Hi everybody,

I have a 1997 Ford Ranger Splash, V6, 4.0, ext cab, 5spd, 2wd.

This truck appears to have 2 problems. It seems that they might be related, but I don't think they are . . .

First, there is a very small coolant leak somewhere. I can't seem to locate it, but the truck does not appear to be burning anything. It might be coming from the black plastic gate-type valve that regulates the flow of coolant to the heater core . . . the seams always look a little bit wet after a long drive. This problem has been going on for about 2 years, and I have to add a little less than a gallon every couple of months. No big deal, but I'd love to get it resolved at some point . . .

Second, my passenger carpet is soaked! I have rubber floor mats, so I never noticed it before, but when I pulled the mats out to clean, the passenger one was so wet underneath, as was the entire passenger carpet.

It DOESN'T smell like coolant. Just smells like water, but I may be wrong . . .

This wet floor appears to happen the most when I am using my AC or Defrost. I can't really tell if it happens when I'm using my heat, but it definitely happens after a long drive with the AC or Defrost.

I can't even SEE dripping anywhere!! Can anyone give me any ideas on where to start?

Is this a heater core issue?

Maybe there is some sort of condensation drain in the AC that is backing up . . . I'm not too sure what to check . . .

Any help or direction would be so appreciated.

Thank you everybody!

-Joe

 

sounds like the drain hose on the evaporator is clogged or off.

 

Mike,

Thanks so much for your reply.

What is the best way to get to the evaporator?

 

My passenger carpet was wet months ago on my 96 Ranger and I found out it was the windshield when it rained. So I caulked with clear caulking under the trim on the lower corner and never had a problem since. Here is the thread when I had the problem.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...fter-rain.html

 

That's what you get for buying a SPLASH !!

 

I had a wet floorboard also. In my case it turned out that someone replaced the windshield before I bought it, and didn't seat it properly. It actually had about a 1/2 dozen small cracks around it under the trim, so it got replaced. Never had a problem since.

Some people say that if your have a leak around the third tail light, it will show up on the passenger floor.

 

Definitely. Unless you have a huge leak though, the water usually stays behind the seats.

 

A clogged drain is easy to fix, just look for a3/8" to 1/2" hose or flap coming from the heater area in the firewall. Just squeeze and twist it a bit and you should get a good bit of water out. Windshield leaks are fairly common on the earlier Rangers and the best way to fix is to have it resealed at a glass shop.

 

both of the 4.0 motors i have had, have had cracked heads on them. thought that i had a blown a head gasket no it was the heads. replaced the heads with new ones and never had the problem again. my wife tried rubber floor mates on her 99 ranger and the floor was wet to, so she took them out but we have a new windsheld now.

01 f350 swd crewcab 7.3 powerstroke 4x4 the truck from hell
99 ranger 4.0 step side bed ext-cab
90 miata fun car

 

hey joevr5 Disconnect your heater hoses from your firewall. Plug them with some thing solid. Cut a broom handle wittle the ends to fit that ussually works. Pipeclamp them into the ends of the hoses to resist your engines cooling system pressure and to stop leakage. Crank your engine and watch for your original leakage. No leak?

Just go down to your local autoparts store and buy a radiator stop leak product that is compatable with anti freeze. About 6 or 7 dollars. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS and you should be ok. If you want you can just add the stop leak w/o removing any hoses. But you can see for sure if your heating system is leaking or not before you buy the stop leak. I wouldnt put anything but antifreeze into my cooling system unless needed.

I just treated my 97 ranger heater core this way and it worked.

I just priced a heatercore replacement job at 2 local shops. They claimed 7 hours of labor at $700 because they said the dash had to be removed.

 

It sounds suspiciously to me like you have a broken heater core. (It's located just under the dash above the passenger side.) I don't know about a 97Ranger, but in the earlier Rangers, replacing a heater core takes about 20 minutes -- with no taking apart the dash. (I've had two heaters go in the 12 years I've owned my Ranger.) Of course, you should also flush the cooling system after wards if it hasn't been done in a while, in case the old coolant had something to do with the break down. New heater cores -- at least on my 88 Ranger, I don't know about the 97 model -- should cost no more than $150. If I were you, I would find a Haynes or another similar manual and read up on it to see what's involved. It might be something you can do yourself.