Nine2Eight

Due to a recent parking mishap, I had to remove the left front fenderwell plastic piece to rehab my chin spoiler. Getting in there I found my alternator
hose with air temp sensor pretty much just coiled up and lying in the fender
space. The alternator end is attached to the alternator as it should be.
My question- where/how does the sucking end of the hose attach?? I don't see
anything to attach/clamp the end of the hose to. Any help appreciated.
Car is 87 S4 Auto.

Joe Celeste
Tampa Bay, FL
87 928 S4
64 356 SC

Bill Ball

The end of the tube is held by a metal clamp to the front side of the fenderwell plastic separater that you pulled out to get into the headlight area. The end is coiled into a short U (end pointing down) and the clamp is a double U-shaped piece. Short screws from the rear side of the separator screw into the clamp. It is a royal pain to mount this bracket UNLESS you pull the alternator end of the hose off to provide slack.

jpitman2

This is how I did it...
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...lternator+hose
jp 83 Euro S AT 50k

Alan

I used the stock U clamp (behind in this pic) - but I mounted it to the cross brace instead of the splash shield.

The stock configuration is stupid - too weak and too awkward. I used one stock bracket and a speed nut and a new elbow bracket drilled & self tapped to the cross brace with another speed nut... Much better - and its still there!

I routed the hose a bit differently too...

Alan

H2

BTW, if anyone's interested. I bought one of the aftermarket replacement alternator hoses and never used it. It's new and in perfect shape. $23 to anyone, delivered in the continental US.

Harvey

Nine2Eight

Thanks everyone for their help on this.. The pics are priceless. The stock way of mounting the hose does seem a bit tough. Guess I will attempt one of these alternative methods as it does not appear that critical where the end of the hose ends up within reason.

Joe C.

borland

There is nothing wrong with the stock mounting, provided you have the original hardware and factory length screws. Check what you have with the parts descriptions in the PET.

I have removed/reinstalled my splash plate without problems.

Alan

I disagree - IT IS REALLY CRAP! (yes I feel strongly about this!!)

I replaced my splash shields and all new stock hardware installed perfectly & in <1 year it was broken again - the only action in that time was the lower engine shield being removed a couple of time and and whatever scrapes & pulls on the hose...

So what happened? - the speed nuts were ripped right out of the panel... again!

Besides that - its a real pain to get the splash shield back on with the hose attached - and why? it makes no sense at all for it to be mounted there - its not like there isn't plenty of room and other mounting options in the fender...

As I have said before - this is another one of those areas that were engineered by the "B-team". The car deserves better...

Alan

BrianG

While installing my HID units today I discovered the same thing and used Alan's method.

Provided you use the outboard OEM fender brace bracket it's all good. If, given a choice and a 50/50 chance to go either to that one or the inboard one, and you go to the inboard one...............

The headlight plate will foul on the hose and retraction will be limited to about 75%............ dont' ask!!!

Bill Ball

I have the stock hardware. Unless you have an extra long cooling tube, you have to get under the car and pull it off the alternator to create enough slack to put the clamp back on the shield if you ever remove it. And you have to remove it to remove the shield. Mounting it on the shield was a bad choice.