upper radiator hose hole
 

alright my buddy has the 3.4 engine in his 02 alero. he gave me a call earlier that his heat shot through the roof and there was steam pooring out of the hood. I went over to check it out, he has giant gaping hole in i his upper radiator hose. where it goes close to the pully for something right there (not sure what it was). it looks like all sorts of crap has been flying off there and onto the hose and the hole was in the center of it all. its big enough to easily fit both thumbs through... I thought that was a bit strange seeing as how everything was fine the other day, not even a slight leak... I dont have any pics but I will try to get some tomorrow. Is this just a regular old sprung a leak or something else going on here? also- he said the temp gauge got up into the red before he got pulled over, i know this isnt good but should we run through a bit of check list or anything before firing it up again? the previous owner of the car beat the hell out of it so im a bit concerned.

My first thought was the belt, but if the belt is still there, plus IDT a belt could rip a hose like that.

You're saying there's a bunch of crap around there. Althought at the water pump it's where the belt goes down to the crank, not up, I'm thinking that it's not too likely that something on the road got caught up in the belt and came up and ripped into the hose, but it is possible. The hose is close to the belt, but not that close

Alright. I should have explained a bit more, he belt looks great. But on the hose the crap that looks like it's been through onto it looks like the pully got wet and just splattered rust and rocks onto it, that's the best way I'd be able to describe it. He got it replaced today and she's still running good. Just one of this I guess...