ktmlew Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Working on a 2009 G Van with 4.8. How the hell are you supposed to access the lower radiator hose? No drain valve and a quick-connect on lower hose. Do you just pry the clip out and let her flood? Have no access to any technical info at this point. Working for a fleet shop. Happened REALLY quick. Only mechanic. Other guy left w/o getting much info from him. Plan to get Identifix on my dollar after things settle a bit. Just remembered you can access Alldata on a purchase one vehicle at a time. Let me see what that costs. Fleet is 90+ Chevy Pickups/Vans/Box vans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmlew Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 OK. $26.95 a year for first vehicle $16.95 each for others. Not so bad. Hose works as i thought. Hook one end of clip and roll out of groove. Not clear if you can remove the hose from the fitting. I've seen some others that are glued to the quick connect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredsvt Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 On those G vans, you know, they NEVER have cooling system problems, why would you need a 20 cent drain plug? Yep, pull the lower hose and let the coolant flow all over the whole front of the van to drain. If replacing the rad, beware, many aftermarket rads have the lower fitting just a tiny bit bigger, so the hose starts, but you can't push it on all the way. The last one I had was a TYC rad, forget it. At least the aftermarket rads put a drain plug in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmlew Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 The fitting does come out of the hose. That will make it less of a bath. Slide clamp, Twist hose until it leaks and let er run. Just changing hoses as maintenance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredsvt Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Interesting, was that lower hose original GM? The ones I've done have been molded. Rarely see issues with them. Even on fleet vans with 300k on them. On SUVs and vans with rear heat, the plastic Y for both become extremely brittle around 150k. One touch the wrong way and they're done. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmlew Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Interesting, was that lower hose original GM? The ones I've done have been molded. Rarely see issues with them. Even on fleet vans with 300k on them. On SUVs and vans with rear heat, the plastic Y for both become extremely brittle around 150k. One touch the wrong way and they're done. . Let me rephrase. New AM hose comes apart. I guess since i'm replacing the hose anyway no reason not to just drill a hole in it and let it drain. sometimes i overthink things. My boss wants to go through all the vehicles and change belts/hoses/diff fluid/trans service/coolant as needed. Last tech was skilled but didn't document his repairs very well. I get to start over and create a baseline. Been since the very early 90's since I had this type of situation. Just fix the trucks. Make my own decisions as long as it isn't replacing engine or trans. have several spare trucks so can put something out-of-service if necessary. Have an 06 C1500 4.3 that is leaking severely from the timing cover & oil pan. Just found some info that shows the frame cross member under the pan comes out. I completely missed it. Tunnel vision and still thinking like a flat rate tech. Hurry, hurry. Sometimes it's better to slow down. The truck has just a tick under 300k miles. I hate trying to fix oil leaks on a high mileage engine. Bandaging a bullet wound. This engine doesn't have a PCV valve. Instead has a fixed orifice where PCV would normally be. Weird. Thanks for the assist. Wasn't expecting such a quick response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredsvt Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 The 4.3 oil leaks from the pan and front cover, and crankshaft sensor are very common. GM seems to still use rubber ribbon gaskets that swell up and allow oil to pass. Got used to doing Express vans with 4.3 oil pan gaskets at about 120k until the fleet we used to see went belly up. Check crank endplay on the V6. I've seen a bunch with destroyed thrust bearings with no other symptoms. The fixed orifice deal has been around w/ GM for about 10-12 years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmlew Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 Changed a radiator today in a van. Wasn't nearly as bad as i expected. Had a hard time getting the lower oil cooler line in but that was about it. Need a new/better tool for the spring clamps. Wanted to change the lower hose but could NOT squeeze the clamp and hold it with one hand, Old age is a bitch. I have one of the original tools with the cable but it is about shot Does anyone make a clamp tool that squeezes the clamp by turning a knob or using a ratchet? My hands/wrists just don't like squeezing and twisting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8WA Sman Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Does anyone make a clamp tool that squeezes the clamp by turning a knob or using a ratchet? My hands/wrists just don't like squeezing and twisting. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h9LvGpWzwkAhttp://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=268http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=269http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=527 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmlew Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 Does anyone make a clamp tool that squeezes the clamp by turning a knob or using a ratchet? My hands/wrists just don't like squeezing and twisting. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h9LvGpWzwkAhttp://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=268http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=269http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=527 Thanks. figured somebody had done it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmantech Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I have the lisle tool and it works. Not the perfect solution but ok in the right spot. It slides off easily so you have to be carful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Ford released that as a special tool to get the heater hoses off The Mark VIII when it debuted. Those were a bit of a bear to get at and it also works well for a 1995 Contour lower radiator hose (engine side) clamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmlew Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 Ford released that as a special tool to get the heater hoses off The Mark VIII when it debuted. Those were a bit of a bear to get at and it also works well for a 1995 Contour lower radiator hose (engine side) clamp. Be a little surprised if there are more than 3 of the Contours still on the road? Most already set themselves on fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Them piles of shit are every where around here in eastern North Carolina, along with Aerostars and Lincoln LS's. It's a frickin nitemare I tell ya. Oh Escorts and Tempos are runnin around here and there also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Saunoras Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I seen an Aerostar once a few years back. I think I may switch careers if I ever had to work on one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddieseldoctor Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 We got all of those around here too. I've worked on aerostars. They ain't that bad. I owned a 95 contour. It needed a pile of work so I dumped it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmlew Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 Curious to see how these work. The cable is pulled in a straight line. Will order some other stuff end of week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmlew Posted October 24, 2015 Author Share Posted October 24, 2015 Bought the set of Lisle line Q-disconnect tools. No workie...chinese junk. Very disappointed. Always had good luck with Lisle products but these are poorly made. The 3/8" wasn't built/assembled correctly. Had to put it in the vice and tweak it to get the jaws lined up. still doesn't work. Back to pulling the clip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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