Vette Newbie Needs Help...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Vette Newbie Needs Help...
First off I want to finally say hello to you folks. I bought a 96 CE a little over a month ago and it fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine. 
I have been lurking quite a bit and now I have my first issue with the car. Thursday on my way home from work my serpentine belt decided to shred itself. 
I made it home and yesterday bought a new belt. Now I am about to install this belt and I notice that the rubber hose that connects to the top of the air intake was yanked loose at the bottom by the shredding belt. Since I am new to this car (have worked on my 85 IROC alot) I am not sure what this hose was connected to and of course it is nearly impossible to see or feel anything in that area. I am guessing it is the air intake for the vented opti??? Will I be able to reattach this without removing the water pump, etc? If I cannot reattach it will I cause further damage driving with it disconnected? Thanks for your help and yes I will be sure to post some pics as soon as I can!
I have been lurking quite a bit and now I have my first issue with the car. Thursday on my way home from work my serpentine belt decided to shred itself. I made it home and yesterday bought a new belt. Now I am about to install this belt and I notice that the rubber hose that connects to the top of the air intake was yanked loose at the bottom by the shredding belt. Since I am new to this car (have worked on my 85 IROC alot) I am not sure what this hose was connected to and of course it is nearly impossible to see or feel anything in that area. I am guessing it is the air intake for the vented opti??? Will I be able to reattach this without removing the water pump, etc? If I cannot reattach it will I cause further damage driving with it disconnected? Thanks for your help and yes I will be sure to post some pics as soon as I can!
Last edited by GaryAZ; Jul 14, 2007 at 12:34 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Yes, the hose that attaches to the intake bellows is fresh air for the Opti. You need to get this re-attached. You shouldn't need to remove your WP, but it does "snake" behind the WP....
FWI:
The fresh air hose from intake bellows goes to lower port on Opti (see pic)
The Vacuum air hose from intake manifold goes to top port on Opti
Click to enlarge
FWI:
The fresh air hose from intake bellows goes to lower port on Opti (see pic)
The Vacuum air hose from intake manifold goes to top port on Opti
Click to enlarge
Last edited by MikeC4; Jul 14, 2007 at 03:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Thanks Mike, I'll take another look at it and see if I can't get the hose reattached. I'm sure it's not good to have unfiltered air entering the opti. Time to buy a Helm's manual for future fun, I hate to have anyone else work on my cars!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Also, check to make sure all your accesory pullys( alt, AC, tensioner pully, etc) are OK. Why did your serp. belt shred? Make sure you don't have any bad bearings in the above mentioned pullys......
Last edited by MikeC4; Jul 14, 2007 at 09:19 PM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver WA
If it is the opti vent hose it should be easy enough to get it back on.. you really should not have a problem without it being on and runnin the car, hose on the opti side is not doing the sucking.. its just pulling air out of the opti into the intake and through the motor, its just attempting to keep moisture out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 8
From: Indian Rocks Beach FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Gary, welcome and congrats on the CE, they're great cars. When you go to put the new belt on be careful how far you raise the belt tensioner. It is very easy to go too far and break the connector to the temp sensor on the water pump as well as the sensor itself. Also, as mentioned above, a shredded belt usually means something else is wrong. Be sure to check the bearings in the tensioner and the idler. Alson check for free movement of the belt driven accessories. Have fun and enjoy your ride.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Thanks for the tips. I did get the belt replaced rather easily this morning (before it got to 110 degrees outside 
) Through my months of reading posts here I learned about the opti's water sensitivity and to watch for the temp sensor so I was careful. The belt broke because it was simply old (visible cracking when folded), with a used car you just never know how long it's been since replacement, good reason to change that plus hoses with any used car purchase. All the pulleys and accessories turned smooth and quiet. So, tomorrow early AM I'll take another shot at reattaching the vent hose, there's plenty of dust here and I don't want to take any chances.
Thanks again for all the help!
) Through my months of reading posts here I learned about the opti's water sensitivity and to watch for the temp sensor so I was careful. The belt broke because it was simply old (visible cracking when folded), with a used car you just never know how long it's been since replacement, good reason to change that plus hoses with any used car purchase. All the pulleys and accessories turned smooth and quiet. So, tomorrow early AM I'll take another shot at reattaching the vent hose, there's plenty of dust here and I don't want to take any chances. Thanks again for all the help!
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Hey George, I got my Vette from Superstition Springs Power Chevy. It had just been traded in with 56K and I was there within about two hours of it being posted on AutoTrader.com. I had been looking at the C "n" V website, but their cars all seemed to have higher mileage than that (most around 80-90K) for the same price range. Good luck in your search and maybe I'll see you around town in a C4!!!