My '96 ranger, 4.0, auto transmission has developed a coolant leak. It is at the rear of the engine, passenger side, at or just above the bell housing. I can't quite see where it is leaking from even using an inspection mirror from on top or underneath. The engine runs great. I just finished replacing the power steering pump, ac compressor, dryer and hoses. What is back there? Freeze plug? Do I fear the worst and that the head or block warped?
I may drill a hole from the passenger compartment to try and get a better view.
Thanks for any ideas.
john

 

I have no proper idea what your problem is, but I had something similar happen on my 2004. On my truck there is a bolt that holds a wiring loom (on the drivers side on my truck) onto the rear side of the head. Apparently, the bolt hole breaks thru into the water jacket, and the coolant was leaking past the bolt threads. A little sealant and it was all fixed.

The fix was simple, but not easy. The mechanic had to remove the intake manifold to get to the affected area.

Hope your problem is as simple to fix. Good luck,
Pat

 

Is it possible when you replaced the heater core hoses a clamp didn't get tightened enough and it's dripping coolant down onto the culprit area? Otherwise I agree there's not much else back there besides the head.

 

The only heater hoses I disconnected were to the control valve and it's not leaking there. However there is a bracket bolted to the back of the engine that supports the ac hose that runs from the dryer to the compressor. I gave up trying to remove it and cut the top of it to replace the ac hose. In all my fiddling it maybe the culprit. It is not going to be a fun one to work on if it is the problem like reddog had. The leak did not exist before I did the work so it gives me some hope.

 

You could use a radiator pressure tester to add psi to an ambient cooling system and force the leak to become more active so you could trace it to the source. Has to be either a freeze plug or head gasket. The bolt holes on the back of the passenger cylinder head are identical to the ones on the front of the drivers cylinder head. Mostly they are used to attach the front end accessory drive brackets. Most auto supply shops have pressure testers to loan or do the test for you for free.