🔧 Palisade - Radiator Hose Replacement

Replacing a radiator hose on your Palisade means removing the old hose, installing the new one, and refilling/bleeding the cooling system so it can’t trap air. A worn or swollen hose can leak or burst and cause overheating.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.0-2.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never open the coolant reservoir cap on a hot engine—hot coolant can spray and burn you.
• ⚠️ Support the Palisade with jack stands if you lift it; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Keep coolant off belts and electrical connectors; wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Coolant is toxic to pets and kids—use a drain pan and clean spills.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Drain pan (at least 3-gallon)
• Funnel
• Pliers
• Hose clamp pliers (specialty)
• Pick tool
• Trim clip remover
• 10mm socket
• 3/8" ratchet
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive)
• Shop rags
• Flashlight

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Upper radiator hose - Qty: 1
• Lower radiator hose - Qty: 1
• Hose clamps - Qty: 2
• Hyundai/Kia long-life coolant (prediluted 50/50) - Qty: 1-2 gallons

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and let the engine cool completely (ideally 2+ hours).
• Put wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• If you’re doing the lower hose, plan to raise the front and support it on jack stands for access.
• Place a drain pan under the front of the Palisade before you loosen any hose.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm which hose you’re replacing

• Upper hose: runs from the top of the radiator to the engine.
• Lower hose: runs from the bottom of the radiator to the engine and is usually harder to access.

Step 2: Remove covers for access (as needed)

• Open the hood and use a flashlight to locate the hose ends and clamps.
• If access is tight, remove the lower splash shield using a trim clip remover and 10mm socket with a 3/8" ratchet.
• Reinstall splash shield bolts later and Torque to 8 Nm (71 in-lbs).

Step 3: Relieve pressure safely

• Place a shop rag over the coolant reservoir cap.
• Slowly loosen the cap only if the engine is fully cool, then remove it.
• If it hisses, wait longer to cool.

Step 4: Drain enough coolant so it won’t spill everywhere

• Position the drain pan under the radiator area.
• If equipped with a radiator drain, open it carefully and drain 1–2 quarts; then close it.
• If you can’t access a drain easily, you can skip this and expect more spill when removing the hose.

Step 5: Remove the hose clamps

• Use hose clamp pliers (specialty) to compress the spring clamp and slide it back on the hose (hose clamp pliers lock the clamp squeezed so your hands are free).
• If you don’t have clamp pliers, use standard pliers, but go slowly and keep your fingers clear.
• Do this at both ends of the hose (radiator end and engine end).

Step 6: Break the hose loose and remove it

• Twist the hose by hand to break the seal.
• If it’s stuck, carefully work a pick tool under the hose end to let air in, then twist again.
• Pull the hose off and aim it into the drain pan to catch coolant.

Step 7: Prep the fittings and compare parts

• Use shop rags to clean the radiator neck and engine neck (where the hose slides on).
• Compare the new hose to the old one: same length, same bends, same end sizes.
• Inspect the radiator neck for cracks and the engine neck for heavy corrosion.

Step 8: Install the new hose and position clamps

• Slide the clamps onto the hose first.
• Push the hose fully onto each fitting until it bottoms out.
• Use hose clamp pliers (specialty) to move each clamp into place, centered over the fitting bead/ridge.
• Don’t clamp on the very edge of the hose.

Step 9: Refill coolant and bleed air

• Use a funnel to fill the coolant reservoir with Hyundai/Kia long-life coolant (prediluted 50/50) up to the MAX line.
• Start the engine and set the heater to HOT and fan on low.
• Let it idle and watch the temperature gauge; use a flashlight to check for leaks at both hose ends.
• As the engine warms, top off the reservoir as the level drops.
• If your Palisade has an air bleeder screw near the thermostat housing, open it carefully using the appropriate hand tool, then close it when coolant flows without bubbles. (If you don’t see one, skip this.)

Step 10: Reassemble and final top-off

• Reinstall any splash shield/undercover you removed using a 10mm socket and 3/8" ratchet.
• Torque to 8 Nm (71 in-lbs).
• Install the reservoir cap snugly by hand.

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✅ After Repair

• Let the engine reach normal operating temperature and verify the heater blows hot.
• Check carefully for seepage around both hose ends while running and again after shutdown.
• After the Palisade fully cools (later the same day or next morning), recheck the reservoir level and top off to the MAX line.
• Inspect your parking spot for drips over the next 1–2 days.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$500 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $40-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $110-$460 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.8 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.