Put in the new radiator and cap Saturday and today running the thing with pressure for a change (okay, it leaked for only a week before starting to pour), the longer of the two hoses going to the water pump sprung its own leak.

I'm sure I can wiggle the replacement for that one on.

The problem looks like the really short one below it, which I also cut off because it was looking a bit swollen. Hey, I don't know if they were new when I bought it at 105k miles, but it now has 222K, so I'm replacing both!

From the longer coolant pipe to the metal stub going into the water pump, there's maybe 3/4-inch of clearance! How am I supposed to squeeze a 3-inch long hose over THAT?

1. It sure doesn't look like pulling the water pump will help, 'cause that thing's on the front of the engine. Looks like I'd need to pull the power steering pump, which would be nasty too. Am I missing something here?

2. Pulling the coolant pipe that curves from the thermostat/upper radiator hose area looks impossible without pulling the entire intake manifold. Yuk. From what pictures I can find (of not-quite-NX2K configurations), it looks like that pipe is bolted to the head way up there under the intake manifold. Maybe I could get to it after pulling the starter? BUT the other side of the pipe can't be removed easily because some stupid pipe from the exhaust manifold passes right in front of one of the bolts holding that pipe to the housing where the thermostat is. I really don't want to buy a 21mm or so 5-sided box wrench to try to break that thing off (it's above the O2 sensor, right next to the head). Am I missing something here?

I'd really like to get back on the road...looks like I may be buying *other* hoses and cutting the lengths I need 'cause the local shop says Goodyear doesn't make them for the NX2k...

Thanks!

If you are talking about the very short pipe on the back of the motor, you will need to remove the intake manifold to replace it. Good luck.

Yup.

Ick.

That's going to involve that stupid pipe from the exhaust manifold, going back around the back of the engine, and bolted into the intake just left (behind in the engine bay) of the throttle body now, isn't it?

Double ick.

Thanks. I guess I won't waste my time pulling the starter and trying to remove that coolant pipe mount bolt there...

Got the intake manifold out.

Now there's a third bolt on the bottom of that plumbing pipe that I can't get a socket on. Looks like there really was no good reason at all to put a hose there--just but a butt joint, a gasket and three bolts like on the end coming out of the thermostat area.

I hate this car. Take out the entire manifold to replace a five-inch hose, and another one that's too old to leave put...

My hose was leaking as well, thankfully I was able to stick a long extention with a swivel head socket on it and get a few more turns out of the clamp, now just time to see how long that holds up.