Technical Anyone know how to disengage Heater Hose quick release connectors

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Technical Anyone know how to disengage Heater Hose quick release connectors

ormani

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Has anyone ever taken the heater hose quick release connectors off FIAT 500 USA. Do you need a special tool for the Fiat? The FIAT manual just says " disengage the 2 tabs that secure each heater hose connector" ( see attachment). I have been trying to press tabs in with needle nose and decided to check with forum to see if someone actually did it without taking off the hose clamps and going that route.

Some american cars like GM, Ford use a tool that engage from the back to release forward (eee attachment). was looking at a close-up of an aftermarket one that looks kinda like it.( see attachment)
 

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I've learned, by destroying a number of these sorts of plastic fittings - not necessarily on only Fiats - to leave them well alone if I possibly can. Where fuel lines are concerned, because the lines themselves are often hard plastic (nylon?) you don't really have much choice and just have to do it but on water hoses - so rad and heater hoses - because they are softer rubber, I prefer to remove the clip which secures the hose itself to the plastic fitting and, as has been done for years, pull the hose off the fixing. Often the original manufacturer's clip is not designed to be easily removed so you end up destroying it but it is easily replaced with a worm drive (Jubilee type) clip when reassembling. Which also has the advantage that it's easier to dismantle next time round.
 
Thank you all for the advice. I am going to try and take off the hose clamps even though they are in a difficult to get at. I have been pushing in the clips from the sides and little tabs behind and that fitting is not budging. I can almost feel like something isnt right in the release and the thing is going to break.

When I get the evaporator / heater matrix out of the car, I will take a closer look. I will take some close- up pictures of the clips if I can get them off when whole thing is sitting on the bench.

Thanks again you all for your input on this matter.
 

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Ok finally got the heater hoses off and heater matrix out of the car. It was a great suggestion to remove from the hoses and definitely use jubilee type hose clamp when putting back on.

I got the the heater hose from the top granted I have all the dressing intake stuff off. The bottom one was best to lift car and come from underneath. make sure to have eye protection and stand to the side cause coolant will probably fall on you. If you don't have all the top covers off the engine you can probably get to both from underneath the car.

I will add that even when I had the heater / evap pulled out in the car, the heater clips were still a pain to get off. keep in mind I had full access to them from behind, above, below and they were still a pain to release. It would have been very unlikely I would have been able to release the hoses from the clips. if anyone wants to give it a go remember it's the little tabs in the back that need to be squeezed. ( as the member above you stated ).

I included some close up pictures incase anyone down the line wants to get an idea of how they are put together.
 

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