Am I the only one with an 03 Dodge that is having this problem? There is about 1/4" of clearance between the top of the idler pully and the bottom of the radiator hose on my truck. I just replaced the hose (not a single one available in Houston) and had to put the hose on the thermostat housing neck crooked to get it to clear the pully/belt.

Here's a link to a picture of the damage. This is the bottom of the hose. You can only see this on the truck with a flashlight and mirror.. You can clearly see where the pully and belt where rubbing. This was the original hose/factory instal with 44k miles now on the truck.

http://fototime.com/9FAA684CBCC54F9/orig.jpg

 

Don't think I have that problem but will check the clearance on mine.

MikeyB

 

Arlon,
I just check mine, and it's no where near the idler pulley. In fact, the lower radiator hose is a good two inches from the belt that is routed from the alternator and the A/C compressor.

MikeyB

 

I checked mine in responce to your posting on the yahoo group and my 03 is ok.. Not much clearance but it hasn't rubbed yet..

Blygy

 

Guess the hose is routed differently between the autos and manuals??

MikeyB

 

UPPER radiator hose, not lower. Mine rubbed through about 3-4 inches from the thermostat housing. Even after clamping the new hose on cockeyed to the the neck of the thermostat housing, it's still only about 1/2" of clearance...


Bottom side of the UPPER hose, not the bottom hose...

 

my upper hose just failed due to this, I installed the new hose and there is less than 1/2 in ??!! I guess when the old hose swelled from age it rubbed against the pulley and blew..........

 

I'm on my 3rd hose, the 2nd time it went nobody had it in stock. Had to make it to work the same night and I had 10 min. before the stores closed. Ended up going to local auto store and compared hose with every one that they had, a hose off a chev actually fit after I chopped a third of it off. Had similar bends in it but worth twice as much as ours. Needless to say I made it to work and changed out the hose at first oppurtunity. Yes, there isn't much clearance between the hose & pulley and it always goes when most inconvienent. So, I carry a spare and of course the dealer has never heard of this before, go figure.