Engine Basics: that mess o' hoses

Most folks blanch when they peek under the hood. Modern cars have enough wires and hoses to tap into people's instinctual fear of snakes and spiders (that's my pop-psychology theory at least). In any event, it's usually a mess. At some point in the last couple of years, car designers got wise to this crazy situation and decided, "let's just cover the whole shebang up!"

And they did. Most brand new cars have a nice, obfuscating plastic cover that tidies up all that unsightly junk. In case you can't tell, I think this cover-up trend sucks. But if it prevents some of the more sensitive among us from having visceral reactions involving jumping up on a chair and shrieking, then good on 'em.

So what do you need to know about all these hoses and wires? Well, the wires are pretty simple - look for frays. Sometimes mice and other small animals decide your engine looks like a wonderful nesting area. They chew on this, and rip at that, gathering up your underhood insulation and such to make a cozy little nest. It's not very smart, but neither are rodents. So chewed up wiring is definitely something to be watchful for. Also, some underhood liquids are corrosive (like brake fluid, nasty stuff) so a spill on wiring could eat through the insulation. Chafing and heat can play a role, too. But if you notice something suspicious, let your mechanic know.

Hoses are also pretty simple. They usually get checked up on when you bring a car in for scheduled maintenance. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't look at them occasionally. There are two types - hoses that carry your coolant/antifreeze ("water"), and air hoses. Look for cracking, bulges, and anything like that. A gentle squeeze on a cool hose (don't burn yourself!) can also tell you if it's getting brittle and might break. A broken water hose can strand you, and some air hose leaks can keep a car from running. Let your mechanic know ASAP if you think there is a chance a hose might break.

That's about it. Shoot me an email or comment if you have any questions.