Massive water leak
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 11
From: Minnesota
Massive water leak
Lost all my coolent in a matter of minutes. Did manage to get it home. Looks like it's behind the altenator flowing down into the valley and drips down onto the ground between the engine and bell housing. It is not the short hose on the back of the pump, but above that. Whatever it is, really let go. Now don't you guys yell at me cause.... it's on my 97 Mustang GT, not the truck. It has the same 4.6. This is my weekend ride, has only 60,000 miles on it. I'm an older guy, car has NEVER been abused. I'll pull the altenator next week some time for a look-see. Must be a cross over tube or something. Man, I mean this baby leaks dry in a couple minutes! Any input is appreciated. The young bucks over at the Mustang site just yell at me and tell me to search...that's fine, if I could get the search to work.
Thanks....Spotty
Thanks....Spotty
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,932
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i have a 5.4 motor that has a cross over aluminum tube (casting) under the intake manifold, but it is at the FRONT of the motor, just behind the alternator. mine got a small pin hole in the gasket on passenger side. leaked slowly and drained over a week period. yours must be a ruptured tube to leak that fast.-- on the 5.4 you would need to remove the manifold and flip over to see the water jacket on the bottom.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 11
From: Minnesota
Thought I would update this on what I found. Pulled out the alternator. The front of the intake manifold is plastic also and is used to move the coolent from one side to the other. There is a 3" crack about 1/4" wide where it ruptured. No warning...nothing... just blew out. After searching around the net I found out it was a bad design, just waiting to crack. The replacement Intake manifold has the water crossover area now made of aluminum. Means a whole new intake manifold. I started on it last night and took about an hour to get most of the stuff out of the way. I have 1 heater hose to get out and maybe have to get below and pull the EGR pipe off (maybe not) and it should be ready to pull out. Parts are ordered, about 3 bills should cover it.
Spotty
Spotty
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 3
From: SE Wyoming
Beat me to it those plastic crossovers were a recall but ONLY on the police issue CV's, might want to look into a PI intake and head swap if you want a little more power. You can do just the intake but have to plug some coolant holes that will be exposed.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 11
From: Minnesota
Yeah, I thought about the PI deal, but it is nice to have a cherry 100% stock car for resale. My wife and I keep looking at a 2007 Mustang GT Premium. Then I have my 300 ponies right from the factory, and they will respond to mods. better in the future than my current non PI. It is tempting to go the PI route though. I haven't picked up the parts yet, so who knows.... some young sales dude could probably talk me into without a fight (LOL).....
Spotty
Spotty
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 321
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From: Ohio
Those intakes used to be a recall. My 96 Crown Victoria cracked in the same place. The torque from the belt turning the alternator would make them crack.
The intake you get to replace it will have a aluminum cross over for that one that cracked.
By the way, when I got my intake it had a recall note in it that stated to the service tech's to check the area for cracking and if it wasn't cracked don't replace it.
The intake you get to replace it will have a aluminum cross over for that one that cracked.
By the way, when I got my intake it had a recall note in it that stated to the service tech's to check the area for cracking and if it wasn't cracked don't replace it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 11
From: Minnesota
Got my new manifold today, all is done, purrs like a kitten once again.Kind of funny, the whole job was done with a 8 and 10 mm socket (except the big nut on the EGR tube). I like the newer manifold, the gaskets are incorporated right into the plastic, nothing to get mis-aligned. My only mistake was the back heater hose that goes on the manifold. The hose is black and so is the tube you push it on to. It stops when the hose hits a raised portion which is also black and the same ID as the outside of the hose. Well... somehow my 55 year old eyes got the clamp on the plastic instead of the hose. I started it up and was sitting inside, proud of my work, when that hose blew off... looked like old faithful...friken coolent all over the place. All is cleaned up, just another lesson learned...
Spotty
Spotty
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