MFranke

Background: I found my Y-connector to the charcoal filter cracked last week. As I inspected, it proceeded to break apart in three places. I loosened the hose clamps and attempted to remove the remaining pieces from all 3 hoses. The pieces broke yet again, leaving cylindrical plastic sections buried or recessed 1/4" or more deep in each of the three hoses. I had success using a paint can opener tool on the big hose, working the cylindrical piece out by grabbing the end deepest in the hose. It took quite a long time. The other two hoses were too small for the tool; however, when I got it out the first piece I noticed the plastic deeper in the hose still retained ductility as opposed to being brittle like the rest of the connector.

Tip (A better way): On the other two hoses, I tried squeezing the hose with pliers to work the pieces out and I was surprised how easy this was. I squeezed the hose at the deepest edge of where the plastic sat in the hose. Then I went 90 degrees around squeezing again, gradually working it out... took maybe two minutes for each of the remaining hoses, with no apparent damage to the inside of the hose.

Roger is sending an Aluminum Y-connector as a replacement and I am looking forward to installing it in the next few days.


Mark
'88 S4 Auto, Silver Metallic/ Black

MainePorsche

Good show.

jackfogelson

hey just a comment on how i removed the three broken barb fittings. Choose a lag bolt so that it fits inside the hose and down the center of the broken piece. Place a washer on the bolt. turn the bolt by hand grasping the hose over the barbed fitting. when it get to hard to turn use a rachet and tighten slowly. The broken off barbed fitting will move close to the end of the hose. When head of bolt is flush or so with end of fitting attach a locking plier. You then can pull out because from the movement it is already loose. If not grasp hose with one hand for strain relief and gently rock it out. Hope this helps, it worked for me.

StratfordShark

You were nice and delicate with the pliers, but when I was on same mission I just crushed hose with pliers, to point where the broken pieces shatter and drop out the end. As you say the hoses are very thick, so no danger if damaging them with this method.

I did this on previous S4 which had the near universal broken y-piece. On my current S4 I was genuinely amazed to discover the (original - could tell all hoses and clips etc undistubed in that areal) y-piece was still in one piece! No cracks or anything. So I left it and still have the spare (OEM plastic part). Anyone else still have intact iriginal?