Serpentine belt cutting lower Radiator hose

[spitse]

Any tips or ideas on how to keep the lower radiator hose out of the serp belt? I am on my second one and it is now cut after 3 days. I tried moving it around when putting it on, but still it works it way to the belt, BUt only when the engine is running.

I have a 4.0 SOHC 4x4 out of a 2000 Explorer sport that I transplanted into a 2000 Ranger. Everything connected to the engine like AC, Power Steering and Alt is from the Explorer, even the radiator.

 

[bisjoe]

The belt cannot be moved, so you have to deal with the hose. I haven't seen that problem since I had a 1964 Buick that had the hose melted by the oil filter.

If it's the correct hose, you might try cutting 1/2"-3/4" off one end to shorten it to pull it away, as long as you leave enough flat area for the clamp. What I did back then was to wrap a hunk of bike inner tube around the hose, then a thin strip of flexible aluminum (yes, from a beer can) and a wire. The other end of the wire I attached to the nearest screw that would pull the hose away without going across anything important like the fan.

 

[spitse]

Problem is if I shorten it, it will pull closer to the belt. The hose goes out the water pump, crosses the serp belt on the engine side of the belt then goes under the belt and connects to the Radiator.

I tried to cheat out the hose to make it longer and "Force" it to bend more, but that clearly did not work.

Are there generic hoses that can be bent for a custom fit? I think it is coming out of the water pump pointing more to the front of the truck than back.

On another thought I may have the hose on the wrong side. Should it cross through the loop the belt creates?

 

[bisjoe]

Posting a picture might help. You can take the hose to a good auto parts and ask for the same diameter but longer in the flexible ribbed type. I've never seen a hose factory mounted through the loop of a belt.

 

[2000StreetRod]

which vehicle hose?

Is the installed hose for an Explorer or a Ranger?

Are you using the Ranger radiator? If so, the distance from the radiator to the front of the engine may be different on the two vehicles. Or the radiator inlet may be a different angle, length or location. If the water pump on both SOHCs are the same then I suspect the proper hose would be the one for the Ranger.

When I went to purchase a replacement lower hose for my Sport I was given the upper one. Fortunately, I had the old one with me to compare with.

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

what brand hose is it? some of the cheapies arent exactly know for their propper fit and routing...

 

[95ExpLim]

Hose through serpentine belt---

I've never seen a hose factory mounted through the loop of a belt.

The only time I've seen it is on a Ford Powerstroke with the single alternator. I replaced it with the hose for the dual alternator setup. Don't think it was one of Ford's better ideas.

 

[spitse]

Well I was using the hoses from the explorer as well as the radiator from the explorer. The first hose was a Motorcraft and the second was from AutoZone.

I went to 4 parts stores today and nobody had the hose. So at O'rylies (sp?) I got a Flex Hose. Basically it is a hose that can bend any way without colapsing. The hose is the same length so I twisted it till I got the largest clearence, about 1/2 inch about 1/4 more that the other hose. So I hope this works.

Now I have a squeak. I dressed the belt with some stuff the auto parts store said would work. I hope it is just from being wet and not the tensioner pully or the guide pully going out.

 

[firepop5]

How are your motor mounts? If they are badly worn, your engine might be too low or otherwise out of correct position and cause your problem.