How to Replace the Water Hoses in a Toyota Highlander

Pick up the hoses that fit your Toyota Highlander at your local auto parts store. Gates brand of preformed hoses in items #22687 (upper) and #22462 (lower) are what you need or a comparable hose, if that brand is out of stock.

Loosen the old clamps by turning the tension-controlling screw left with a flathead screwdriver. Move it down the hose and out of the way. Use a pair of pliers to squeeze the tension spring clamp and move it to an area of the hose that's more pliable so it's out of the way.

Take a digital picture of the original placement so you can replicate it. Mark where the old hose sat on the machinery so you can put the replacement up the same amount and avoid leakage.

Pull the hose away from the car parts. If it's stuck, slit the hose downward a couple of inches below the insertion point and peel it away, as needed. Use a piece of coarse sandpaper to clean the area where the hose was stuck to the Toyota Highlander. Clean the other connection areas while they're free.

Jack up the Toyota Highlander one side at a time, put jack stands in place and let the SUV down on the stands. Position a container below the radiator to catch the coolant mixture so it doesn't go into the storm drains and thus the groundwater.

Open the drain plug or remove the bottom radiator hose to drain. Remove the top hose by slipping it off the radiator shroud at one end and the thermostat housing at the other.

Discard all the used hoses and clamps. Sand the areas where the old hose met the Toyota Highlander parts to remove pieces of hose and other grit.

Install the new Toyota Highlander hoses by reversing the steps you went through when removing the old 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 them toward the middle. 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.

Repeat the above step for the clamps and connect the hose to the bottom radiator shroud at one end and the bottom of the engine at the other. Adjust clamps into place and tighten the screw. Close the drain plug.

Fill the radiator with a 50/50 combination of coolant and water to the cap line. Add more as it goes down into the radiator. Do this until it stops percolating and making room for more coolant.

Start the Toyota Highlander's engine with the radiator cap still open. The thermostat will get warmer, and the fluid will drop as the coolant begins to circulate. Finish filling up the radiator.

Put the radiator cap back on and fill up the overflow reservoir to the line marked "full." Check to see that the temperature gauge is no higher than before. Verify the drain plug is closed and there are no leaks at the hose connections or anywhere else.