Cracked Hose - Transmission? Radiator?

[diego]

Hello folks,

I have a small drip coming from a cracked hose on my 04 4Runner V8. The hose is on the driver's side front and seemingly is connected to the radiator or transmission cooler (?? or so I thought from my initial hasty inspection).

However, just doing a little bit more thorough ... yet still obviously layman inspection, and tracing the line as much as I could .... it doesn't seem to have a connection point to either the transmission cooler radiator or the regular radiator. There are seemingly identical connection points on both sides of the vehicle and they both seem to run along the top of the frame on both sides towards the back of the vehicle ... and connect to a metal tube that runs along the front side of the radiator behind the bumper. It is like a loop sort of?

Can you folks help me out in identifying this "subsystem" and what hose to purchase form partznet? Pics attached ...

Where the drip comes from:

A little bit closer view ... from the bottom:

And yet another closer view ... from the bottom:

View from the top:

View from the top ... a little closer:

Much appreciate any guidance ... hate to have a stealership charge me 300 bucks for what might be a 20.00 part and 15 minutes of my time.

D

 

[762x51]

Just took a look at mine and it looks like that is your power steering line. Is your PS fluid low? Should be a sub $20 part, and while your there might be a good time to top off, or change the PS fluid.

 

[diego]

Just took a look at mine and it looks like that is your power steering line. Is your PS fluid low? Should be a sub $20 part, and while your there might be a good time to top off, or change the PS fluid.

Well ... I'll be darned! That is certainly what it is. Isn't it amazing how easy it is to identify it after someone tells you what it is ... LOL :banana:

REALLY appreciate that!

The next question ... anybody able to point me to the correct hose on partznet.com? I see a "return hose" under the power steering section. However, there is no blowout diagram here to help identify it like other subsystems on partznet.com. I can't believe it is 120 bucks either ... it is 8 inches of rubber hose! Also, I'm thinking it isn't even the right part ... there is another longer stretch of tubing that is connected to the return on the pump that I bet is what is listed on partznet. Any recommendations? Go to autozone and ask?

 

[762x51]

From the pictures it looks like it is just the rubber hose that is damaged. I would go to Autozone, or the like and ask for rubber PS hose. Make sure that the hose you do get is decently high pressure because if I remember right some PS system can get to 2,500+ PSI, though I am not sure what the 4runner system is rated at. Then just get some new hose clamps ( I hate the stock spring ones ) and you should be good to go.

 

[diego]

From the pictures it looks like it is just the rubber hose that is damaged. I would go to Autozone, or the like and ask for rubber PS hose. Make sure that the hose you do get is decently high pressure because if I remember right some PS system can get to 2,500+ PSI, though I am not sure what the 4runner system is rated at. Then just get some new hose clamps ( I hate the stock spring ones ) and you should be good to go.

Seems like a plan ... I'm gonna head up there this afternoon. Thanks for help ... I'll post back.

 

[diego]

So ... I ended up just getting a couple feet of "bulk" 3/8" Oil/ATF rated tubing from autozone and cutting it to length. I reused the original clamps, but they seem to not be as tight as they should/were originally. I think I'm going to go this weekend and get a couple standard band hose clamps and replace them to ensure the hose doesn't work itself off.

I replaced the short hose at the other end of the return line while I was at it.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ClockWork]

Glad to hear you caught the issue early and it was easily remedied.

 

[762x51]

No problem, glad it worked out for you.