2000 Ford Ranger Stumped

BENSTORCH

MEMBER
2000 FORD RANGER
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
128,000 MILES

Normally my truck pretty much runs fine. However during the Summer months with the A/C on it shows a tendency to rise above it's normal operating temperature. It occasionally does it during cooler weather after hard driving. When I turn on the heater the temperature comes down pretty quickly. I have already replaced at the thermostat The waterpump seems to be working fine and the fan is also fine. It seems to be losing coolant somewhere but this is a pretty slow leak and I haven't found it yet. I detect the smell of coolant when running the A/C or heater so I am concerned about the heater core but there is no coolant in the floorboards or steam coming from the vents. Also the heater core was replaced about 3 years ago. Is the heater core bad? Do I need to replace it again? Could there just be a loose hose running up to it? Please help!

2 Replies

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Ok if you do have a leak the best way to find it is to pressure test the system. This is done with a pressure tool that is put on the radiator in place of the cap and you bring it up to 16 psi and see how quick it bleeds off. If it bleeds off then bring it back to pressure and look for the leak. Now also check the radiator cap it may not be holding the correct pressure. Should be able to hold the pressure indicated on the cap if it don't then that should be replaced.

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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 AT 10:20 AM

BENSTORCH

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I finally spotted the leak. There is a piece of hose that is maybe an inch and a half long coming out of the bottom of the firewall that is dripping a small amount of coolant. I assume that the other end of this hose connects to the heater core but I don't know if it is an overflow line, if it supposed to be plugged, or anything else. It appears unrelated to the lines that attach to the heater control valve which go into the top of the firewall. Is this hose supposed to go somewhere and doesn't or is it just some kind of overflow line?

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Thursday, November 19th, 2009 AT 1:13 PM