Radiator hose? Is it worth repair?

Asked by QuaranQueen840 Oct 25, 2020 at 12:09 PM about the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLS

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Please, help. I drive a manual trans 02'
VW Jetta, 2.0. I check the oil with each
fill up, every friday. I use about 1/2 tank
per week, 250-350mi/weeks, strictly
highway(from STL to Central IL every
Fri, then back Sun. Uses around 1/2
quart of oil every other week. 235,xxx
Mi on it, it's about 1,000 miles overdue
for full oil/filter change. I use the high
mileage synthetic blend when I add oil
and the more expensive oil change for
high mileage cars. Today, I let the car
idle for 30-45 mins, first colder day of
the year. While idling, white smoke with
a pressure "hiss" came from under the
hood. I shut it off immediately then
allowed it to sit another 30mins. The
temp gauge read exactly what it
always does while warmed up, right in
the center. Did not over heat at all.
There was liquid on the ground,
coolant reservoir was empty, oil
dipstick wiped then re-inserted. No
white or milky look. The oil cap didn't
have any milky white look under it.
There was a sweet smell, and liquid
dripping from the hood down onto the
area between engine and battery. A
hose between the engine and battery
appearing to go from coolant reservoir
behind/under engine, to the radiator up
front was severed. I put a bottle of
water in the coolant reservoir and it
started right up,first try after it smoked,
one turn. Drove it 8 blocks to my apt,
never exceeding 3rd gear. It ran fine,
no smoke. Coolant light did ding and
flash. But it never got above average
temp. What issues specifically am I
looking at here? And how much money
are we talking? I'm highly reliant on this
verhicle to transport my 16 year old to
weekend visits. We just moved to STL,
I'm dead broke, and quite close to
crying my eyes out. I care for this car
as meticulously as I can so I'm so sad
to see that my intuition was correct... I
guess when it rains, it pours...
coolant... Every f**k*ngwhere.....

1 Answer

A radiator hose is cheap. As long as you did not cook the engine you should have no problems after replacing the hose.

Your Answer:

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