The hose between the water pump and engine is now completely split after I noticed a small leak a few weeks ago. Now I know that the "proper" way to replace it is it remove the water pump, power steering and belt tensioner but I heard something about having a special tool you can avoid removing the power steering pump and belt tensioner, any help in my delema would be much appreciated.

Seen nothing in Mercedes liturature. The gap is so small only a very short/thin hose could be squeezed in there and then you have problems with clamps having enough hose to grip.

No doubt some one here's done it though

Thing is...if that hose is bad then most like all the hoses are bad.

Come on someone, tell us how you did it.

I guess you could saw a bit of pipe off the pump/head to get more room.
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Is it a M103 engine?

Never did it myself,

I would try without removing any pump etc. I believe that the length is so short that one can squeeze that hose.

Just a hint if it can be of any help for you. if I would have to do it, I would use the lubricant used by shops that mount the tyres. I use it every time and it makes the rubber to slip so fine that it is amazing.

Keep us posted.

Good luck

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I have replaced the rest of the hoses. its the 2.6 litre. I have removed two of the top bolts holding the water pump on and its moving a bit! but the third one is so far down and the intake manifold is in the way of using a normal ratchet or even get my hands in there to use a normal wrench. I guess this is why they say you have to remove the powersteering pump and belt tensioner. Boooo! Theres no way I'm cutting anything off the head, that would be the easy way out although I did think of it. I did cut a smaller piece of another hose which was much smaller and would have worked but still no success.

Hey guys,

I do believe you have to either remove head or move H2O pump to replace this hose ... and you need to buy the correct hose - it has slightly different diameters on each end.

It's a good time to replace the waterpunp, since you have to take it off anyway. Don't forget aa new O-ring and use some grease to hold it in place.

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Warren

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A couple members here have done it, but it's not very easy. You may want to buy a couple in case you ruin the first one trying to squeeze it through. And consider using a little bit of silicone grease or coolant. Maybe coolant would be a better lubricant. Pay attention to which side gets the bigger diameter.

If it’s a 13mm hex bold, the Snapon FLX M-13 will do the trick. It is thin enough to go trough the gap.

From what I've read on various posts you'll need to remove the water pump to replace the short hose. As Warren suggested it would be wise to consider replacing the water pump after taking the time an effort to remove it. It's a job you won't enjoy doing again anytime soon.

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Fred Hoelzle

I have replaced this hose when I replaced the water pump, and head gasket. There are not much room between the pump and the head. Not sure if you are able the squeeze the hose in without taking out the water pump.

If you are to take out the water pump. Take a closer look at the tensioner, it must tension back. You don't want to find out it would not tension when you put everything back together.

The only special tool you need is a rod that holds the fan clutch, rotate the power steering pump to the right.

Jack

Some DIY'ers recommend unbolting the alternator instead of fooling with the belt tensioner and risk breaking it.

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Fred Hoelzle

Ya I know its advisable to replace the waterpump, but its running fine so don't fix something if its not broken, even though it will be needing a replacement eventually... I am aware of the correct hose as the waterpump side is bigger and don't forget to put on the clamps so as for the problem I have two bolts off just the bottom bolt on the waterpump is left on which is under the intake manifold. thanks for the help guys and keep posting if someone has something good to say. I already have the alternator already off because I had it replaced.. so the radiator shroud is already off aswell as the fan and the belt tensioner un-tensioned. I guess its just up to me whether I want to continue to take off the water pump or have a look at the head, might be interesting to have a looksee at the head

You should be able to cut a bit of the hose off and slip it on there with enough room left for the clamp. Or, you can take the water pump off. It will be an all-day job, but with some free time and the right tools it's possible. For that third bolt (lower side under intake) you should just use 1/4" drive tools. I used a 13mm six point (you REALLY don't want to strip it), two 1/4" extensions and a 1/4 u-joint with a small 1/4 breaker bar type dealy, or another rachet with a u joint. You don't need to remove the power steering pump. Just one of the bolts that holds it on the bracket. Then you just swing it aside.

However, if you ONLY replace that hose, 99% chance that the water pump will fail within a few days. It's just how things work. Replace the water pump, tensioner, all hoses, and serpentine belt. All the effort really isn't worth it if you won't do all the other stuff, unless you REALLY enjoy making up new curse words for hours.

When I first got my car (103 engine) I took it to the mechanic to replace this little hose that was coming apart. I already heard it was near impossible to just get it in there without major surgery..
I was away from the car for just a few minutes while I served myself a cup of coffee. When I got back I saw to my great horror & near heart attack, the guy using a hacksaw on the (head side) pipe. Now this was a reputable shop...
He calmed me down by claiming to have done this successfully many times. Plus the "damage" was already done. He had stuck a rag in the pipe beforehand, so no metal particles could enter the head (!).
Had I been there I would never have allowed him to take that route - However, it did the trick and did not take longer than 5 minutes to do so.
As opposed to a comment made here about replacing the water pump at the same time - I did not. My water pump still lasted another three years before it went south and had to be replaced.
Good luck and happy new year.

Haven't fixed your particular application, but I have gotten by in the past by heating a coolant hose to close to 200 degrees F in boiling water then wearing gloves that'll handle that temp. Have to work fast. If you don't get it in the first ten seconds, then reheat.