I blew a radiator hose a few days back. I was quite happy at the time, since it happened a couple days before the start of a long trip, and it solved my mysterious coolant leak, which I had thought was the water pump (new). But the seemingly simple swap-out turn into a nightmare.........so here's a tip to put away in the back of your brain. The hose that busted was the one that leaves the bottom right (as you face the engine) of the expansion tank and goes into the top of the water pump. As early model owners will see, it doesn't directly leave the tank, but rather goes through a plastic thinga-ma-bob, which is call a valve, part # 025 121 438. Well, that replacement hose that I got (made in Germany) doesn't even come close to an easy fit over the plastic valve. I broke mine trying!!! The valve is a dealer only part, predominantly, hence my nightmare. Take it from me, remove the whole valve assembly. That involves a mess, since the tank and such are drained in the process. ( I tried to slap my new hose on without losing much coolant.) Get a film canister to stretch out your new hose, and then wipe a thin film of greas on the valve and the inside of the hose. even then, it's a TIGHT fit! Who knows, maybe I got a bad one. Brian Cochran 84 westy seattle.......er......Bridgeport, CA ($2.48 gal for gas) PS pmail me, since I'm not receiving any list stuff for a spell)
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