My girlfriend is 98 Saab 900 Turbo has a coolant leak.It is coming from a separated hose in the back of the engine.I am not familiar with Saabs really, so it is hard for me to describe it, but l can tell you it looks like the hose is in two sections and has separated, exposing a grey plastic piece within one section of hose.

This plastic piece does not look like it should be exposed and there are two screw clamps holding these two sections of hose over this gray piece.

I am sorry that this explanation is so crappy, but I am just wondering what this piece is and if it is damaged or... what.Literally, if l pour coolant into the tank, it will just pour straight out of this separation in the hose so It is not even GETTING to the radiator, obviously.

It obviously needs replacement, so time to get to a garage (should tow the car to avoid any overheating, since that will cause much more damage to the engine)

You can usually replace the two rubber and plastic hoses with just a continuous piece of heater hose depending on the diameter size of the hose. Heater hoses are not that expensive at an auto parts store.

These are heater hoses that connect to the heater core pipes at the firewall. This is a common failure in high mileage Saabs. Most dealers stock this item and it comes as a complete assembly (both hoses and the plastic seperator).

It is a heater hose and the most ignored among all hoses as it is in the back and all tend to ignore this fellow. This hose has been a chronic problem with SAAB and unfortunately the quality of this hose has remained the same over the last 20 years that l have been with SAAB. The only solution is to change it. The part is not expensive.

Assuming no other leaks, chaning this hose should be inexpensive and the way to go. Ditto earlier coments about getting a tow to a dealer/servicer if you are not confident about changing the hose yourself.