There is a god **** check valve INSIDE the vacuum line. what???!

[bigb]

Ok so I was doing my timing belt last weekend when I pulled off the vacuum line that runs under the intercooler piping. it goes from the vacuum pump to the brake booster.

I wanted to order a new piece of hose since this bit was really chewed up. **** thing was like $25 bucks for 4" of hose and I didn't understand why. Luckily for me I forgot to cancel this bit out of my order when the timing belt arrived. I got everything home and left the part on my desk thinking I was going to return it in the morning.

I played around with it a bit and I noticed it was hard in the center so I started blowing through it to see if it was gummed up or something. Sure enough there is a 1-way check valve INSIDE the **** line. It's moulded inside and you cant even see it. No wonder it was $25.

Anyways, it was plugged up on my car sure enough (didn't blow either way) so I kept the new one. I swapped that section before I did the belt just to see what the **** it was messing up. My idle smoothed out and I'm betting a lot of other goblins ran out of my engine at the same time.

haha 4" of pipe! but It's not documented anywhere, so just beware when you are replacing lines that this one needs a check valve. If you are going to just use regular 3/8 hose put a check valve in series. I didn't even see the directional yellow writing on mine since it was worn out completely.

I'd go check yours now too! make sure it is going the right way, and air flows since it could be plugged up.


amazing! I'm still in shock after all these years there is still stupid stuff like this that I don't know about even after holding the cars **** pistons in my hand. lol just a little excited can you tell

[SkiMilly97]

you have an s or a 5?

[yel-low]

He has an S. This should be moved or copied and pasted into the "tech" section. It would be a shame to see information like this just disappear into the blackhole of threads. People wouldn't even know what to search for if they had similar problems. This is good info that shouldn't go to waste. Thanks again bigb!

[T2T]

Sweet! Great information!

[Goliat6288]

Originally Posted by yel-low

He has an S. This should be moved or copied and pasted into the "tech" section. It would be a shame to see information like this just disappear into the blackhole of threads. People wouldn't even know what to search for if they had similar problems. This is good info that shouldn't go to waste. Thanks again bigb!

ur wish is my command

[bigb]

I have found a second line that has a check valve in it.

This one goes from the brake booster line to the ABV actuator. Same line that basically goes between the brake booster, the ABV, and the vacuum pump.

Please check this on your cars because if the check valves are jammed shut, or put back in the wrong direction... or even worse replaced with generic hose with no check valve, this WILL cause problems.

I bet this is a hidden gremlin on the 2.3s engines as it is not mentioned ANYWHERE.


ps: this post is for Gripdog to see if it helps with his ABV code in the other thread.

see pics attached. don't mind the hockey tape, I was taking the ABV off at the time

[Saint_]

Hmm this could also affect the power brakes. Great find bigb!!

[Gripdog]

Nicely done,Thank you, I will investigate, very soon. Just so we're clear it looks like you circled not vacum lines but coolant or other lines. Am I just seeing things, or are the circled hoses correct.

[bigb]

hehe no 100% positive it's correct. It is the line that has "<-- Eng" written on it in yellow writing.

See, even with the explanation and the pics people assume otherwise. That is why I pointed it out

It is a heavily reinforced vacuum line since it goes directly to the brake booster. Please check both sections, as either could be gummed up

[madputter]

Originally Posted by bigb

hehe no 100% positive it's correct. It is the line that has "<-- Eng" written on it in yellow writing.

See, even with the explanation and the pics people assume otherwise. That is why I pointed it out

It is a heavily reinforced vacuum line since it goes directly to the brake booster. Please check both sections, as either could be gummed up

Can you help with the direction of the airflow? Both of my check valves are in place and working, however, both hoses are missing the directional arrows. Which way should the airflow be moving on each hose?