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Bad Coolant Leak

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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 08:38 PM
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Bad Coolant Leak

I have a 97' Expedition with a really bad leak. I can't exactly pinpoint the leak but it seems to be leaking from around the firewall, back of the block, front of the transmission. Could it be a heater hose leak? Is there any way to get to the problem myself? It would seem to me that the only way to access it would be to drop the transmission. I have searched and searched the internet and I'm guessing it's not a common problem. HELP!!!
 
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 09:21 PM
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Could be the heater hose connections to the heater core or the hose connection to the manifold. Could also be a manifold or head gasket leak. I'd suggest trying to take a look at the back of the engine on top using a mirror and see if you can see anything.
 
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 09:41 PM
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you might also want to check your frost plugs on the back side of the motor its a pain in the a## back ther but u will need a good mirror and a good light and just climb back there some times its easier to see from the bottom, put some pressure on the system and you should be able to follow the telltale trail it should create
 
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 12:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Pitch_Black05
you might also want to check your frost plugs on the back side of the motor its a pain in the a## back ther but u will need a good mirror and a good light and just climb back there some times its easier to see from the bottom, put some pressure on the system and you should be able to follow the telltale trail it should create
A radiator shop or any well equipped shop will have a pressure tester and possibly Advance Auto Parts will have a loaner tool you can use. Pressurize the system to about 14 psi after filling the system, then start looking for coolant dripping. That will give you a starting point to locate the leak.
 
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 03:20 AM
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Thanks

Thank you guys for the responses. I talked to my local Ford dealership and they said if the coolant is leaking out that fast that putting the pressure into it wouldn't help. Since the water is leaking out SO fast thats why I think it is a heater core hose. Good news is that there no water on the oil dipstick. Does anyone know if there is a way to get to the hoses without putting it on a lift and dropping the transmission?
 
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 07:34 AM
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THERE ARE 2 HEATER FITTING. ONE A 90* ELBOW PRESSED INTO THE INTAKE AND THE OTHER A METAL TUBE THAT RUNS FROM BEHIND THE WATER PUMP TO THE BACK OF THE RH HEAD. THEY MIGHT HAVE RUSTED OUT
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 07:46 AM
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leak

Originally Posted by benningstspeed1.0
THERE ARE 2 HEATER FITTING. ONE A 90* ELBOW PRESSED INTO THE INTAKE AND THE OTHER A METAL TUBE THAT RUNS FROM BEHIND THE WATER PUMP TO THE BACK OF THE RH HEAD. THEY MIGHT HAVE RUSTED OUT


If its the line to the back of the water pump housing, you must remove the intake manifold to get access to replace it.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 01:27 PM
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there is no need to drop the trans so relax, first take a look at the back side of the intake on the passenger side there is a metal pipe coming straight up look around the base of that for a leak, and what do you mean really bad? if it's leaking that bad you should be able to see the leak so get a flashlight and look at the back side from the top , don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and move stuff around
 
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