Air/vacuum hose perished, what does it do?

[BigLion]

Hi all,


let me start by saying I had a look for this part in the realoem.com diagrams (there was no description in 'fuel injection system' parts diagram, but it looks like #7), and don't have a Bentley manual, but I am concerned about how soon I should replace this line - it comes from the large rubber 'boot' from the front air intake side of the throttle butterfly, via a kind of nipple attachment from the boot; the hose goes through above the cylinder head under the engine cover and disappears... any idea what this ruuber hose is for, as it easily disintegrated in my hand, the same way that the window rubbers perish out here in the heat!