Help identifying hoses?

getluky · 06-17-2008, 09:57 AM

While working on my brake job, I found a few hoses with obvious problems. I am not sure which ones they are from a quick glance at diagrams, so I could use some help identifying them. Car in question is a 1987 Carrera.

The first one is in the driver's side wheel well. The green part circled is a whole wad of dirt + crap. When I tried to pick at it with my finger, it seemed to have fused with the hose surface, and I ended up prying up both the dirt and part of the hose insulation (I'm guessing that's what it was). I can't tell what material this hose is made of anymore, either.

The second line i'm curious about is in the rear passenger side wheel well at the top. It seems to be a soft line, and it looks like there's a bulge and some fraying near the left side of the photo. It's pretty obvious so I didn't circle it.

Are either of these life-threatening if I drive without repairing them, and how do I clean off all these dirty hoses under the body? Thanks in advance!

KTL · 06-17-2008, 10:19 AM

There's a problem with both of the hoses. They're useless in my opinion...........

Just kidding. I removed the parts that all of those hoses connect to- no A/C, no evaporative charcoal can on my car.

Seriously though, the first picture is showing the air conditioning hoses. These are connected to the condensor whiich is under the front of the car. If you damaged the sheathing on this hose, it would be best to remove it and have it repaired. Or replace it. The A/C hoses in older 911 cars is somewhat notorious for being leaky. So replacement may be needed if the hose is faulty in many places. By the way, i'd remove the clamps on the hoses which hold the hoses to the chassis. You'll be shocked how much dirt & crud they're collecting up there!

The second picture is the charcoal emissions canister for the fuel system. The big hose connects to the backside of the engine air filter box. The braided cloth hose connects to the fuel system venting, I believe. I'm rather sured that bulge in the hose is because there is a union inside the hose that connects two differing sized hoses? Take a closer picture if you can, if someone else replies and says i'm mistaken. But I think there's nothing wrong there.

getluky · 06-17-2008, 10:48 AM

Phew, doesn't sound as bad as I feared. My A/C system has been bone-dry for a while. I haven't removed it yet, well, because I just haven't gotten around to it. Is it a safe thing to DIY if it hasn't been recharged in years?

Here's a close-up of the charcoal filter line:

KTL · 06-17-2008, 11:49 AM

Totally safe to DIY the A/C removal. Wait 'til you see how much crap you pile up after everything's removed. And be sure to check everywhere for clamps and brackets that hold the hoses in place. Some are kind of hidden and make it difficult for you to remove the hose.

I don't think that spot on the braid hose is where the union is. Looks like some road debris cut it? I'd just cut that spot out and put a barbed fitting and some hose clamps in there to act as a coupler to reconnect the hose when you cut it. Should be able to find something of suitable size at the local parts store- misc. vaccum fittings?

getluky · 06-17-2008, 01:49 PM

Thanks, KTL - do you think somewhere like NAPA or Pep Boys would have it? Do I need anything special or just regular vacuum fittings + parts?

KTL · 06-18-2008, 09:51 AM

I think you would find a suitable vaccuum fitting at Pep BoyZ in the aisle where there's all that misc crap. You know, knobs, clips, plugs, snaps, etc. They're usually near the HELP! stuff. My BoyZ has a collection of brass fittings, brake line parts, misc fasteners, vaccuum fittings, etc.

If you can't find something that's a good fit at PepBoyZ? You could use a piece of stiff plastic or metal tubing from the hardware store. All you need is something rigid and hollow to stick in the hose for connection of the two ends where cut out the bad spot. Couple of hose clamps and you're all set.

KTL · 09:55 AM

oops

getluky · 06-30-2008, 10:04 AM

Oops, I may have bought the wrong thing. When I cut the hose today, it looked like there was the outer braid, an outer hose, and an inner hose? The inner hose diameter looked tiny, I think it might be the blue 3.5mm ID hose that our host sells. I only have a 1/4 in. plastic fitting for vacuum hose, and there's no way I can push that thing into there.

I don't think I saw any tiny barbed fittings at PB, or any of the other parts stores I came across. Is there some standard procedure to attach these fittings that I just am missing out on? I guess I could go run to Home Depot and see if I can find some super thin metal pipe to go in there, but is that really safe? Should I just spring for a new hose?

dlagerstrom · 06-30-2008, 10:30 AM

I found some plastic line fittings at the local ACE hardware store. The vacuum hose in quesiton for me was a 3mm line so I got the 1/8" plastic tube with barbs to repair plastic lines and it worked like a champ. They should also have 1/4" the same.

getluky · 06-30-2008, 10:42 AM

Thanks, Dave, i'll look around for a local ACE.

Been reading up a bit on this stuff - are all these fittings + splice tubes usually gas vapor rated?

dlagerstrom · 06-30-2008, 10:44 AM

I believe the splices are usually made of nylon, which stands up to high temps and to fuels pretty well.

KTL · 07-03-2008, 05:41 AM

That charcoal can hose assembly is only seeing fuel vapor, so keep that in mind. Any 'ol splice will do. It's not a super critical component for the car. You could remove it altogether and the engine will operate just fine. You would simply leave the small hose open to the atmosphere.

getluky · 07-03-2008, 08:16 AM

Thanks for all the help and advice, guys. Once I started cutting away around the worn braided wire, I found that there was a section in which there was a burst in the outer rubber, and once I cut it away, the inner rubber fell out! I guess it was just reinforcing that section for some odd reason? Anyway, once I cut it out, I think it was a 3.5mm ID or so, and I sat there for a while and crammed in a 1/4" to 1/4" male to male barbed vacuum fitting with a little bit of grease on the barbs. It took a lot of pushing but I got a tight fit and clamped it down. I am not sure if it could affect the idle at all, but it does seem a little smoother at idle, in that it doesn't seem to dip by 20 rpm every 10 seconds or so.