03 Mountaineer 4.6 AWD... what's this?

[Frizzle Fry]

What is this cluster of hoses, bolted to the frame a few inches in front of the passengers side rear tire?

 

[EXPLORER04]

Do you have dual zone climate control? If so that is your coolant / refrigerant lines to the rear HVAC unit

 

[tower]

Yup rear ac and heat

 

[Frizzle Fry]

I do have dual climate control, yes.

One of the hoses (2nd from the left in the picture) is leaking slowly from around the fitting/clamp, and the fluid is something I can't ID. It's yellowish clear, thin and a little sticky, with a mild mechanical smell. Doesn't smell or look like brake fluid, though.

 

[Number4]

Reverse transmission fluid lines as well as the rear blinker fluid lines?

 

[Frizzle Fry]

Reverse transmission fluid lines as well as the rear blinker fluid lines?

Yep, I must have forgotten to get my engine aligned every 2k miles like you're supposed to :

 

[Frizzle Fry]

So... what's the story on this leak? I don't know that I've ever used the rear controls. Is this a pressing issue or can I ignore it for a while? Supposed to be leaving town for a few days tomorrow (Monday) and it sure isn't getting fixed today.

 

[name420420]

mine leaked in the same spot. it's realy an easy fix. but if you don't have the time to fix. just make sure your checking your coolant lvl. I let mine leak for probly 3mnths just added water to the coolant like once a week. using your rear control's has no impact on this. the coolant flows threw it anyway.

 

[cross6]

Do you have dual zone climate control? If so that is your coolant / refrigerant lines to the rear HVAC unit

Dual zone is dual control for passenger & driver side of front cabin.

Aux Heat and AC is the rear system.

[IM]http://i59.tinypic.com/33w3afm.jpg[/IMG]

What is this cluster of hoses, bolted to the frame a few inches in front of the passengers side rear tire?

 

[Frizzle Fry]

Thanks for the diagram - looks like it's leaking from the clamp #3 in the upper left of the picture. I was planning on driving from Boston to NYC, then NYC to Niagara, and back again... probably makes sense to get this taken care of tomorrow morning as it's a LOT of driving and I don't want to be waiting for the cap to cool and pour new coolant in every few hours LOL. Gonna let Ford deal with it since I'm confused!

What'll this set me back?

Thanks again to all who responded.

 

[cross6]

Thanks for the diagram - looks like it's leaking from the clamp #3 in the upper left of the picture. I was planning on driving from Boston to NYC, then NYC to Niagara, and back again... probably makes sense to get this taken care of tomorrow morning as it's a LOT of driving and I don't want to be waiting for the cap to cool and pour new coolant in every few hours LOL. Gonna let Ford deal with it since I'm confused!

What'll this set me back?

Thanks again to all who responded.

Is the line cracked that you can tell? It's possible the clamp lost its spring tension. You could try loosening it and sliding it down the hose and then putting on a worm gear clamp in its place. That would save you from having to undo the line. You might get lucky.