How would i go about replacing this tube that is leaking coolent??? can i unscrew the clamps on each end or will it spill out coolant eveywhere or is it empty?? please help i need to fix it here are some pictures of it














Can i just take that old one off and see if it is cracked or will coolant go everwhere??

there are coolent drain plugs you sould remove to drain the coolent

Yes you will lose coolant. Drain out as much as you can so you can refill it after you make the repair. Take the back cap off when you drain the radiator. Remember to burp it after you are finished.

ok i need step by step instruction of what to do cuz i have never done this before So as much tips and info of what to do would be great and how you purp it?

There is a drain plug at the bottom of the hard pipe (under the car). Use that to get the fluid out. Then fix your leak, or replace the pipe. put the drain plug back in. Fill the radiator with coolant. Get the premixed, mix it 50/50 with water and antifreeze. The best way to burp the car is to raise the rear or park on a slope with the nose down. Take off the rear coolant cap, and fire it up. Keep adding coolant until all the air is "burped" out. replace the cap and you are done. If it runs hot, do it again. You have to get all the air out of the system or it will overheat. NEVER open a cap when it is hot!!!!

Edit to add: Carver beat me to it - must have been typing at the same time!

Get yourself a drain pan - a clean one. Place it directly under the coolant tube under the car. Remove the 1/2" diameter drain plug located near the rear of the tube just ahead of the bend where it connects to the hose. Once the plug is removed, remove the fill cap on the engine. Let it drain. Be sure to use a large enough drain pan so it does not over flow or use 2 or 3 or whatever it takes. Once the system is drained, remove the 2 clamps, pull the hose, inspect and replace.

Or: you can go old school and just pull the hose with the bucket underneath. Of course this method will most likely give you a little coolant shower but it's quick. Also remember that the drain plugs have probably been in there for 20 plus years so use care when removing it. I believe that it takes an allen wrench. Be sure that the allen wrench you are using fits tight into the plug. You do not want to round it out.

Once you have the hose replaced and the drain plug back in, transfer the old coolant (if it's still good) to a jug or bucket that you can use to pour it back into the fill tube on the motor. Before you start to fill, jack up the back of the car so that the fill tube is higher than the radiator cap up front. Open your radiator cap up front and fill slowly checking the level in the radiator up front. When the coolant starts to come out of the radiator fill neck, close the radiator cap and then go back and finish filling the system. Once the system is full, replace the fill cap and start the car. let it run for a few minutes. If you let it get warmed up, the system will be under pressure. Go to the radiator and slowly turn the cap till it relaeases the pressure into the overflow tank. With the pressure off, tighten the radiator cap, go to the back and open the fill cap on the motor. add coolant. Do this several time until you can not add any more coolant. Put your tstat back in and close the cap. Run the car and take note of the temp. If it looks to be running hotter than normal, repeat the "burping" process.

Someone may have an easier way to burp the system but this is how I do it and usually after the second tme around it is done and I never touch it. Good Luck!

Happy New Year!

Pat

[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 12-30-2008).]

My recommendation is to not try the coolant drain plug in the pipe. They are usually corroded enough you just mess them up and might start leaking. Then you have other problems. I've also had that hose clamp where it is leaking just be loose.

Get the nose low if you can and open the radiator drain. Then remove the cap on the engine. that will drain most of it out.
You could then just pull the hose and lose some coolant or
you could pull the top end of the hose and put a small hose done inside and siphon more out so you don't loose any at all.

My 2 cents...

[This message has been edited by Dodgerunner (edited 12-30-2008).]

If you need to hold it off a bit take off the clamp slide that tube on a little further then use a new clamp to clamp it straight. looks like the back side of the clamp is on the upper rib.

Just noticed that too. The second pic looks like the hose isn't all the way on.

Man you guys are good! I looked at that pic a bunch of times and I never noticed that. The only thing better than 1 Fiero mechanic is 2 Fiero Mechanics or 3 or 4 or...... lol.

It's mostly a been there done that thing. I know I've tightened one on and didn't pay attention that the clamp got on the rib. Then there's about 10% of the clamp not holding the rubber down tightly. Also the hoses need to go all the way to the second rib to seal their best. This gives you one rib that presses into the rubber at rib 1 then rib 2 gives you a stopping point and another leak stopper by flexing the rubber out a tad making that side of the clamp that much tighter. But mainly it's the get it off of the rib part for me.clamps need to be on straight otherwise their not exerting even pressure.

Dang I sound like the same guy that told me that when I asked the same question as above. Except mine was on a new hose new clamp new radiator. Massive leak.

Oh and that clamp is too long. Not made for that diameter. Thus causing the installer to allow it to twist as he tightened it up. when a clamp touches all the way around slide the clamp a bit to "seat" it. then start to tighten it.

[This message has been edited by DIY_Stu (edited 12-31-2008).]