The other day while driving to a friends, the heat suddenly stopped working...when I accelerated I noticed the heat would only work when I was moving, and then when I stopped at a light the heat would turn cold. When I got to my buddies the degas bottle was EMPTY!!!!! I added coolant and after a gallon some finally remained in the bottle. NOW....when she's not running there appears to be NO leaks, but as soon as I start the truck up a spigot gets turned on and she sprays coolant! The leak is on the passenger side, somewhere behind the wheel well.....Any thoughts on what I should do? Is this possibly a ruptured hose, something I can tear apart and fix myself or do I need to have her towed to a professional? I don't know the coolant system well enough to know what's all back there....

 

Sound like a heater hose is leaking, you should be able to repair yourself easy enough.

 

I agree with a heater hose has busted. Follow the hoses and you should find the leak.

EDIT: I guess I could have said BURST, but, thats not how I roll.

 

That's my problem.....the leak is back behind the passenger wheel...and I can't get back there. Any tips on getting the wheel well off, because I can not get it off!!!! and I can't seem to see enough from above or below...and I don't like going below as I would rather not have antifreeze drip into my eye!
I'm getting really frustrated as I fee like this should be a simple job

 

Hopefully this does not sound insulting. Do you mean you cannot get the lugnuts loose? Or that once off the wheel will not come off? If you cannot get them loose put a cheater bar on the lug wrench or use a bit 1/2" drive breaker bar. If the wheel just won't come off put the lug nuts back on but not completely tight and drive the truck in circles a couple times to break it loose from the hub. Then try again. It should just slip right off. Wish I were closer I could give you some help.

 

Not the wheel itself, but the wheel well, the plastic guard between the wheel and the engine.....I think the problem is back in there.

The leak seems to be right above the starter somewhere because the leaking coolant is dripping from the bottom of the starter.....just such a difficult area to get at. Plus I'm stuck doing this in the street and now in a driveway with adequate room and all.

 

You don't need to take the wheel well out bud. The hoses are accessed from the top, they run right beside the engine to the firewall. One comes off the pass side head & the other the water pump.

 

So there are no hoses down below closer to the exhaust manifold? I see the hoses you are referring to...I guess the only thing to do is start the truck and watch for where the coolant is shooting out from?

 

The one that comes off the head is right there, probably busted down by the head.

 

Both hoses are cliped to the valve cover. It may have a hole on top of one of the hoses and spraying towards the wheel well.

 

But they can all be reached from above correct?

It almost appears the problem could be the house that comes off the T by the firewall and meets up with the Thermostat housing......what's the best way to get those spring house clamps off? It's a tight fit back there for my arms and a pliers...

Thanks for all the help guys!!! I really appreciate it! I'm enjoying getting more intimate with my EX and really getting to know this thing!

 

GOT IT......So I folded up some paper toweling and put it under and around the thermostat housing started the truck for a second, turned it off and the paper toweling is drenched!!!! So that house must be the problem....or possibly the thermostat housing. Not to get those damn spring clamps off!!!!

 

turns out what I was calling the thermostat is actually the Heater Valve...ROOKIE!!! So I got a new hose and heater valve, I got the one with Auxilary since I have rear heat controls...was that correct? I hope so since it was also the cheaper one!!!!