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This is the piece I want to identify. In line with a heater hose, and has a vaccum line on it... The lines coming out of the heater core. Overall pic of the problem area
Can anyone help me identify this part, in case I need to replace it? I think I simply have a leak at the hose/clamp, but would like to know beforehand. Also, if I somehow plug the coolant lines, I'm hoping to NOT drain the coolant and have to refill/burp, but I'm guessing I will have to anyway.
Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks!
that is your heater control valve. Vacuum signal is sent from your inside the car control panel and that moves the valve back and forth controlling how much hot water is going into your heater. Looking at the green slime, it does look like a loose clamp. Be careful some of those valves are plastic and if you go just one more turn....Also, the two hoses are different sizes. One is 5/8 and the other is 3/4.
I have a 4 post lift in my garage, so I can get to it easily. I'll try clamping it off and hopefully, a C3 doesn't have any unusual traits with draining/burping the coolant.
@Canvas Man Can you, or someone else, help me identify a new set of hoses? I see the 2 coming from, what I believe is to be the heater core, one of them goes into this heater control valve, and ? Do I simply buy a set of heater hoses and cut if off on that side to insert the heater control valve? If you say they are different sizes, do you mean b/t the 2 hoses or is the hose a different size on either side of the control valve?
Sorry, I cannot seem to find a set of hoses or a diagram that shows this valve in the mix....
I would jut go to a vendor like Zip or any of the ones that advertise here and get a set of heater hoses. One will be 5/8 and one will be 3/4. They will have the correct 90 degree bend in the end that goes under the heater. Don’t overthink it, it’s easy. The time will come for the not so easy stuff later on with another project
Ah, I was about to attempt this today, but as I was cleaning the antifreeze up, I realized the heater control valve is NOT the problem. As the lines leave the control valve they go up and towards the front of the engine where there is a place where the 3/4 line was cut and a connector put into the line - this is where the leak is. I had wiped the hoses, etc off and when I saw a drop of antifreeze on the line I traced it up. I was thinking there was NO way I was going to get up in there to change this out, but dropped my lift, popped the hood, and voila'! The dang leaky connector is right there, easy to get to. The hose clamps are even rusting from the leaky antifreeze on them, I plan to swap this out as soon as a new connector gets here. Ultimately, I will replace the heater hoses altogether, no idea why the line was cut, and a connector put in. But, at any rate, I found the real culprit!