Repair Radiator Hose: How to Repair a Radiator Hose Collapse

If you find that your car has a problem with the radiator, then you may have to repair a radiator hose which has collapsed, or even completely remove part of the hose. When you are confronted by a radiator hose collapse, then you may find that the upper part is completely flat, as though it has been sucked into the rest of the hose. In order to repair a radiator hose collapse, you will need to work out what has caused this problem, and then begin by fixing that problem. If you cannot manage to do this, then your best option is to replace the hose completely.

Step 1 - Work Out What Went Wrong

Begin by working out the cause of the problem. Your first indication that things may not be working correctly could be a leak from the radiator, or some kind of overflow from your reservoir. You should make a note of anything that has happened in the 24 hours before the radiator hose collapsed, as this will give you a good idea of what part of the car needs to be fixed. When you notice that your car radiator hose has collapsed, you should also look at the surrounding parts of the engine, particularly the radiator itself.

Step 2 - Add Some Water

The first thing that you should do is add some water to the car. Fill the radiator with coolant, and then warm engine up so that you can see if the hose becomes normal again. You should keep the car stationary while you do this, and keep checking the radiator hose to make sure that it has not come away from the connections.

Step 3 - Work Out the Problem

When you are looking at the radiator while the engine is working, you should get a good idea of what the matter is with the radiator hose. The main cause of a radiator hose collapse is that the hose is not strong enough to be connected to the radiator, but you may also find that the coolant system has developed a partial vacuum, causing the hose to collapse. Coolant decreases as the car cools after use, sucking the hose into the radiator system.

Step 4 - Replace the Hose

You may have to call out a mechanic to fix your problem, but you can replace the hose with a stronger one before you do so. Unscrew the bolts holding the radiator hose in place using a wrench, or turn carefully with a screwdriver if they are too tight, and then remove your soft hose.

Take a stronger one, with a lot more stiffness in the body, and replace it into the engine. Screw the bolts back into position, refill the coolant, and then run the car, taking note of the cooling process, and ensuring that the hose is not sucked in.