Searched the archives and didn't find anything related to this.

Just passed inspection and on my way home, stopped off at the day care to drop something off. Left car running.

Came back out and smoke was emanating out out the driver's side near the hood hinge. Popped the hood and saw (and smelled coolant) near the fuse box area!

Immediately discovered the plastic mating piece on the heater hose ruptured. So I quickly glanced at the gauge cluster and saw the temp gauge pegged to almost the 120 C mark! I was a block from home, so I took a chance and limped it to the garage.

The replacement isn't costly, and I don't believe any serious damage has resulted yet, but my real concern is whether the hose damage was a result of old age or something else? The rest of the hose actually appeared to be okay, but the plastic joint rupturing has me worried. Any clues?

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car