How to Replace the Water Hoses in a Pontiac Grand Am

Buy the correct water/coolant hoses specified for your Pontiac Grand Am. Gates radiator hoses numbers W0133-1632186 and W0133-1624965 are what you need.

Remove the old clamps. Use a flathead screwdriver to loosen the screw that controls the tension of an adjustable clamp to move it out of the way. If the clamp is a wire tension clamp, use pliers and squeeze the clamp to move it to an area of the hose that is more pliable so that it's out of the way.

Take a picture of the original placement so you can replicate it. Mark where the old hose came to on the machinery so that you can properly align the replacement and avoid leakage.

Cut the hose with a utility knife, if it has seized to the machinery, to aid in removal. Just slit the hose downward a couple of inches below the insertion point to peel it away. Use a piece of coarse sandpaper to clean the area where the hose was stuck to the automobile part. Clean the other connection areas while they are free.

Block the rear wheels, jack up the Pontiac Grand Am one side at a time and support on jack stands. Place a container below the radiator to catch the coolant mixture so that it doesn't go into the storm drains and thus the groundwater. Pour the coolant back into the empty coolant bottle and dispose of properly.

Drain the radiator by opening the drain plug located at the bottom, or take out the bottom hose. Remove the top hose by slipping it off the radiator shroud at one end and the thermostat housing at the other. Discard all of the used hoses and clamps. Sand the areas where the old hose met the Pontiac Grand Am parts to remove pieces of hose and other grit.

Reverse the steps used in removing the old Pontiac Grand Am hoses to install the new ones. Use adjustable clamps with screws for greater protection in holding the new hoses in place.

Place the clamps on the top hose and slide toward the middle of the hose. Push the hose securely onto the top opening in the radiator shroud at one end and the thermostat housing (at the top of the water pump) on the other. Tighten each clamp by tightening the screw.

Connect the lower hose to the bottom radiator shroud at one end and the bottom of the engine at the other. Adjust the clamps into place and tighten the screw.

Fill the radiator with a 50/50 blend of coolant and water up to the radiator cap line. Keep refilling until it stops percolating and making room for more coolant.

Start the engine in the Pontiac Grand Am with the radiator cap still open. The thermostat will get warmer, and the fluid will drop as the coolant begins to circulate. From here, you can finish filling up the radiator. Replace the radiator cap and fill up the overflow reservoir to the line that is marked "full."

Check to see that the temperature gauge doesn't run higher than before. Verify the drain plug is closed and there are no leaks at the hose connections or anywhere else.