Looking under the hood today due to the "trans fault" issue.... Anyway I noticed almost all of the radiator hoses are smashed flat whether the car is on or off. It looks more like all the fluid was sucked out and hoses collapsed like an empty firehose. Any ideas why this would happen?

The water pump was replaced about 30,000 to 40,000 miles ago (about 4yrs ago).

Could this be something with the thermostat?

Also, is there a diagram to help identify the hoses? Im having trouble....

Thanks,
Andy

 

Seems like your radiator cap let pressure out and then never let the pressure back in... If you open up the coolant system, do the hoses go back to normal? If not, then I would say that you had a vacuum in the system awhile ago which caused the hoses to implode on themselves. I have found that trying to get a hold of these radiator hoses can be such a pain that I just go on ebay until I find a part number and picture of the hose that I need and then search from there.

 

A bad coolant reservoir cap could be the reason its not letting pressure back in the system. I recently had to put on a new coolant reservoir which came with a new cap as well. I will check it.

Should I still replace the hoses? They are not leaking... just vacuumed flat ....

 

cap not the problem... took it off and hoses stayed flat.

Any other ideas please?

 

I think now your hoses are HEAT FORMED now and will not return to normal..

 

Yep.

Did you run low on coolant, and maybe overheat it?

 

I had this same problem. I ended up replacing the expansion tank, water pump, and all the radiator hoses. About $350 dollars but she doesn't over heat now. And, I no longer have a problem with the hoses.

 

It is the pressure cap. if replaced and the hoses still pliable all will be normal soon, seen this 2/3 times