tmoney1.8

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/78791/0922051230.jpg"></center><p>if i simply took off the hose the coolant will obviously spill, but if i replace the hose and clamp will it be bad that a lot of air got into the tank after i refill the coolant? i want to do it myself.
if i keep the resevoir open will that be the remedy?

BSCA4

the best thing to do is remove the clamps, the hose, and clean up all the hardeness coolant before reinstall teh hose and new clamps. Very easy to do, but you need add coolant as you will loss. I did it when I replace my TB. No more leak.

Joe Sixpack

use a "C" clamp or Vise-Grips and two large flat washers to clamp the hose before you remove for inspection/cleaning.

The hose may not need replacing, you may be able to trim a half inch or so of "bad" hose or it may be a small leak caused build-up that expanded into a larger leak you see here. I suspect this is the case as the cheese spring clamp Audi uses, I could be wrong though.

There is a air bleeder hole in the top heater hose, loosen the clamp, slide the heater hose back so the hose no long covered by the connection and add more coolant until it bubble out, slide the hose back on and check the coolant level in the expansion tank, should be at MAX when the engine is HOT.

Clamp it off, have a look, clean it really well to new condition â€"donâ€^TMt forget to check the inside of the hose for deposits, no matter what you end-up doing get a new clamp before reassembly.