check your lower radiator hose

[Vehi-Cross-Az]

Mostly a tip for owners
I was actually replacing my Positive Battery cable on my
99 VX the other day.
While disconnecting it from the starter from under the car I took
a good look at my lower radiator hose.
Off to the side there is a factory metal hoop thats suppose to keep
from moving too far back.
If your metal hoop is missing or compromised, it could let the hose
creep back just enough to rub against the lower alternator pulley.
This is what happened to mine apparently. Sometime over the years
mine must of worked itself loose etc and my lower hose had almost
completely rubbed thru on the alternator pulley.
So maybe check yours soon, take your hand and try pushing it back
a little to see how far it will go and make sure its not rubbing on yours.
I may alot of road trips and glad I found this now
The pic is of mine after I installed a new hose, showing the distance now
and with the clamp on it, it really has no room to move toward the motor.

[ojmagg]

Good call...I had the exact issue...because my local shop broke the plastic bracket...last time I go there...

[djmdma02]

Good call...I had the exact issue...because my local shop broke the plastic bracket...last time I go there...

One of the things that I always do when I am out looking at a car is to always check the plastic fasteners around the car, depending on how many are broken, is how many times it has been worked on. On a friends Subaru Outback all of his on his front bumper were broken, and upon further inspection, the horrors of adhesive "goo" became apparent...

[etlsport]

good tip! that clip gets very brittle, mine broke while replacing that hose. i replaced it with a large band style hose clamp.

[RickOKC]

i replaced it with a large band style hose clamp.

"This one time... at band clamp...."

Thanks for the tip (mine was ok!)