Antifreeze in floorboard
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Joined: Aug 2001
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Antifreeze in floorboard
After work yesterday I found several drops of antifreeze on the passenger side floor mat. I looked up into the wiring (haven't had time to remove dash yer) and it didn't look like it had spilled out much more than that. Under the hood is clean, no spills, leaks, etc.
I flushed and filled my radiator about a week ago, but haven't seen anything until now.
Can anyone help me out?
I flushed and filled my radiator about a week ago, but haven't seen anything until now.
Can anyone help me out?
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO.
Antifreeze in floorboard
Your heater core is leaking. It is located inside the black plastic box behind/under the dashboard on the passenger side. You can see where the two heater hoses go into the passenger compartment if you look under the hood, on the passenger side, near the hinge area. The heater core is just like a small radiator. It is repaired in the same way, or replaced. But you have to get to it first. I have never replaced one on a Bronco, but usually replacing a heater core is a MAJOR pain in the butt. You have to take a lot of the dashboard and ac components apart. Maybe someone here has done one on a Bronco If you don't ever use the heater, you can simply cut the two heater hoses under the hood and block them off. You can buy plugs made for this, and secure them with hose clamps. Or, you can do this temporarily for now, and then fix the heater before winter. You also may be lucky and be able to get by with radiator sealer. Get the one that looks like little bits of metal, I think it is called Bars Leaks. Also, believe it or not, I have used about a teaspoon of ground black pepper dumped into the radiator to permanently fix a leaking radiator.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO.
Antifreeze in floorboard
A couple of more things. One, flushing the radiator probably caused the leak in the heater core. I've done that before. But, that means it was weak anyway and would have started leaking sooner or later. Also, if you block the heater off, there will still be coolant in the core that will slowly leak. But you can get it out of there by blowing through one of the heater hoses that you cut, into the heater core. It will blow the coolant out the other side of the heater core (where the other hose was). Just remember that the heater core is like a little radiator, so imaging blowing the water out of a radiator if you couldn't see it. Make sure you have the controls set to "heat" when you do this so the valve will be open.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2001
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Antifreeze in floorboard
well, a heater core is very simple to take out if you have a bronco, and i'm thinking you do. here's how, you just disconnect your two hose's under the hood that go to the core, and plug them. you'll see where they go into the firewall, and there will be two clamps on them. then remove your glove box, you'll see the temperture function cables, so go ahead and remove or disconnect them. then you'll see seven screws that hold the heater core cover on to the plenum, then remove them, and take the cover off. then take the core out of the plenum, carefull not to spill the coolant in the core,and instalation is reverse, cores are not very high so i recommend replacement, most any auto parts store has them good luck,
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO.
Antifreeze in floorboard
That sounds easy. It's good that it can be gotten to through the glovebox. I've done some heater cores that were nightmares, had to remove half the dashboard and part of the ac. So if it is that easy, I would ignore the advice about blocking it off, and go ahead and replace it. But you can block it off and blow the water out temporarily to keep more from leaking out until you fix it. Also, if the heater hoses are in good condition, don't cut them in half. You can reuse them. However, do not try to unscrew the factory clamps and remove the hoses from the core. They are stuck on there, believe me. Simply cut them about an inch away from the clamps, and save yourself much grief. You would have to cut them anyway, to put them back on the new core.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 389
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From: Georgia
Antifreeze in floorboard
J Bronco's advice is dead on. Untill you get to the clamps.
They have to come off because they will not fit through the holes. I did this two weeks ago in my 89. Fighting with the clamps took more time than the rest of the job. $35 the core, two clamps, and 5 feet of hose.
They have to come off because they will not fit through the holes. I did this two weeks ago in my 89. Fighting with the clamps took more time than the rest of the job. $35 the core, two clamps, and 5 feet of hose.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO.
Antifreeze in floorboard
True. I should have said, don't try to just loosen the clamps and remove the hoses, because you won't be able to. Cut them an inch from the clamps to get them out of the way and make it easier to work on getting the clamps off. Loosen the clamps a little until you can stick a flat bladed screwdriver in between it and force it off. Don't plan on reusing the clamps. Then split the piece of hose left on there with a razor and you're good to go. Also, you could use a small mini-hacksaw to cut through the clamp and piece of hose. Since you are putting in a new core, you could even saw off the ends! It's true, getting the hoses off can be the hardest part if you think you are going to simply loosen the clamps and pull the hoses off.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: airdrie canada
Antifreeze in floorboard
if you blow the anitfreeze out of the heater core use compressed air not your mouth antifreeze can kill you, i remember reading about one fellow who sucked some fumes back into his lungs and died. good luck and take care
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 115
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Antifreeze in floorboard
Dude its your heater core samething happened to me last year. Fix it now its really easy get a heater core at auto zone or someplace like that their about 17 bucks and get 6 feet of heater hose and a 4 metel clamps takes about 30-1hour when you have the right parts already there and get some antifreeze cuz your going to need a bunch of it. Also get a manual for your truck its an easy fix and they all show you how to do it. Don't have a shop do it for you they well charge you a ton for an easy job. And if you don't want to do it yourself call me and i'll take your 500 bucks and fix my truck up. Honastly that was my first fix I ever did and it was easy now with the book I do basically everything I can my self.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 127
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From: Coopersville
Antifreeze in floorboard
When I got my heater core replaced at a shop it was $65. That included new hoses, clamps, heater core, and labor. I'm just pointing out that it doesn't cost anywhere near $500.
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