Tracedaddy

So yesterday I'm driving home from a car show a couple counties away. Just before I get on the interstate I notice my engine is overheating. I limp into an Ace Hardware parking lot and discover that I have a leak somewhere as my engine bay is completely covered in anti-freeze. (I also have a fine white mist spread all over the outside of the car I just finished detailing.) I buy some pre-mixed stuff and as I'm pouring it in I can see that my lower radiator hose is the culprit. It doesn't have a leak, it's completely off. Reaching downI discover that the hose clamp is sloppy loose. I have to remove the hose to get the faulty clampoff (thus dumping the remaining antifreeze onto my hands and the ground below.) It's then that I notice that this clamp has NEVER been holding my hose on. There is a little detent thing thats holding the clamp wide open. (Presumeably to aid assembly.) After buying 2 pairs of pliers I'm able to twist the clamp enough so that the detent releases the clamp and it shrinks down to a workable size that flexes like a hose clamp should.

I have 21K miles on this car and that hose finally let go? Damn good thing I wasn't in the middle of Timbuktu somewhere. Ticked me off big time though. I had to buy 2 pairs of pliers, replacement anti-freeze, a hose clamp and shop towels. Plus I had to work under a car that was only held up with the jack since there is no way to get to the hose adequately from the topside.

Roadside assistance??? Yeah right. They were a waste of time too.

Not a good weekend. Scalded and beat up hands from working on a hot car. And a 6 year old son who learned a few more words than he wanted to hear.

Take a look at your lower radiator hoses. If someone was too lazy to assemble mine correctly, they may have done the same for yours.

There. I feel a little better now.

Stkjock

That blows. your car was probably built on a monday am!

Bluestar

Wow that sucks,but it's hard to imagine it taking 21,000 miles to pop off if it wasn't properly tightened.

Tracedaddy

I agree. But there is no way that clamp could have worked it's way into the "locked" position after the fact.

roothog69

Ford Quality Job 1. It's a good thing you were able to solve this in a timely manner. I know if it would have happened to my car with my girlfriend driving the situation would have resulted in a melt-down. She wouldn't have noticed the temp gauge rising or even the steam coming out from the engine bay, she's completly oblivious...Odd that it took 21K miles to come loose.

ffk_pennywise

Roadside Assistance really does suck. I had a flat once and I didnt have a deep wall socket for my new wheels so I called em up and told em where I was. The Galleria in St. Louis. Biggest freakin mall here; EVERYONE knows the Galleria. Tow truck driver says he doesnt know how to get there. Lazy POS. I just left it in a parking lot and came back the next day. Sorry that they didnt help you out either.

Tracedaddy

Wow. Good point though. I need to throw that socket and wrench in the glove box for my new wheels as well.

2cokeman

Is your car an 06?

Tracedaddy

Yes. Why? Is this a known condition?

2cokeman

I have heard of a few!! I have seen it in a few forums!!