Collapsed coolant hoses

[stioc]

I'm looking at a clean 2002 Montero with 82k miles on it. Before the test drive I noticed the upper two coolant hoses were collapsed which I thought was odd. After the test drive they went back to their round shape. Anyone know if this is a common occurance with these trucks? perhaps a bad radiator cap or something minor or should I steer clear? Thanks

[kjp1969]

I'm looking at a clean 2002 Montero with 82k miles on it. Before the test drive I noticed the upper two coolant hoses were collapsed which I thought was odd. After the test drive they went back to their round shape. Anyone know if this is a common occurance with these trucks? perhaps a bad radiator cap or something minor or should I steer clear? Thanks

If I remember correctly, coolant will expand and purge air and excess fluid to the overflow tank, then should pull in coolant from the same tank when it contracts. I would suspect the radiator cap isn't allowing this to happen. Sounds like a plumbing issue.

[goodtimes]

Yup. Needs a new radiator cap.

[GrassCat]

From eHow

Faulty Radiator Cap
Radiator caps are designed to maintain cooling system pressures in the range of 12 to 15 PSI. When an engine is shut down, the coolant temperature begins to drop. If the vacuum valve in the radiator cap fails, the resulting vacuum in the cooling system can cause a radiator hose to collapse. A malfunctioning radiator cap can also constrict coolant flow. When this happens, the water pump, trying to draw coolant through the lower radiator hose, can create a vacuum sufficient to collapse the hose.

[Chief]

While I don't disagree with "bad radiator cap", it will not constrict coolant flow. But you have to wonder where the coolant is going, it's pretty obvious that the vehicle is loosing coolant, I would also check for a blown head gasket.

Good luck.

[LaOutbackTrail]

Did you check the coolant level? Its not uncommon for soccer moms to never check the coolant level in their soccer mom mobiles....

[stioc]

Thanks guys, didn't get to spend too much time under the hood. I drove it around for a good 10mins in 85deg weather hoping if it was a headgasket I'd see the temp guage climbing but it didn't. I didn't see any milkshake in the oil either. I did see some faint smoke from near the exhaust manifolds after the test drive but I'm pretty sure it was from all the tire-dressing they doused the engine with.

Went to look at another 2001 Montero XLS with 116k miles on it, pretty clean but when I put it in 4H it only lit up the front wheels, same with 4LO. So either the lamps that show the rear axle were out or there's something wrong with the 4x4.

Been also looking at the Xterras but finding a 4wd Xterra SE is like finding a pink unicorn.

[nuclearlemon]

not a monty, but this was a radiator cap. was stuck down and not allowing passage through the overflow tube to the surge tank. easy test with an oven and a pot of water.

[off-roader]

Thanks guys, didn't get to spend too much time under the hood. I drove it around for a good 10mins in 85deg weather hoping if it was a headgasket I'd see the temp guage climbing but it didn't. I didn't see any milkshake in the oil either. I did see some faint smoke from near the exhaust manifolds after the test drive but I'm pretty sure it was from all the tire-dressing they doused the engine with.

Went to look at another 2001 Montero XLS with 116k miles on it, pretty clean but when I put it in 4H it only lit up the front wheels, same with 4LO. So either the lamps that show the rear axle were out or there's something wrong with the 4x4.

Been also looking at the Xterras but finding a 4wd Xterra SE is like finding a pink unicorn.

Most likely its just burnt out bulbs or something wrong with the transfer case position senders that indicate its position. Are the lamps on in 2wd? If not then its probably the bulbs. Should be easy to fix and an ideal bargaining chip.