Tiny plastic line snapped – trying to identify

[austinrick]

1993 XLT 3.0L

I noticed a broken plastic line – I presume a vacuum line – and can't get a good i.d. on its purpose or the plastic cylinder that it goes to.

My questions are: 1) can that hose and related parts be replaced if I can identify them, and 2) should I even worry about it? I could simply leave the open ends open, or I could plug them somehow.

First pic: Bottom arrow points to where the plastic line snapped. Upper arrows indicate line going to vacuum "tree" next to distributor.

Second pic: Middle arrow points to mystery device. Line coming off the top curves to the back of the mystery cylinder (see other pic). That is the line that snapped. Line off the bottom curves over to the lower back side of air cleaner housing.

 

[bobbywalter]

something to consider having with older vehicles.

https://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Silicone-Vacuum-Tubing-Connectors/dp/B0D5CBCZ9J?tag=959media-20

 

[Curious Hound]

It is a vacuum line. That plastic thing that looks like a giant Tylenol capsule is a vacuum reservoir. This tubing and reservoir are part if the controls for the blend doors in your HVAC system to direct air over the heater core, AC evaporater coli and out through defrost vents, dash vents or floor vents.

You can fix it with common vacuum tubing and fittings from an aut parts store, like Bobby linked to. Having it broken presents a vacuum leak that will likely cause 2 problems. 1. The HVAC system will not work properly. 2. The engine will not run properly, ie; bad idle, running lean, etc.

 

[austinrick]

Crisis averted. I was able to salvage the rubber boot connecting the tubing to the three-way, disc shaped fitting with some sort of fuzzy material sticking out (shown well in the second pic). The end of the broken off tubing was down in that boot and nothing I tried was clearing it out. I did finally drill it out with a series of regular drill bits and a bench vice. I bought a length of overpriced 5/32" hard vacuum tubing and learned that those rubber tubing connectors are readily available in the Help section, next to the tubing display. Brought the tubing back home and put it all together in a few minutes; now it's as good as new.

Part of my problem is assuming that anything out of the ordinary on that truck is no longer available. I need to get past that. But take for instance that three-way fitting mentioned above: if I ever need to replace that I may be s.o.l. After all, the truck is 32 years old! How many parts on it are simply no longer available anywhere?

Anyway, thanks for the guidance. I'm sure you'll see me back here again.

 

[Curious Hound]

I believe thatv3-way fitting is a combination "tee" and "check valve" . So it could be replaced with more common separate fittings, if necessary. One side is vacuum source coming from the engine. That part needs the check valve, which only allows flow in one direction. That way, if engine vacuum falls off during hard acceleration, a sufficient volume if vacuum is trapped in the reservoir and tubing going to the HVAC controls so that they can still be operated. The "tee" would then just be a common 3-way connection between the check valve, the reservoir and the HVAC controls. Still an easy fix. Glad you got it done. The more you do, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you can do. We're here to help.

 

[austinrick]

And finally, the Haynes shop manual was absolutely no help through any of this.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

And finally, the Haynes shop manual was absolutely no help through any of this.

Yeah, I bought a few years ago and quickly learned that they are good for torque specs and not a whole lot else. Chilton manuals were better, but still not great and Chilton hasn’t produced manuals in years.

The good news is that the factory manuals have become more accessible in recent years. I’ve been slowly collecting them. Mostly I’ve been after the EVTM books for my year and model for all the electrical diagrams.

 

[cbxer55]

I have had that happen on my 98 multiple times. I just shrink a piece of black heat shrink tube over the broken thing, and keep on driving. Hasn't caused any issues yet.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I have had that happen on my 98 multiple times. I just shrink a piece of black heat shrink tube over the broken thing, and keep on driving. Hasn't caused any issues yet.

That’s actually probably not a bad hack

 

[cbxer55]

I have a plastic box full of various size heat shrink tubing that was purchased at one of the auto parts stores. And a heat shrink hair dryer bought at Harbor Freight. I believe I have around five of those broken tubes where this hack worked just fine.