So I have a 5/32" vacuum line that runs from a connector at the firewall, goes under my coolant overflow tank, in front of the blower motor, then along the fender where it connects into another inline fitting. I have some cracks in this line and it needs to be replaced, but it is very well secured in the fittings (My guess is adhesive) on either end of the line. How do I remove the line from the fittings without damaging them?

Also, if you have lost the ability to switch between vent, heat, and defrost on you heating system, then there is a high likelihood that you have damage in this line.

 

Slit it lengthwise with a razor knife.

 

Cruiser has the best way, a second way is to snip the vacuum line right at the end of the fitting. Then use a toothpick or two to squeeze between the fitting and the remaining vacuum hose. Once you have loosened it then a pair of needle nose pliers will pull it right off..

 

Nah. It's a Zen thing. With age, the line becomes one with the fitting.

Be careful when using a razor to slit the line - you can score the fitting and then you have a permanent vacuum leak.

 

Ya know those little torch lighters, they are supper handy for meth heads and such. (great for soldering small BTW).....Warming things up in a tight space without starting a fire can be helpful. I think the main vacuum line you and I like to have working comes off the intake manifold, then back to and across the firewall, then all the way down the inner fender to a vacuum reservoir behind the right front bumper. THAT LINE has a Y to give vacuum the the transfer case with the 4wd switch/valves. IIRC that is under the coolant expansion bottle behind the trans dipstick.

A small black vacuum line comes back from the reservoir to control more things like pulling on a diaphragm under your dash to pull a lever to change it from defrost.

If I need to use the knife sometimes I might go diagonal, dreaming any scoring will be less likely to leak.

 

This is that vacuum line. I had lost the ability to switch from defrost. As soon as I patched this line, it came back. Just wanted to perform a proper fix and glad I did.

There was another massive improvement in how the engine runs after doing this. Vacuum and map readings are much more steady.

How you guys said to replace it was spot on. I used a mixture of all the techniques. On the side closest to the battery, I used hose picks to separate the two, then used a needle nose to remove it easily. On the firewall side, I pulled the line through, only to realize it was just the continuation of a much longer line, and not a small broken fragment of the line. I cut this end straight with a wire cutter, and inserted the other end of the line into the connector. I also used Gasgacinch to help seal things up a bit.

Thanks for the advice