🔧 Traverse - Radiator Hose Replacement

On your Traverse, replacing a radiator hose means safely draining some coolant, removing the old hose and clamps, and installing a new hose without introducing leaks or air pockets. The key is working only when the engine is fully cool and refilling with the correct coolant afterward.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Only work on a cold engine; hot coolant can cause severe burns.
• ⚠️ Never remove the coolant reservoir cap when hot or pressurized.
• ⚠️ Support the SUV with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Coolant is toxic; keep away from kids/pets and clean spills immediately.
• ⚠️ If you remove any electrical connectors, keep them dry and seated fully on reassembly.

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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) - Qty: 2
• Wheel chocks - Qty: 2
• Drain pan (at least 3-gallon)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• Trim clip remover
• Flathead screwdriver
• 1/4" drive ratchet
• 3" extension (1/4" drive)
• 7mm socket
• 8mm socket
• 10mm socket
• Hose clamp pliers (specialty)
• Pick tool
• Razor blade scraper
• Torque wrench (inch-pound)

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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
• Radiator hose clamps - Qty: 2
• Dex-Cool coolant (50/50 premix) - Qty: As needed
• Distilled water - Qty: As needed

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Let the engine cool completely (ideally 3+ hours).
• Slowly loosen the coolant reservoir cap to confirm there’s no pressure, then reinstall it lightly until you’re ready to drain.
• Decide which hose you’re replacing: the upper hose goes from the top of the radiator to the engine; the lower hose goes from the bottom of the radiator to the engine.
• Tip: Take a quick photo of clamp positions.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise the front and access the lower area (for lower hose)

• Use wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Lift the front using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper front lift point.
• Support the vehicle with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• If equipped, remove the lower splash shield fasteners using a 10mm socket and trim clip remover.

Step 2: Drain enough coolant to drop the level below the hose

• Place a drain pan (at least 3-gallon) under the radiator area.
• Slowly remove the coolant reservoir cap by hand (engine cold only).
• If your radiator has a drain cock you can access, open it carefully and let coolant drain into the pan.
• If there’s no easy drain access, you can drain by loosening the radiator-end clamp on the lower hose and letting coolant flow into the pan (control flow with the hose position).
• Have shop rags ready for spills.

Step 3: Identify your clamp type and loosen it

• A spring clamp is a squeeze-type clamp; use hose clamp pliers (specialty) to compress it and slide it back on the hose.
• A worm-gear clamp is a screw-type clamp; loosen it with a 7mm socket or 8mm socket on a 1/4" drive ratchet.

Step 4: Remove the old hose (upper or lower)

• Move both clamps away from the hose ends using hose clamp pliers (specialty) or a 7mm socket/8mm socket.
• Twist the hose to break it free. If it’s stuck, carefully work the edge loose with a pick tool.
• Pull the hose off the radiator fitting first, then off the engine fitting.
• Use the drain pan (at least 3-gallon) to catch any remaining coolant in the hose.
• Tip: Don’t pry hard on plastic fittings.

Step 5: Clean and inspect the fittings

• Wipe the radiator neck and engine neck with shop rags.
• If old rubber is stuck on the fitting, gently clean it using a razor blade scraper (light pressure only).
• Inspect the radiator neck and engine fitting for cracks, heavy corrosion, or pitting.

Step 6: Install the new hose and position clamps

• Slide the clamps onto the new hose before installing it.
• Push the hose fully onto the radiator fitting until it bottoms out.
• Push the hose fully onto the engine fitting until it bottoms out.
• Reposition the clamps back to the original clamp locations (usually just behind the raised bead on the fitting).
• If using worm-gear clamps, tighten with a 7mm socket or 8mm socket and torque wrench (inch-pound): Torque to 35-45 in-lbs (do not over-tighten).

Step 7: Reinstall shields and lower the vehicle (if removed)

• Reinstall the lower splash shield using a 10mm socket and trim clip remover.
• Raise slightly with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum), remove jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum), and lower the vehicle.

Step 8: Refill coolant and purge air

• Use a funnel to fill the coolant reservoir with Dex-Cool coolant (50/50 premix) to the proper level mark.
• Start the engine and set the HVAC to HOT with the fan on medium.
• Let the engine idle and watch the temperature gauge. As it warms up, coolant level may drop; add more as needed with the engine idling.
• When the upper hose gets hot, the thermostat has opened and coolant is circulating; continue to monitor and top off.
• Shut the engine off, let it cool completely, then recheck and adjust the level to the correct mark.
• Tip: Small bubbles are normal during first warm-up.

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✅ After Repair

• Check for leaks with the engine idling: look at both hose ends and under the vehicle.
• Take a short test drive (10–15 minutes), then recheck for leaks and recheck coolant level after a full cool-down.
• If you smell coolant or see dried crust at a clamp, retighten (worm-gear) or reposition (spring clamp).
• Dispose of old coolant properly at a local recycling/auto parts facility.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$550 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $210-$410 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-2.0 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.