Hard to get a vacuum hose clamp behind engine

NICKNANOSUN

MEMBER
2003 MAZDA PROTEGE
1.4L
4 CYL
MANUAL
116,000 MILES

Troubleshooting a low (surging) idle on my car. Too often when Idle is low enough for long enough my brake get hard. If I keep rev/rpm up to around where it should be (700+) Brakes seem fine, Am I looking at two different problems? Sure seems related. I would like to replace that brake boost hose, but hard as heck to get at end behind engine and that squeeze type metal hose clamp. Is there a special tool for that?

Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 AT 2:52 PM

3 Replies

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

Yes, there is. What I've done, since I absolutely despise those type of hose clamps myself, was to take a pair of channel lock pliers and then take a grinder, or a drill with a thin grinding wheel and cut out two small channel across the plier jaws. This will enable the two ends of the clamp to rest in the channels on the plier jaws and should allow you to squeeze them together WITHOUT them slipping. Once you have the pliers tightened, you should be able to drag the clamp effortlessly to wherever you want it. If that's too much work you should be able to find a set of pliers for the hose clamps on Ebay or Amazon for a reasonable price. Please let us know how things turn out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Thursday, June 20th, 2019 AT 8:34 AM

NICKNANOSUN

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank you Alex. But being between back of engine and firewall, it's to tight for channel locks. I just got the smallest needle nose I can find to "help" fit down/back there, but maybe if it fits but don't work it, I can try the grinding Idea on that?

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Thursday, June 20th, 2019 AT 8:44 AM