Step-by-Step Instructions and Pictures: How to Repair a Car Heater Hose

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1. Open Your Hood and Let Everything Cool Down
Don’t mess with the radiator cap or anything yet! Don’t touch anything until you can do so comfortably. You could get a serious burn. You might have to wait as long as 45 minutes. As the engine cools, look for splits or tears in the hoses. The telltale signs of a blown hose will be coolant splashed over the engine and under the hood. This alone doesn’t mean you have a blown hose, however. It could be a faulty thermostat that caused the radiator cap to release. If the cap has a pressure-release flap that’s released, your engine may have only overheated, but if the cap is intact and you can see a leak in the heater hose, you’ll be able to fix it. Once the engine is cool, remove the radiator cap. Put the cap back on after the fix.