2006 explorer radiator

[PEAR0119]

Made it 54,000 on my '06 and my radiator started leaking last week. Had it replaced under my extended warranty with a $100 deductible, but I had to pay $102 to have the PCM flashed to the newest program. If it goes bad again when my warranty is up I will probably go aftermarket.

When mine was replaced a couple months ago, I am sure that they reprogrammed the PCM as the fans now come on much sooner and for sure spin faster when they do come on.

It better not fail again. I have 2 years left on my extended warranty so it better fail before that if it does.

 

[pvtpotter]

Crack an egg in the radiator

Sounds totally stupid but one time on, "Car Talk", I heard that you can open the radiator cap (with the engine COMPLETELY COLD) and crack a couple of eggs into it (not the shells) as though you were about to fry some eggs. Then run it for a while. Supposedly the egg will plug the hole from the inside. And honestly, egg running around in a cooling system would not be the end of the world.

I just got my 06 ex. tonight. I'm so scared.

 

[Davidm53]

Replace the cap with a 16 psi one instead of 20 psi. No issues with mine and several others posted here with the 16.

 

[nh5]

Replace the cap with a 16 psi one instead of 20 psi. No issues with mine and several others posted here with the 16.

Any help on where I can find a 16lb cap for this radiator? Yet to come across one.

My 2nd Radiator just failed 13 months after install. 82,560 Currently on car.

 

[Davidm53]

Mine is a Murray Ultra #7516 cap, also has a 11031w on the sticker.

Stant or Murray is a common brand.

I saved my old cap, and marked the new one with a 16.

 

[lyndas55]

I will never in a million years buy another Ford. My 2006 Explorer has had 3 radiators already and now I am on my way to a 4th. Started leaking yesterday. I am so frustrated with Ford. How can they say they stand behind their products and let this continue. I have printed pages and pages from various website all about prroblems with the radiator. This is just WRONG. No more Fords for me unless they will fix this for no $$$!!!!!!!

 

[donstevens]

My 80000 mile V8 just started leaking a few weaks ago. I can't see exactly where it is leaking but I did notices that it is only like 1 drop every 30 seconds or so. It is painfully slow.....I can live with that vs. $500+....

How long can I go with (aka tolerate) such a leak?

Or is it it simply going to take a dump one day? My 17 year old daughter drives this car daily. Based on recent experience that she drove the car home 2 miles on a flat tire a few months ago, I don't trust her to "keep an eye on it".

Does the 16lb cap really stop the leak?

A fried egg? Come on man.

Stop leak?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Don in FL

 

[edwx]

A 16psi cap can't hurt! IMO less pressure=good thing. Nothing to lose but about $9.

 

[quiknet]

And the hits just keep on coming...

Less than a year after having my raiator replaced, a new leak has sprung. My mechanic says this leak is coming from the timing cover gasket. Seems like way too complicated a job for me and a friend to take on.

I need to trade this POS back in to the dealer, but then I'll end up with another ford

 

[TowingExplorer]

Less than a year after having my raiator replaced, a new leak has sprung. My mechanic says this leak is coming from the timing cover gasket. Seems like way too complicated a job for me and a friend to take on.

If you know what the radiator is, you'll know what it has nothing to do with anything behind the timing cover.

A leak from behind the timing cover may be your water pump. Though not impossible for the DIYer, I am not sure how difficult a task it is, what has to be removed to gain access, so I can not recommend it for you.

 

[lriales]

2007 EX V8 radiator

If you know what the radiator is, you'll know what it has nothing to do with anything behind the timing cover.

A leak from behind the timing cover may be your water pump. Though not impossible for the DIYer, I am not sure how difficult a task it is, what has to be removed to gain access, so I can not recommend it for you.

Please let us know if you have the V6 or V8 so we can see if this is a trend in one or the other or both. Thanks!

