My Brick normally runs well. The only times I have problems with it is when I'm stopped in traffic, in the hot weather here in South Carolina. I can safely idle at a stand-still for five minutes or so, but much more than that and the temperature gauge starts heading up, towards the red zone. If I cut on the heat, the temperature will drop back down, but I know that there are plenty of Brickers out there who never have to move that slider.

I've cleaned out the radiator fairly well, and although doing that extended the time I can sit in traffic, the needle has still headed north at least once since the cleaning. My coolant system seems to be in order, and nearly everything about the engine checks out. Therefore, I'm still wondering what could be allowing/causing my engine to get so hot.

I think it may be related to this broken hose on the passenger side of the engine bay:


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I seem to recall hearing that the hose is an air intake hose. If that's the case, then I would guess that the hose does a good job while the car is moving (I've never overheated on the highway), but when the car is stopped, hot air builds up in the engine bay until it starts flowing in through the part of the hose open to the bay.

What's this hose called? How easily is it replaced?

If this broken tubing does end up being why my car gets hotter than it should, I'm going to be a little miffed. I had asked my dad, and possibly my mechanic, about the hose and if it should be replaced. I was dismissed with the response being that the tube wasn't that important, that it served no major function. If it's bringing cool air to the engine, I consider THAT pretty darn important.
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'89 244 GL -- 105,262 miles (see profile for info on car)