02 Q45 - Heater Core Hose (w/ Air Relief Plug)

[HollywoodJackson]

Where does the heater core hose, with the air relief plug in it, connect to, on the driver's side? There is no diagram in the FSM that shows where this hose connects too.

I just replaced the air relief plug. Everything seems to be okay. But where ever that hose leads to down by the steering linkage, it 'seems' to be loos. Like, I can lift that hose up a good inch or two.

All the best,
~HollywoodJackson~

[EdBwoy]

Are you asking about the engine end or firewall end? It is slack piece of tube though, and it goes on the left/driver side of the water control valve into a tube that ends up near the thermostat.


Wrong car but I hope these pics help somewhat.
Replacing the 03 M45 engine and I was just taking pictures as I went.






The layout didn't change much in the VK45DE sedans. Even the 06 M45 was set up the same way, and here's a pic.



This skinny tube




If you check in the CO/ cooling section of the FSM, these pictures should make more sense.

[HollywoodJackson]

Wrong car but I hope these pics help somewhat.
Replacing the 03 M45 engine and I was just taking pictures as I went.

Perfect. These pics helped a lot! I was worried it may be loose still. Went racing up Azusa Canyon Friday night with about 30 other drivers. 90% up to the top, the air relief plug failed completely. The hose was completely apart. Lost all the coolant. Steam everywhere. Very embarassing!

One of my boys put a 14 or 15mm socket where the air relief plug was, and we filled it back with water and coolant. It was a really cool on the spot repair. It got me thru the rest of the night. Replaced the air relief plug Saturday morning, and was worried about all the slack I noticed.

Thanks for the pis EdBwoy. You go in on these engines!

All the best,
~HollywoodJackson~

[EdBwoy]

You bet, holla at ya boy!

Btw, that is a very unique form of failure. The radiator cap should pop before anything else in the system comes apart. But all is well that ends well

[HollywoodJackson]

Btw, that is a very unique form of failure. The radiator cap should pop before anything else in the system comes apart. But all is well that ends well

Oh yeah, my bad. My language used may be a bit misleading. That air relief plug was dry rotted and extremely brittle. It had been leaking for 2 months and I didn't know where the leak was coming from. Which is why I had coolant ready to go in the trunk.

It didn't literally blow up. The plastic piece just finally gave way completely, due to being brittle and crumbling.

All the best,
~HollywoodJackson~

[EdBwoy]

Haha, gotcha. It's all good. I bet in that moment it must have felt like someone threw a grenade into your engine bay.

And on that note, I'm gonna go and check my plug. Probably throw a spare in the trunk just in case.