Heater Hose Replacement
What is a heater hose?
Heater hoses carry engine coolant from the engine to the heater core. There is one inlet hose, and one outlet hose. On older vehicles, the inlet hose may be split into two segments, separated by a heater control valve.
How does the heater hose work?
All engine cooling system hoses work the same way. They are pressed onto a connector at both ends, and either clamped, or sealed with an O-ring type seal. This provides a watertight seal between the two components being connected.
What are the symptoms related to a bad heater hose?
A failing heater hose may cause the vehicle to smell of engine coolant under the hood. If coolant runs onto the heater core inlet or outlet, the cabin could begin to smell of coolant and mildew. Also, the engine may being to run increasingly warmer until the vehicle is repaired. Coolant may leak onto the engine, firewall, and ground, as a defective hose may swell and burst. The worst-case scenario is engine overheating, and possible cylinder head gasket failure.
Can I drive with a heater hose problem?
If the heater control valve is leaking, it is not advised to drive the vehicle as overheating can result from any coolant leak. In this situation, towing the vehicle to a repair facility is the best course of action. When the heater control valve is simply unresponsive, it will not affect drivability in any way, but passenger comfort may be negatively affected.