replacing hoses?

[caamaaroo]

is replacing all of the coolant hoses something that an amatuer can do or should i have a mechanic do it?

[spunger]

On the 3.4, or even the 3.8, it should be a walk in the park, a breeze. Geez, I'd be scared to let a mechinic charge me for that. Now though think of these things...

If you change your lower radiator hose, you must drain your radiator. There is a drain valve near the bottom, which you would loosen and drain. Install new hose and refill. Then you must bleed the air out of the system by leaving the radiator cap off and letting the car run until the thermostat opens up. Then top off, install radiator cap and go.

If the top hose, you don't need to drain any fluid, just wait until the car is cold. You might nead to catch some fluid so have a pan ready. Unscrew the hose clamps and remove hose, put new hose on, tighten clams, and away you go. Do then same thing with bleeding the air out, always a good idea.

If you drain your system, when you refill it back up, it would be a decent idea (or i'd do it) to add a bottle of water wetter (a redline product) or something similar. Good stuff, and keeps your engine a little cooler.

Hope that this helps,
Chris

[caamaaroo]

thanks that helps a lot