How to fix tiny vacuum tubing?

[Ncostello]

I messed up and streched the vacuum tubing from the firewall to the brake booster. It supplies the vacuum to the heater controls. The other small tube controls the coolant valve. Anyhoo... I accidentally stretched the tubing and it drew down in about a 1 inch section. I was pulling on it while holding the grommet at the firewall so I could remove the tubing. I took out my heater box and figured I'd remove those lines. But I ended up leaving them connected and pulled out all the tubing everywhere with the box. They don't remove.



So I need to cut it and splice in a joint. What is that clear tubing they use that appears to be heat shrink? Or at least glued together? Or what should I do? The line is sealed shut now and will barely flow. So I have no choice but to do this.



I can't really replace the line. Its "sealed" to the grommed pass thru at the firewall. No way it will pull out. Thats how I got here.

 

[Ncostello]

As well... I'm curious as to what or where are any screws holding the top edge of the dash top? I can't locate any. Are they under the windshield trim/rubber? If they are... how in the world? I didn't have to remove the dash. But I did remove all the bracket bolts on the right side and a friend carefully pulled up while I fished out the heater box. Not fun... but I've done much worse in small cars.

 

[Flexiheep]

I would measure the outside diameter of the tubing, and see if you could buy a piece that would slip over it. Think a butt splice in wire, maybe glue it to the stock smaller hose to help seal it.



There are 7 or 8 screws on the front edge of the dash. The window seal has a flap that hangs down to cover them though, you might be able to get to them, but it would be much easier to pull the windsheild to pull the dash.

 

[Ncostello]

Fortunately I don't need to pull the dash. I was just thinking if I had to it would be a deal and a half. Or so it looks.

 

[JLEONARD]

Why can't you buy the right size vacuum hose for any auto parts store along with an appropriate sized barbed fitting and splice it in?

Or am I missing something here??

 

[Ncostello]

Its not vacuum hose. Its tiny hard plastic tubing. Very small diameter. And I've never seen it at anywhere. Its like tiny air brake line. Very tiny. Like spaghetti diameter.

 

[Bob4x4]

As well... I'm curious as to what or where are any screws holding the top edge of the dash top? I can't locate any. Are they under the windshield trim/rubber? If they are... how in the world? I didn't have to remove the dash. But I did remove all the bracket bolts on the right side and a friend carefully pulled up while I fished out the heater box. Not fun... but I've done much worse in small cars.

Pull the w/shield if you want to go that route but you can snake the housing out once you remove the bottom of the dash,remove a few braces and tweak it a bit.

 

[JLEONARD]

Try McMaster-Carr online McMaster-Carr

 

[Bob Cochran]

I had that happen my wife's car eaten by battery acid. I found rubber tubing with inside diameter the same as the outside diameter of the plastic tube. Use this rubber tubing to attach and it was fixed and it was tight enough did not even need clamps. I took a piece if the plastic tube to parts store to use to find right size rubber hose. Good luck.

 

[PToombs]

I just use vacuum hose of the correct inside diameter, as suggested above. Cut out the bad piece, and slide the hose on. It works good, no problems yet.

 

[Ncostello]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I was able to get the box out by removing dash bracket bolts here and there. A friend pulled up on the passerger side slightly and I dropped it out without too much fuss. Getting it all back in may be even more fun!



My heater core and AC evap core look nice and solid with no signs of corrosion. I'm going to reinstall them. Anybody know if the AC core can be pressure checked while its all out and disconnected from the rest of the system? The heater core looks new inside and out from what I can see.

 

[Ncostello]

Ah... I'm gonna reuse the AC and heater core. They look fine and have no damage or corrosion. I repainted the surrounding sheet metal on the AC core with aluminum paint to at least make it look brand new. It had a couple of rust spots on the steel frame. Otherwise the aluminum tubes and fins look perfect. The heater core looked superb as well. I guess worse case scenario is I have to do it again.



I knew where my AC leak was anyhow. The condenser up front had a crack in it. Its new. The evap core was 150 so I passed.