to pry it off, but I can't get it back on- all I can do is desperately try and beat up my hand in the process. I would like to know what I'm missing here. And yes, I should have just bought another one of the friendly screw kinds, but I didn't think it would be this hard.

you need a big pliers to pull the two tabs together

Those things are a pain. It'* hard to tell from the pic if it'* the same, but I know mine has a little tab on that piece that sticks out to the side (where your thumb is in the pic) so that when you squeeze the tabs together it will lock in place. Once I figured out how to get it to lock, it made it so much easier to deal with.

they also make a special tool for those, see if your local autoparts store will loan you one. (kinda spendy to buy for just one use)

Do I absolutely have to use this one, or can I just buy another one of the screw kinds? I mean, is there a reason GM used different clamps on each end? Or at least, mine are different on each end of the hose.

you can buy a screw one, but once you figure that one out, its really quite a bit easier

Okay, thanks for the help everyone!

Bill hasnt chimed in yet about his wonerful clamp tool??

A big pair of pliers will take care of that in no time, once you grab both ends and squeeze em together.

I dealt with one of those a little while back. I would have swapped with the screw-type, but the lower rad hose-to-radiator joint is "recessed" in such a way (at least on the '04 LeSabre) that I wouldn't be able to get a screwdriver in there anyway...had to attack it sideways with pliers.

Like these guys have said, if you plier that thing wide enough, it will "lock" open. Then once put back into place, hit it with the pliers again and it will snap shut.

When locked open, it'* like a hair-trigger rat rap, so be careful!

i dont see any reason that you need to put it into lock mode.. just open it far enough to get it in position and then release... i just did it last night