I have a 2007 EX EB edition V8 with 60,000 miles on it. I noticed when I would stop at a stop light my heater would blow cold air and blow hot air when I started going again. Then noticed antifreeze dripping from the drivers side. Took it to the dealership and they replaced the radiator. Since then, my fan is really loud and my transmission is slipping alittle. I took it back to the dealership and they had to put a quart of transmission fluid in it and said the fan sounded normal to them. Now my transmission is still slipping, it sounds like I am driving a bus, and my air bag light is comming on when noone is in the passenger seat!!!

 

[quiknet]

If you know what the radiator is, you'll know what it has nothing to do with anything behind the timing cover.

A leak from behind the timing cover may be your water pump. Though not impossible for the DIYer, I am not sure how difficult a task it is, what has to be removed to gain access, so I can not recommend it for you.

Thanks for that TE. I never said the new leak has anything to do with the radiator. Not sure why you felt the need to belittle me and assume that I don't know what a radiator is. I got under the vehicle with my mechanic and saw where the leak is coming from myself. My mechanic is pretty good at diagnosing a problem and if he tells me it's the timing cover gasket, he's probably right. For this gasket to fail at under 50,000 miles is further proof of what a piece of junk this truck is. BTW, when I replaced the radiator last year, I also replaced the thermostat and the water pump.

On another Ford note, we just got a recall notice for the wifes 2001 escape. SAys that due to failure of ABS components, the vehicle may catch on fire after being parked. Unfortunately, no parts are available at this time so Ford gave us the sage advice to not park the vehicle next to or inside any structure that could catch fire along with the escape:fire:. Brilliant!

 

[espionage]

New Explorer EB v6 owner. I have owned my ex for 6 months now and need to replace the radiator due to leak at 99k. Im wondering if theres an aftermarket radiator on the market that holds up better than the oem replacement or even a better brand than now so im not replacing again in a yr? Thanks in advance...

 

[TowingExplorer]

I got under the vehicle with my mechanic and saw where the leak is coming from myself. My mechanic is pretty good at diagnosing a problem and if he tells me it's the timing cover gasket, he's probably right.

Please do not take offense. Here is a more descriptive response.

The timing cover goes over the timing chain/belt. The gasket for the timing cover has no coolant running behind it so even if it were to be missing entirely the engine would not leak coolant.

The water pump, however, is behind the timing cover and has its own gasket (the water pump gasket) which could leak. Again, this is not the timing cover gasket, but the water pump gasket.

I would be concerned about your mechanic if he actually used the words "timing cover gasket is causing your coolant leak" and get a second opinion.

 

[Threnners]

So I think radiator #2 is leaking....only we can't find any trace of the coolant. You can smell the coolant, but there's nothing under the car. All I'm doing is checking the level every few days at this point to buy me some time. GAH!

 

[donstevens]

A 16psi cap can't hurt! IMO less pressure=good thing. Nothing to lose but about $9.

The 16psi cap did not work.

I a going to buy a Visteon unit with a lifetime warranty and have my mechanic install it.

Does anyone know if the PCM reflash is required for V8 models?

Don

 

[Mburkhea]

PCM Reflash after rad replacement

Hi guys. I just had my 2nd radiator job done, 65K. I had this done at an independent mechanic - the first time I was under warranty and Ford took care of it. I had no clue about the PCM thing until I stumbled upon this forum tonight. It wasn't done this time around (it's been a few months) and my tranny is slipping badly. I know the shop dumped some tranny fluid when they removed the old radiator but the guy said he took it next door to a tranny shop and he said they refilled it. My question is, could not doing the PCM reflash cause the tranny issues? Did this guy dump tranny fluid and just put it back together? I guess I better see the dealer....

 

[Mburkhea]

PCM Reflash after rad replacement

Duplicate post - sorry!

 

[edwx]

My guess is that they lost fluid and didn't refill it. IMO not reflashing the PCM wouldn't cause the tramsmission to slip. It's fairly easy to check the tranny fluid level yourself.

 

[shaker1]

Been exactly one year since I put in the Vista Pro radiator and a 16 lb cap. The level has been holding steady and no other problems. I probably lost 1/2-1 cup of trans fluid, never added any.