Water gushes like a tap 97ex (pic-160kb)

Sid Daley · October 29, 2004

Driving home last night, I noticed it was quite foggy out but only in back of the truck. Some hose or something blew, being optimistic I thought it may just be a main rad hose or something simple. The water is gushing from the middle area of the engine at the firewall near the top, I can't see exactly where it leaking from but the picture gives a general idea.

Thanks
Sid

Picture taken from drivers side top view at firewall.

EBInterceptor · October 29, 2004

What color was the fluid?

mikeh · October 29, 2004

Freeze plug maybe. Better check your fluid and make sure there isn't just water in there.

mikeh

Sid Daley · October 29, 2004

It's coolant.

Sid

EBInterceptor said:
What color was the fluid?

Sid Daley · October 29, 2004

Checked my oil on the dipstick, doesn't appear to have any water in there, do you know if Ford has put a freeze plug in that general area.

Sid

mikeh said:
Freeze plug maybe. Better check your fluid and make sure there isn't just water in there.

mikeh

boominXplorer · October 29, 2004

there are hoses in the back that run coolant into the intake manifold. One of those might of bust.

Sid Daley · October 29, 2004

That's what I'm hoping, but I can't even see a hose back there. Access to that area looks pretty near impossible, has anyone changed hoses or a freeze plug in that area with any success?

Sid

boominXplorer said:
there are hoses in the back that run coolant into the intake manifold. One of those might of bust.

V8Exploder · October 29, 2004

the chances of that being a freeze plug is slim to none. Unless you live in a freezing climate and run mostly water instead of anti-freeze in your cooling system, I would say its a hose. If its under the intake, take it off and replace the hose, do all of them including vaccum hoses while you are at it.

Sid Daley · October 29, 2004

V8Exploder said:
the chances of that being a freeze plug is slim to none. Unless you live in a freezing climate and run mostly water instead of anti-freeze in your cooling system, I would say its a hose. If its under the intake, take it off and replace the hose, do all of them including vaccum hoses while you are at it.

Would you think that if I were to remove all this intake stuff that I could get in to fix the hoses. Do you think their are any special tool requirements?

Thanks

EBInterceptor · October 29, 2004

You're going to need a number 30 torx bit. It costs about $5 at Sears. A Haynes manual is good because it'll tell you all the hoses and plugs to remove it. Otherwise look up the 00M12 write-up on this site, it give all the instructions on removing both manifolds.

Actually, let me just give you the link....

Dead Link Removed

Check on pg. 2 of that thread.

Sid Daley · October 30, 2004

Thanks Mike, I have the Ford CD. I will look in it to see if it has any instructions as to the hoses and manifold. Thanks for the link.

Sid

EBInterceptor said:
You're going to need a number 30 torx bit. It costs about $5 at Sears. A Haynes manual is good because it'll tell you all the hoses and plugs to remove it. Otherwise look up the 00M12 write-up on this site, it give all the instructions on removing both manifolds.

Actually, let me just give you the link....

Dead Link Removed

Check on pg. 2 of that thread.

Sid Daley · October 31, 2004

It's now looking like a head gasket failure..

I just checked my exhaust while revving the engine and their is a whack of steam coming out the exhaust. According to my wife's brother who is a mechanic on the other side of Canada, Ford :fire: is notorious for this. It doesn't look like a home user job to me, but have any of you done this job?

Apparently their is a test to confirm this, I'll google it in a minute. I took out a inspection mirror to try and see the leak but I can't even see it with a mirror so it's a ways down the back of the block.

Opinion wise, you guys and gals? think this sounds like a head gasket?

Also if it's head gasket, 97sohc. What else is worth to do while it's apart?

Thanks
Sid

PS: Anyone know of any trustworthy mechanics in the Surrey, Vancouver B.C. area?

Head Gasket site search.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/search.php?searchid=325152

Sid Daley · November 6, 2004

Update on problem..

Turns out I got off lucky, not the head gaskets or intake manifold gaskets. Turns out the problem was with Thermostat housing (PLASTIC).

Parts --$350
Labour -$170

Picture of broken part and replaced pieces.

Sid

mikeh · November 7, 2004

I did that job. Not too bad but it sure was tight getting that housing out of there. I replaced it because one of the sensors was leaking. I had to buy a whole new assembly. Took about an 1 1/2 to get it out and replace it. The hardest thing was getting the hoses off and on. I went ahead and bought hose clamps that could be tightend with a wrench that really helped it go together quicker.

Glad that you got off lucky with this one.

mikeh

Sid Daley · November 8, 2004

Sometimes paying a pro is the right thing to do..

Sid

mikeh said:
I did that job. Not too bad but it sure was tight getting that housing out of there. I replaced it because one of the sensors was leaking. I had to buy a whole new assembly. Took about an 1 1/2 to get it out and replace it. The hardest thing was getting the hoses off and on. I went ahead and bought hose clamps that could be tightend with a wrench that really helped it go together quicker.

Glad that you got off lucky with this one.

mikeh

EBInterceptor · November 8, 2004

I've got to do that job sometime too. Those brass rings for the sensors didn't want to stay put when I put in a new temp sender. $350 is a lot for me, so I think I'm going to try and pull one from the boneyard.

mikeh · November 8, 2004

EBInterceptor said:
I've got to do that job sometime too. Those brass rings for the sensors didn't want to stay put when I put in a new temp sender. $350 is a lot for me, so I think I'm going to try and pull one from the boneyard.

I think the $350 is in Canadian. You should be able to get a new assembly for about $180. That includes the 2 sensors and new thermostat all put together ready to install. Seemed like a decent price to me considering that all that stuff came with it.

mikeh

Sid Daley · November 8, 2004

The parts total was for all parts seen in picture, the thermostat housing was 274 cdn from the Ford stealer..

Sid

EBInterceptor said:
I've got to do that job sometime too. Those brass rings for the sensors didn't want to stay put when I put in a new temp sender. $350 is a lot for me, so I think I'm going to try and pull one from the boneyard.

EBInterceptor · November 8, 2004

I checked with Fordpartnet and I think I could have gotten it for around $120-180, I don't remember the price. Things haven't gone south with that yet, so I'm waiting to do that and concentrate on some of the more fun mods for the time being.

Sid Daley · November 10, 2004

Mike is it leaking? I'm just wondering because with mine it had a catastrophic blowout and I had no option as to a timeframe for repairing it. Good luck when you get around to it.

Sid

EBInterceptor said:
I checked with Fordpartnet and I think I could have gotten it for around $120-180, I don't remember the price. Things haven't gone south with that yet, so I'm waiting to do that and concentrate on some of the more fun mods for the time being.

Water gushes like a tap 97ex (pic-160kb)

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