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Coolant Leak on top of passenger side exhaust header??

  • Thread starter Thread starter stang4life99
  • Start date Start date Jul 12, 2010
S

stang4life99

New Member
Jul 12, 2010
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Jul 12, 2010
#1
  • Jul 12, 2010
  • #1
Hey guys, i already read a couple of other forums with regards to the issue but they always ended being something else, with that being said, i have a 2001 mustang gt with a slight coolant leak that i pin pointed to a little black plug/grommet on the passenger side firewall about 6-8 inches ontop of the left(facing car) header pipe. i dont know what causes it to begiin leaking considering the fact that i RARELY ever put my AC on and when i did i started smelling a syrup smell from my AC. i m pretty sure its not my heater core since it just started leaking and i have 64k miles on the car. if someone can tell me if they experienced the same problem or know how to fix it i d greatly appreciate it. I thank and appreciate any help in advance.
 

SaleenGT2001

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2005
2,811
4
58
Four Oaks NC
Jul 12, 2010
#2
  • Jul 12, 2010
  • #2
sounds like the heater core. you have to pull the dash off to get to the heater core on our cars. book time calls for about 6.5 hours. expect it to be a full day project. once you do it a few times it takes about 3-4 hours
 

Beasty306GT

Active Member
Dec 19, 2002
671
4
28
Oxford,Mass
Jul 12, 2010
#3
  • Jul 12, 2010
  • #3
yup..deff your heater core....its a royal pita job.dash has to be pulled to get to the heater box ..i just replaced mine not to long ago in my 89 ..took like 7 hrs
 

Dark04GT

10 Year Member
Apr 27, 2008
758
62
59
NC
Jul 12, 2010
#4
  • Jul 12, 2010
  • #4
Kind of a strange place to be leaking coolant. You might be leaking r134 from your AC, not coolant. When my headers were installed it melted an AC line and I had a similar situation. AC blew warm funny smelling air. I took it to the ford dealership because I didn't have the time to mess with it and they replaced the line, wrapped it in heat shield material, and moved the line well away from my headers. $450 later I had a recharged AC and no more leak.
 
Reactions: 97gtstang01

wmburns

SN Certified Technician
Aug 14, 2009
5,892
514
204
Houston Texas
Jul 12, 2010
#5
  • Jul 12, 2010
  • #5
+3 on the heater core. Let's see. Syrup smell inside car. Coolant dripping from the AC drain......

We all know that the AC creates water. The AC case is designed to retain the water and drain it OUTSIDE the car. The heater core is located above the AC. The coolant leaks down and out using the same drain.

What is the condition of your coolant? If the coolant is not in tip top shape, this can allow the heater core to rust out from the inside. Or it just may be bad luck.

Once replaced, consider installing a restrictor in the heater line. It will make the new heater core last much longer.

OBTW, pulling the dash is a big job but can be done by the weekend DIY'er. Recommend getting a Chiltion's manual. When I pulled the dash in my 1996, the Chilton's manual was more helpful than the Ford service manuals.

Allocate a full day to remove the dash. Another day to re-install. You need a buddy to help with the actual dash removal. To me, the hardest part of the job was dropping the steering column. The rest was straight forward (a lot of steps but that's where the manual helps). You will be surprised how few bolts hold the dash in.
 
S

stang4life99

New Member
Jul 12, 2010
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Jul 12, 2010
#6
  • Jul 12, 2010
  • #6
Thanks for all it help and responses sicksix and Saleebgt01. But If it was the heater core wouldn't have leaked from those two hoses tight next to each other mounted all the way up on the passenger side firewall and thanks dark04 gt but i didnt have any headers installed so i dk what could have damaged that hose. N e other suggestions/ideas on what it could be?? Thanks again everyone.
 

CobraRed_96_GT

Active Member
May 20, 2006
1,421
4
39
UCSD/La Jolla
Jul 12, 2010
#7
  • Jul 12, 2010
  • #7
Yes, it does leak there. Car warms up then it's a steady drip or stream out onto the passenger side exhaust. Really sucks. Heater core.
 
S

stang4life99

New Member
Jul 12, 2010
15
0
0
Jul 12, 2010
#8
  • Jul 12, 2010
  • #8
Thanks again guys. I guess I m spending my weekend upside down with 100 degree weather in my car. Any ideas on where I should get my heater core, or a kit that I can use??? Where can I chilltions book??
 

Beasty306GT

Active Member
Dec 19, 2002
671
4
28
Oxford,Mass
Jul 13, 2010
#9
  • Jul 13, 2010
  • #9
i would buy the Ford OEM stay away from all the other ones...little bit more money but worth it
 
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stang4life99

New Member
Jul 12, 2010
15
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Jul 13, 2010
#10
  • Jul 13, 2010
  • #10
Is there guide or a manual on the installation of the heater core???
 
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