Getting remote piece of plastic tube removed?

[GON]

Discovered the source of a long time coolant leak on a 2012 S550 MB.

Lots of work to get to this barely accessable hose. The pictures shows the old tube with missing tube. The tube is lodged in a location I can't see, just barely get my hand into.

I tried (with care) a bolt extractor, with zero luck. I don't want to score the receiver of the tube, as that may cause another micro leak.

Any tips?

 

[martinq]

Wow, very sorry to hear this but thanks for the pics. Do you have any service manuals? I haven't worked on MB for a good long while.

 

[Kira]

Put a 95* turn in the end of a piece of thin welding rod, make the handle end whatever shape works and see if you can get ahold of the inner edge of the broken piece.
Pull 3 and 9 then 12 and 6.
Maybe add a touch of penetrant?

Also, you might make a small strap of metal 1/2" thick and as wide as the hose for more purchase. Like an undercarriage spare tire holder....you have to drop it through the wheel's center hole and level it...then hoist the tire.

 

[martinq]

I agree with what Kira said and will add that it's probably rusty metal stuck in that tube / receiver.

WD40 and some other cleaning penetrants are good at mobilizing rust, I would:
- use compressed air to clean & dry the area
- spray the rusty broken piece w WD40
- let soak 30+ mins
- use a thin screwdriver / rod / dull knife to work the area between the receiver and the rusty bit
- make a hook (see above) to try pulling it out

In my experience, rusty coolant tubes are often bonded or seized with the tube / receiver. WD40 + time + agitation should help.

 

[martinq]

... on closer look it looks like broken plastic. I would still use compressed air & lube / penetrant to try to work it loose.

 

[GMBoy]

OMG I FEEL YOUR PAIN!! I was working on a 2010 CLS550 and same situation happened but on a different hose. I spent atleast 30 mins with a pick removing the broken part in pieces until it finally came free as the last big chunk. I don't know what that crap is made of but its strong yet not strong enough that it snaps off lol

 

[gonefishin]

What about a spring-loaded sheet rock anchor?

 

[ralphed]

I'd use just the black part of this. Or possibly a different internal bearing puller (there are several styles).

 

[D60]

Actually yeah if there were room to tighten it sufficiently an expanding collet from a blind hole puller is a good start. Shouldn't gouge the female tube. BUT would there be any way to pull on it with enough force? I can't tell.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Easy, first remove the metal band, then smash it with an appropriate hammer. Should break it if it a crusty plastic.

 

[ralphed]

A soldering iron could probably slot it too, making it easier to remove.

 

[GON]

Gents, thanks very much for the comments.

Finally got a camera to look at the opening. Using an older aa battery driven centex camera.

What may be hard to see in the picture is a partially blocked opening by the receiver. This makes getting certain tools past the opening a challenge. And also a risk of damaging the receiver, which is also plastic.

 

[GON]

Update, the plastic broke apart. This was all I was able to recover with a vacuum.

Guess the system will have plastic floating in it, with the rear heating system, think this is not desirable.

 

[JTK]

Glad you got it. If that little bit of plastic is a concern for you, is there easy means to flush the heater cores?

 

[Nukeman7]

Is there any way to perform a reverse flush on that part of the coolant system with water and air pressure? That might purge the remaining plastic pieces from the orifice.

 

[GON]

Gents, the duo valve system on a s class is an awesome system, but in this case i can’t identify a method due to the location of this hose.

Looking back maybe the pressure tester could have forced it out. I vacuumed the opening numerous times, I could get coolant out, but no more bits of plastic.

In a good note, the replacement tube is in place. Mercedes does a great job designing hoses to be installed, on the one end all I had to do was pull the yellow tab, gets no easier.

The coolant leak is at least five years old. When I purchased the s550 from the salvage auction, there was a container of coolant in the trunk. This was a slow leak, but not catastrophic. I finally had the time to get to it.

The coolant dripped for five years in an electrical connection. I was able to somewhat clean it up. I suspect a flat rate technician may not have cleaned the connection.

 

[D60]

In your current locale I'm guessing you stand out like Boss Hog in an S550, even a 2012 MY

 

[GON]

In your current locale I'm guessing you stand out like Boss Hog in an S550, even a 2012 MY

I think I more stand out as my garage often looks like the outside of Sanford and Son.

 

[D60]

I think I more stand out as my garage often looks like the outside of Sanford and Son.

I chose my current land because the guy down the road had hundreds of cars in his field

You're my kind of neighbor!! (hmmm that may actually be an insult, but not intended as such.....)