'99 Navigator Intech 32V DOHC.
I have a coolant leak located near the rear of the engine.
It is dripping from somewhere above the starter, but I just can't seem to find where it is leaking from.
The heater hoses are located on this side of the engine, but they do not seem to be leaking. Has anyone had this type of leak before? Where did you trace the leak to?

Thank you

 

Turns out the leak is coming from a coolant hose that runs underneath the intake manifold in the valley of the engine.
Upper and lower intake must come off to repair.
Yikes!

 

have the same problem on my 97 expy leaking back in back still cant find leak. have the 4.6 engine in mine. wonder if it is the same set up on the lines. hoses seem fine and nothing is getting into the back spark plug.

 

Yes, your 4.6 has the same / or similar coolant line running down the valley of the engine under the intake manifold.
The coolant line connects at the back of the engine where you can't see it, until you remove the intake. If you go to all the trouble to remove the intake to fix it, also replace your heater hoses that connect up to your heater core even if they are not leaking. (It's easy to do while the engines apart, and you don't want to have to do this again later).

 

damn damn damn sounds like a lot of fun then. would rather do another spark plug change on it lol

 

Apparently I have this same leak... coolant is slowly pooling under the intake manifold up front, and it runs off the back of the engine onto the starter area.

My 2000 EB 5.4L just now has 90K and is running great otherwise. Anybody care to give me a ballpark figure on what to expect from the dealer? I've done some work on my expy (thanks to this forum!), but this is an area that I need help with.

Thanks!!

 

About $2,000 just to replace the tube.
If they find the nipple connection thing needs to be replaced, ( as described below), once they get the coolant tube off, then $3,000.00 to $4,000.00.

Note: Check the "nipple" thing where the coolant tube joins the water pump under the intake manifold. More than likely, (if you didn't change your coolant on a regular basis), the coolant actually turns into an acid and will eat aluminum parts. If you look closely at the two grooves in the 'nipple' connection once you have it apart, you will probably see a hole in the groove.
Best to replace it. It's a press fit.

 

wow... this seems like a bad design... get a leak and spend $2-4K???

what is the expense here - mainly labor?

Thanks

 

Mostly all labor.
I think the tube itself is only $30.00.
They will probably snap all the connectors that go to the fuel injectors and replace those.
Your right. Terrible design. What was wrong with the old way, when all you would replace was a $5.00 rubber hose.

 

Just wanted to provide an update on my coolant leak situation to share with others. In my 2000 Expy EB w/ 5.4L and 90K miles, the manifold unit is a huge piece of molded "plastic" of some type. It comes with a cast cross-over coolant pipe (pre-assembled), and the whole unit from the dealer is just under $500.

So apparently, both the gaskets where the manifold mounts to the block, and the seals where the cross-over coolant pipe connect to the manifold were all just shot (I got to inspect them after they were all pulled - sure enough...).

So all of this had to be replaced... it just wore out... The good news is that I found a fantastic independent mechanic shop in downtown Raleigh, NC that repaired the whole mess for just 7.7 hours of labor. AND, included in that labor, they even replaced the plugs (that I provided them) while they had it all apart, cleaned the throttle body (so it doesn't stick anymore), replaced the fuel filter.

It runs like a champ and it took care of several maintenance chores that I had been putting off. Not a bad ending to the story.

I would hate to know how much labor the dealer would have charged for all this... and I'm glad I don't have to find out.

HATS OFF to all you honest, hard working mechanics out there!!!

KHaga in Raleigh, NC

 

does it really cost between 2,000 and 4,000 to replace the hose?

 

I don't know what was involved to cost $2-4K... must be something unique to the Navigator. It's not a "hose" either - its for the cast cross-over coolant "pipe" that runs from one side of the manifold to the other. I suspect this is more sophisticated for the Navigator engine (DOHC), which is why earlier posts gave that price.

As I mentioned in my post above, the cross-over coolant pipe is part of the Expedition 5.4L manifold assembly, and I had the entire manifold replaced (includes the cross-over coolant assembly) with new gaskets, etc for about $1K from an independent mechanic (including other minor work as well). The manifold assembly (Ford replacement part) was $500 of that.

 

I just noticed a funny smell tonight and when I got home, it smelled something like coolant. I didn't see any leaks anywhere, but I hope its not that tube. I'll be trading my Navi in if it is....sigh

 

Yours is probably the heater core. try turning your heater on and see if you can smell it through the vents, if so, it's the heater core. This is a big job and the dealership wanted $1200 for parts and labor to fix mine (97 expy), and will only warranty with the purchase their part. Good luck!