Well I suppose I should have introduced myself in some newbie file but I guess I'll do it here so I can get to my question. Hello, I'm Brian LOL Now to my question....

I just purchased a 2003 Explorer Sport XLT. I AM LOVING THIS LITTLE SUV!! The deal I got on this was sweet. Me and the truck are still in our honeymoon phase so of course I'm daily inspecting everything. I have found 3 leaks. All three leaks are water. Two I can understand being "weep holes" because of their location. One being on the bottom of the muffler and the second naturally coming out of the muffler tail. However, My third water leak is a big question for me. Not sure if this one is a weep hole or not. It's located on the right side. I'd say the location is where the front passenger dash is but the leak is underneath the truck. It's definitely odorless, colorless cold water. I've checked under the hood and there is no leaking at all. I can't seem to see where this leak is coming from and have heard that Ford is generous with their weep holes so I'm hoping this is also a weep hole. Anyone know of a water leak in that location? I guess I should add I'm not running the AC so I know it's not that. Although I will say that running the heater or the fan in general does make a repeatitive clicking noise that I wasn't prepared for. Anyways... the leak... is this a good weep hole or is this something I should take to a dealer? I say it's a weep hole just draining excess liquid but I'd sure like some re-assurance. Thanks in advance.

Bri

 

Brian -

If you've been using defrost, the A/C compressor is engaged then to dehumidify the air; hopefully that's where the water is coming from. If you're getting a clicking noise in heat, try to determine if the A/C clutch is engaging/disengaging; it shouldn't be. Coolant has a pretty distinctive odor/color so I doubt that's what you're seeing.

Welcome to FTE!

Steve

 

Hey Steve thanks for the reply. Since my last post I've been able to locate where the leak is at. Or at least by looking under the SUV I can see it's coming from the AC area. Although I'm not currently running the AC in this weather. It really does look like what an AC drip would look like when running it durring warmer weather. The water drips around the right wheel well to be more specific. As I said... there is no coolant involved. Just clear cool water. It doesn't leak at idle. It only seems to leak after it has been driven and then parked. It only leaks just for a bit then stops. I wonder if this is all just normal behavior? The one thing that makes me question if it's normal is because this SUV was originally owned in Oklahoma and with that type of cold weather I would think things would freeze up if there were a daily drip like this. anyway, I have set an appointment to take it to Carmax this Thursday where I bought it but thats a bit of a pain because the closest Carmax is over and hour away. They really pushed for me to take it to them rather than take it to an Authorized repair facility closer to me. I'm under warranty with them so my thought is that they are afraid if I go to an authorized repair facility other than them the other guys may do a whole bunch of "un-needed" repairs and charge them. I'm actually going to lose work time taking it to them which ticks me off. I would much prefer to hear that this leak is normal for this vehicle and forget about all this mess. So if anyone else has experienced this same type of leak from the AC durring cold weather and you have found it's normal please let me know. Thanks.

About the "ticking" noise.... It only happens when I make a selection with the air flow controls. if I keep it off the fan doesn't run but if I make a selection the fan runs and thats when there is a clicking noise. Almost sounds like a fan or compressor clicking off and on periodically under the hood. I assumed the clicking was normal but again usually you hear something like that when an AC is running and at the present time I have not run the AC or rather voluntarily selected AC or MAX AC.

Bri

 

The AC compressor DOES run when you have the defroster turned on.. this is beacuse the AC drys the air, that is blown on the window, if the warm moist air was blown on the window, it fogs up.. the cool clear fluid, is water coming off the AC which is normal... in Oklahoma, it would have been frost

 

Would it still leak the water if I didn't select "defrost?" Although I can feel a light heat coming out of the defrost area even when I don't select it. I really am beginning to think this is a normal function that the heating/cooling system on this truck does naturally. If this were a heater hose or even the water pump wouldn't there be coolant involved? I will add that my fluid levels are perfect and there is no over heating at all.

Ok this is an update to what i just posted... I think I may know why it's leaking water even when I don't use the defroster. I'm going to sound real stupid here but I'd rather be stupid and find the solution then sit back and not pose this idea. Could my choice on my temperature selection be causing it to leak water? When I want cool air but don't select the AC I just simply turn the temperature selection counterclock wise. Sometimes I keep the temp selction at all the way to the left for normal airflow. Should I keep the temp selection at the center if I just want cool air instead of shoving it all the way to the left?

 

Brian -

That's why I suggested trying to determine if the A/C compressor is engaging in just heat and not defrost (it shouldn't be); have someone play with the HVAC controls while you look under the hood to see if the compressor's clutch is engaging. If it's engaging anytime you have heat selected, there's your problem.

Steve

 

When you turn the temp to the cooler temperature, it just lets in more or less cold air bypass the heatercore

If it was something to do with the cooling system, yes the "leak" would be green, or whatever color your coolant currently is, hopefully green, and it would have a sweet smell, and if you were brave enough a sweet taste.. (note the green stuff is poisonous, so dont go using it as a nutra-sweet replacement) if its clear, id bet my last paycheck that its not coolant

 

hey guys thanks for the responses. Ran a test with a buddy as steve suggested and we are both convinced everything is working as it should. The AC does turn on when using the defrost but it doesn't turn on when switching to just the face vents. The AC does click on when the airflow selector is on ... Defrost, Face and feet combined which includes side defrosts for the side windows ( this was the setting I had it on and didn't realize a defrost was running as well so that is why I questioned why the AC would run) , defrost and feet combined. AC is off when it's just on the face or just on the feet individually. My buddy explained it to me and it does make sense. Everything is running fine and as it should. No water leaking when AC wasn't running. No "clicking" noise either when AC isn't running as well. BTW... my coolant is the premium gold stuff. Yellow in color. I believe my situation has been solved This site is awesome!!

 

Brian -

Kool........glad everything is working like it's supposed to!

Steve