# Help me ID a mystery hose! 2002 Subaru Impreza leaking coolant **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 21, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203 "2019-08-21T18:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rob\_Vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Rob\_Vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rob_Vaughn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/1 "2019-08-21T18:01:35Z")
2002 Subaru Impreza leaking coolant; found the source was an OPEN hose leading INTO the engine compartment from the dashboard area (passenger side)! Anybody know what the hose is or should connect to? The hose is just … open! I can’t find anything else it should be connected to. Other videos and diagrams I’ve seen show a hose connecting to the top passenger side of the radiator, so I thought maybe it should connect there … but mine has a bolt cap on it, so maybe that’s just for turbo. In the first pic, I also circled the bracket that holds it in place (removed for greater visibility in the pic). Thanks! ![HoseZoomedIn](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/e/fe7464e103d9078c1c43b1a54f135bab9d379dbb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/2 "2019-08-21T18:06:20Z")
That’s the condensate drain hose for the AC. Tester ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/3 "2019-08-21T18:06:47Z")
Maybe a drain from the bottom of the HVAC housing (if it’s draining coolant from a leaking heater core) or from the AC (if water.) ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_Vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Rob\_Vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rob_Vaughn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/4 "2019-08-21T18:09:57Z")
Makes sense, thanks. Sometimes it leaks water, sometimes coolant. If it leaks coolant, and that’s the only place I can find coolant exiting the vehicle, does that mean the heating core is what needs to be replaced? Or could there be another (less pricey) fix? Don’t suppose Bar Stopleak would work on something like that? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/5 "2019-08-21T18:11:11Z")
If it’s _not_ leaking, you have a problem. You can tell that the condenser cavity isn’t draining adequately if you hear water sloshing around below the dashboard. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/6 "2019-08-21T18:11:41Z")
If that hose leaks coolant, it can only come from the heater core. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_Vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Rob\_Vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rob_Vaughn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/7 "2019-08-21T18:15:44Z")
You guys are fast! Most helpful folks on the web : ). Thanks. Well, I have the rest of the week free and a desire to become more car self-sufficient … do you think a relative newb can replace one of these? ---
**Author:** ![anon86613489](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@anon86613489](https://community.cartalk.com/u/anon86613489)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/8 "2019-08-21T18:38:16Z")
That can be difficult to say, unless somebody here knows how to do it. I’ve seen cars where it would take ten minutes to change it and I’ve seen a few where only a stick of dynamite would create acces to the heatercore. Try Youtube to see if there is a video pertaining to Your car. ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_Vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Rob\_Vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rob_Vaughn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/9 "2019-08-21T19:08:41Z")
Yeahhhhh looks like a nightmare. I think I’ll try a flush & leakstop to see if that will help. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/10 "2019-08-21T19:22:07Z")
Are you having to add coolant? How much? ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_Vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Rob\_Vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rob_Vaughn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/11 "2019-08-21T19:39:27Z")
It really depends! For the past week it seemed like the reservoir completely emptied out every two days (and I was seeing medium-size puddles under the heater core drain). I would sometimes need to stop and refill while driving. But for the past two days the reservoir has been holding steady. No other leaks that I can find, and none of the head gasket symptoms I’ve heard about (no smoky exhaust, no watery oil, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/12 "2019-08-21T19:47:20Z")
That’s a big leak, get it fixed asap before you fry you engine. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/13 "2019-08-21T20:16:17Z")
Determine the size of the heater hoses. Go to a parts store and purchase a hose that looks like this. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/0/60388743079faef2818324ac9c10aaf94422ebf3.jpeg) Also purchase two barbed hose couplers, ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/9/a/9ac6a9153ec1cfcd380604edc82ec5886d7b38c3.jpeg) And four worm drive hose clamps. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/c/ecd0502f33b1bbac8b95460e5c0fc92c7c4b2078.jpeg) Remove the two heater hoses at the firewall and connect them together using these components. At least for now you’ve stopped the leak. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_Vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Rob\_Vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rob_Vaughn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/14 "2019-08-21T20:24:12Z")
Thanks, that’s awesome! I really appreciate the help. If you don’t mind explaining, how does this fix it? Does it just take the heating core out of the loop? Unfortunately, I can’t even figure out where the heater hoses are exiting the firewall … (yep, I’m pretty clueless about cars, but I’m trying to learn!). ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/15 "2019-08-21T20:25:17Z")
> [@Rob\_Vaughn](#): > > Does it just take the heating core out of the loop? That’s the idea, Tester ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/16 "2019-08-21T20:55:30Z")
This should look like your car, except you won’t have the clutch master cylinder (the silver object with the yellow cap) if you have an automatic. The heater hoses are just to the left of the master cylinder: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/f/cf2f4fdd92d71bab481c13c570d6763ab60d43ab.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_Vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Rob\_Vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rob_Vaughn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/17 "2019-08-21T21:53:45Z")
You folks are amazing. Are you getting paid!? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-id-a-mystery-hose-2002-subaru-impreza-leaking-coolant/147203/18 "2019-08-21T23:05:05Z")
> [@Rob\_Vaughn](#): > > Are you getting paid!? Sure! 60 minutes per hour!