Our new radiator clamps keep coming loose and I don't know why

Are they pushed on all the way? Are they long enough? Are they too big? They should be kinda tight or hard to push on. See if they are OEM replacements and pushed on all the way. Buy new clamps other-wise.

Hello! Yes, I believe they are pushed on all the way though they weren't at first. The first leak we had was because an end came loose on the lower. Since then it's just been leaks, mostly on the lower, though today we noticed a small wet spot on the driveway under the upper too. That was a first and it's why I posted since things are escalating! It was fine as far as we know for about 10 days. The lower has needed tightening 3 times in the last 10 days, though. The hoses are OEM we ordered from AutoZone and seem to fit fine. They were hard to get on and side by side with the old ones they looked the same. The clamps are new, on the lower are screw type from AutoZone, but the upper are some clamp style we ordered online.

I can't post a link apparently but the spring clamps used on the upper are unbranded clamps we found on eBay, called "RADIATOR HOSE SPRING CLAMP 1-3/4" OPEN 1-1/2" CLOSED 1/2" THICK." They're only on the upper, they were too small for the lower, so we bought different ones for the lower hose.

Leaking at the connection at motor or radiator?

At the connection.

To radiator end of hose or motor end of hose?

Or both ends of hose?

Pull hoses off and clean both the insides and connections points, if there is not debris clean with soapy warm water and then look at connection points to fine the location of where the clamp is intended to be, some have a nipple or a mark or a indention just behind a raise area, slide hose on all the way as far as it will go and if there is any room left for hose to move on farther keep pushing until it reaches there, then slide clamp up to the point where the marker was or until you know its past the end of the connection point and about a half inch from the actual end of hose and tighten tight.

We're not sure -- it looks like it's the radiator end, but it's possible it's the engine end of the hose and just dripping down along the hose. Not long ago we replaced gaskets in the engine proper because coolant was leaking into the oil. This doesn't look like the leaks we had before replacing the gasket, but that may not mean much.

Some of these front wheel drive cars are hard to get hoses on all the way and then get the clamps tight too as room or angle is poor. Do as above said and if still leaks then you need better clamps. I looked at those clamps, if correct size should work, if connection point has the narrow section just after a raised section to squeeze hose, if not use a usa made regular screw clamp.

Okay, thanks! We're heading out to see what we can and will check all those points, hopefully we can find this. I'm concerned about those spring clamps become not sure we had an easily identifiable connection point on that top hose. Time to find out. Thanks!

I see, may be leaking from there, or around water pump, timing case area. I think I would get a flash light on it and if need be crawl under to look. May need to remove some of the plastic guards trim pieces.

Look around those gaskets for seeping threw.

Well the space between the end of hose and the clamp can differ depending on the nipple connection length, you just want the clamp past the raised area if it has raised area.

Sorry I didn't get back to this thread sooner, but we seem to have discovered a few things: the upper hose with the spring clamps doesn't appear to be leaking. What we think happened is that the lower hose leaked onto a plastic piece under the radiator which has a lip on it, and fluid has been spilling out of that lip on the driver's side, making it look like the upper hose was leaking. The lower hose was still leaking though, and we finally found that raised area by feel -- it was barely raised, you couldn't see it at all. We re-placed the hose and clamp and so far so good, but it's only been half a day. Also discovered that my husband used an old screw clamp on the lower hose connection to the radiator. He said the new clamps were too small and he couldn't get them on, so we'll be buying a new clamp in the right size hopefully tomorrow morning, because I don't trust this old clamp. It's apparently the one that was on the old hose. Thanks for your help, I really think it did the trick!

Your welcome, thanks for the update.

Yea on the radiators with plastic bowls may or may not have the raised area and up to the make of that radiator to the size they choose to raise it, sounds like yours was one that barley had any raise to it all, but yet just enough to work with, glad you found it, and also Yes I understand having to feel for it cause you can not see it as I have to do half the work I do by using the sight in my fingers its a big part of auto work that I guess we forget to tell about in that way exactly.

Its been 2 years but i have a question. The other day the clamp on my coolant hose came off spilled all my antifreeze. So we got a new clamp reattached it next day while driving my clamp came off again spilled all the antifreeze again any ideas why clamp keeps coming off?