Collapsed PCV Hose

I recently took my 1999 Saturn SL1 to a local car shop to have it serviced,
and the guy noticed that the hose to the PCV valve had collapsed. This is
the short 4 or 5 inch long black hose from the middle top of the engine
towards the windshield. The removed hose would not spring back to its
original shape. The hose resembled a collapsed straw that had been used to
suck on a thick milk shake. I recall that the inner diameter of the hose
was 5/8 inch. I went over to AutoZone and got a replacement hose intended
for transmission fluid from AutoZone which sells the hose in 1 foot lengths.
The replacement hose has a much thicker outer diameter and seems to be
reinforced inside with a woven fiber mesh.

What sort of problems would be manifested by a collapsed PCV hose? The
original equipment hose should be sturdier in future cars. Previous to
getting my car tuned up at this place, with a mileage around 28,000 miles, I
was having trouble starting the car cold, sometimes having trouble starting
the car warm, and the engine would cut off when I revved it in park. I
wonder if this collapsed tube contributed to the problem. I have no trouble
with the car now.


-Ed L

Mostly engine heat would attribute to a worn or cracked hose. Saturn has
actually replaced the pcv hose design with a newer better reinforced design
for S series.

marx404