Help: my diverter T snapped.

[JERisBRISK]

Well, that sucks. I was working on the aFe Hot & Cold Cold Charge pipe install and first I drop a bolt (gonna have to jack up the car and take off the front guard to retrieve that one…) and then the “T” for my diverter valve abruptly snapped when I was trying to finesse the (practically welded on) vacuum line per the instructions:



Now I’m left to wonder…

1. Is starting the car and running it at low speeds OK like this (driving it around the garage / driveway), or am I asking for “limp mode” or other, bigger troubles?

2. Any suggestions for replacements that aren’t so bloody fragile?

 

[bfglitch]

Ug, that sucks. I hate plastic parts when used around heat, but such is how things are. My ex had a Saab 9-3 (After they went to GM) where the T on the upper radiator hose that would divert to the turbo cracked. So I ordered the ONLY replacement you could get. about 8 months later, same thing happened. So I decided not again. Purchased a brass hose coupler that also had a threaded hole in the middle normally used to do pressure checks. Used that to thread a brass nipple on it and called it done.

I would imagine as long as you're just moving the car around the driveway you'll be fine as you probably won't be engaging the turbo, but that's a guess.

Can't imagine there's really any "aftermarket" parts for that. Either get a replacement from Kia or try to cobble together your own, although with something that small I'm not sure how simple that'll be.

 

[JERisBRISK]

Thanks and sorry to hear about your own woes. But this is how we grow, yeah?

It’s a 5mm Tee, so I called around. A local parts store has one that may work. I also ordered a brass one and some high temp silicone on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3BQhKHE

Just in case NAPA fails me (and so I can swap for something sturdier next week, or when I swap to BOVs). Everything at NAPA is SAE, not metric. Fortunately hoses are a little squishy.

 

[Rodtheviking]

1/4 inch vacuum T, you can find one at any auto part store. Even a t fitting for the windshield washer line will work.

 

[JERisBRISK]

Wound up with the only one NAPA had in stock… an odd “choose your own size, cut to fit” one. it’ll do for now. Brass one is on order.

 

[JERisBRISK]

Alright! I got all the parts in late last week and have revised the routing as follows.

Before:





After:


A couple takeaways:

1. 5mm ID high-temp silicone hose is not very supple. Then again, the braided hose this is replacing wasn’t either. I’m thinking picking up some 5mm brass elbows (if I can find some) would be a good choice to avoid the “lightbulb” shape I’ve home-brewed.

2. 5mm is too big and slippery to fit snugly, even if the stock Tee measures 5mm at the narrowest. I’m thinking 4mm might be a better choice. Silicone is slippery enough that it requires a clamp to mate to the the nipples on the diverter valves and the MAP without slipping off with the slightest tug. 4mm would fare better.

 

[pJan]

Hi, how has this worked out? Any update?