Heater Hoses
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Sable. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The heater hoses are made of rubber hose and metal tube assemblies that are connected together using aluminum clamps that are crimped into place. The aluminum clamps must not be removed. The heater hoses must not be serviced as subassemblies by separating the rubber hoses from the metal tubes. On vehicles equipped with a 3.0L (2V) engine, the heater core inlet hose and the heater core outlet hose are two separate assemblies. On vehicles equipped with a 3.0L (4V) engine, the heater core inlet hose and heater core outlet hose are a single assembly and should be serviced as a single assembly.