bypass hose sprung a leak

[dabuddha]

1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
3.3L v6
70k miles

Just got this van last week and noticed that the bypass hose (the rubber hose going from the engine down to the water pump) had a pin size hole in it and was streaming coolant out. I can easily remove the hose from up top but I can't get to the other end of the hose easily. The clamps they're using are the ones you squeeze with pliers to open them up. I can touch the clamp but theres no way I can get a pair of pliers down there without moving stuff out of the way (looks like the AC compressor is right in front of it) and I don't feel comfortable doing that at all.

My gripe is that I've gotten so many random estimates on how much the job is gonna cost. First I tried the dealer

Dealer1: $50 and about half an hour (yay?)
Dealer2: $128 and about 1.5 hours
Dealer3: $198 and about 1.5 hours
Dealer4: $400 and overnight (yikes!)

then I called up individual mechanics
Mech1: says I will need to get some sort of metal connector which only comes from the dealer. And he'll have to remove the AC compressor out of the way to make it easy for him so 2 hours minimum
Mech2: says he can probably do it in about an hour but that I had gotten the wrong size hose (went to NAPA and got a 2 foot long piece of 5/8" hose (Can't say for sure since I'm at work)) The mechanic claims that the hose that's needed has different sizes on each end (I think he said 5/8 on one end, 1/2 on the other?)
I'm going to take it to this old mechanic I used to go to years ago tomorrow (would have gone earlier but he's far from where I live now and I'll be in the area tomorrow).

I guess my question is, do any of those estimates/explanations sound right and how much work is it really?

TIA!

 

[PottedMeat]

Pinhole sized?

You can't just use a strip of old hose and a screw on hose clamp to patch it?

 

[radioouman]

It is EASY to remove the AC compressor. Just a couple of bolts. The hoses are flexible and can be moved a bit, but obviously you don't want to flex them too much. You'll have to release the tension on the belt before you can remove the compressor.

By the way, you have a great engine in that van. It will outlast the transmission for sure. But getting to the rear spark plugs sucks.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
Pinhole sized?

You can't just use a strip of old hose and a screw on hose clamp to patch it?

I was going to try that out actually but the thing is, I don't know how well the patch would hold since the hose gets somewhat "soft" when it gets hot. For now, I did put a good layer of duct tape around the hose (what the guy at NAPA told me to do as a temp fix). The other thing I thought bout doing was using something like this:

http://www.pipetubefittings.co...ector-hose-mender.html

or

something like:
http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com/75-476-hose-menders/hose-mender-clinch-brass-654477.aspx

since the hole is about 2 inches from the top of the hose so I can easily cut off the bad portion of the hose.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: radioouman
It is EASY to remove the AC compressor. Just a couple of bolts. The hoses are flexible and can be moved a bit, but obviously you don't want to flex them too much. You'll have to release the tension on the belt before you can remove the compressor.

By the way, you have a great engine in that van. It will outlast the transmission for sure. But getting to the rear spark plugs sucks.

I'll take a look at the compressor tomorrow morning when I'm not pissed off at the car If I can easily access the bolts, I might give that a shot (key word, easily )

 

[boomerang]

I'd have already given the job to dealer #1.

 

[dabuddha]

Just to update the thread, got it repaired by my old mechanic (50 minutes away but near my wife's doctor so it's all good) He did it for $30.00

On a side note, does anyone know where I can get a Haynes manual or a service manual for my van? I found the Dodge Caravan manual but I'm not sure if that'll cover the grand caravan.

 

[radioouman]

It will cover both the short and the Grand vans. They had the same engines.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: radioouman
It will cover both the short and the Grand vans. They had the same engines.

Woot thanks, I'll pick one up.

 

[Scotty in NZ]

"The mechanic claims that the hose that's needed has different sizes on each end (I think he said 5/8 on one end, 1/2 on the other?)"

Is this correct?
Mine is also leaking...
Does this mean I cannot repair my bypass hose using standard 5/8 heater hose?

Thanks in advance..

Scotty

Hello, this thread is over 6 years old and I would imagine the problem has been resolved.

DaTT