When should hoses be replaced?

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When should hoses be replaced?

One of the most common hose failures is when a radiator or heater hose springs a leak.

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By Larry Carley
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A. Before they fail is the short answer. The long answer is it depends on the type of hose, the age of the vehicle and the application. Today’s cooling hoses, fuel line hoses, vacuum and emissions hoses, PS hoses, A/C hoses and brake hoses are all very durable and long-lived, but they don’t last forever. There are no factory recommended service intervals for any type of hose, but all automakers do recommend inspecting hoses when normal maintenance or repairs are performed.

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A recent nationwide survey conducted by the Car Care Council found that 13 percent of vehicles inspected had one or more bad coolant hoses. The survey didn’t even look at the other types of hoses.

There are millions of vehicles that are 10 or more years old that have NEVER had any of their hoses replaced! There are also millions of vehicles that experience some type of hose failure every year.

One of the most common hose failures is when a radiator or heater hose springs a leak. Leaks can result from normal aging and deterioration of the hose material, from internal corrosion (electrolysis) or external physical causes (like chaffing or rubbing). When a radiator or heater hose fails, coolant seeps or sprays out of the cooling system causing the engine to overheat. According to AAA, coolant hose failures are one of the leading causes of roadside breakdowns and emergency service calls (right after flat tires).

It makes more sense to replace aging or leaking coolant hoses and other types of hose when it is convenient to do so rather than waiting for a hose to fail. Yet that’s what most motorists do. They wait for a problem to occur like engine overheating, a dangerous fuel leak, brake failure or an emissions/performance problem.

Hose replacement for preventive maintenance is still as important as ever, so always recommend replacing high-mileage hoses on older vehicles when a customer is buying a water pump, thermostat, fuel pump, brake parts or emissions-related parts.

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
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This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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