Check your heater hose connections. W/ part numbers

[Roilux]

It's preventative maintenance time on my '04 Tahoe in anticipation of several road trips this spring and summer. I purchased all four heater hose connectors as the existing ones looked original. At 20years old and 170k they've held up well, or so I thought. Upon removing the first clamp the inlet snapped clean off as it had become brittle. (first photo)

Five of the six quick disconnects came off (one fell off) without a tussle. The black tee connection on left side connecting at the firewall wanted to fight. Squeezing - nope. Using a disconnect tool - nope. Then I recalled what a Chevy parts guy told me when their guys have a stubborn plastic connector to remove. They use a red hot knife to melt the tee on both sides and remove it without stressing the inlet pipe to the heater core. I tried and and can confirm it works with ease. (last photo)

Here are the GM part numbers for a 2004 Tahoe and similar vehicles with rear A/C and heat.
GM# 15055342 Auxiliary heater inlet hose Tee connector - black
GM# 15055343 Auxiliary heater inlet hose Tee connector
GM# 15119175 Heater hose inlet connector
GM# 15059584 Heater hose connector

Add a 1" minimum diameter hose clamp to your shopping list. The plastic factory clamp can't be reused. (It's missing in photo 2)

Happy Trails!

 

[justirv]

It's preventative maintenance time on my '04 Tahoe in anticipation of several road trips this spring and summer. I purchased all four heater hose connectors as the existing ones looked original. At 20years old and 170k they've held up well, or so I thought. Upon removing the first clamp the inlet snapped clean off as it had become brittle. (first photo)

Five of the six quick disconnects came off (one fell off) without a tussle. The black tee connection on left side connecting at the firewall wanted to fight. Squeezing - nope. Using a disconnect tool - nope. Then I recalled what a Chevy parts guy told me when their guys have a stubborn plastic connector to remove. They use a red hot knife to melt the tee on both sides and remove it without stressing the inlet pipe to the heater core. I tried and and can confirm it works with ease. (last photo)

Here are the GM part numbers for a 2004 Tahoe and similar vehicles with rear A/C and heat.
GM# 15055342 Auxiliary heater inlet hose Tee connector - black
GM# 15055343 Auxiliary heater inlet hose Tee connector
GM# 15119175 Heater hose inlet connector
GM# 15059584 Heater hose connector

Add a 1" minimum diameter hose clamp to your shopping list. The plastic factory clamp can't be reused. (It's missing in photo 2)

Happy Trails!

Those firewall connections are the worst. Thanks for the tip and P/N's. How's your A/C, with the thought of summer road trips in mind?

 

[ivin74]

Dorman makes steel tees, you should have gone that route.

https://a.co/d/jgm8q6X

 

[Marky Dissod]

Dorman makes steel tees, you should have gone that route.

https://a.co/d/jgm8q6X

That's the T, thanks - but what about the one that looks less like a T, the more Y-ish looking one?

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Glad to read that you were proactive and replaced the connectors before they explored while you were driving down the road. Hopefully, you have replaced ALL of the coolant hoses in the truck, as well, as they deteriorate over time. I believe that the date of manufacture is stamped on the hoses.

In my case, the hose let go before the Tee did, while I was on the road but very close to home, but I changed them all out at the same time.