micklskot
Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2005
- Messages
- 31
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- New Mexico
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 94 XLT
Hi Guys,
First of all thanks for this forum and the advice.
I have a 94 4x4 XLT Explorer. I live in New Mexico and have been having cooling problems with my truck. Little things are starting to nickle and dime me, but I still love my Explorer and plan to keep it until it dies which hopefully will be a few years down the road. I've got almost 200k on it now.
A few weeks ago, I had issues with the alternator and replaced that myself today so no more red battery light on the console, but at the time when the alternator went out, I noticed a coolant leak towards the right front passenger side. The leak isn't coming from the water pump from what I can tell. It looks like it is right at the radiator on the passenger side. BTW, I heard a loud pop before I noticed the leak. Today, I checked the fluid in the radiator and it was bone dry. I filled the radiator and decided to take the truck up the hill which is a steady climb at about 45 degrees and immediately the temp gauge went all the way to Hot. I turned the truck around and switched it in neutral and turned it off and coasted all the way back into my driveway. I then switched the truck on and felt the upper radiator hose on the top and the pressure was good. I did not see any coolant leaks. I figured that if it got that hot that quick, there should be enough pressure in the system to see even a small leak.
Earlier observations is my fan blade has cracks in it, so I know it's due for replacement. Seems like it is more than just a thermostat fix. If I do a radiator replacement, I probably need to just go ahead and replace the clutch, too.
Any comments regarding how I should proceed to fix it? Thanks for any recommendations.
Mike
First of all thanks for this forum and the advice.
I have a 94 4x4 XLT Explorer. I live in New Mexico and have been having cooling problems with my truck. Little things are starting to nickle and dime me, but I still love my Explorer and plan to keep it until it dies which hopefully will be a few years down the road. I've got almost 200k on it now.
A few weeks ago, I had issues with the alternator and replaced that myself today so no more red battery light on the console, but at the time when the alternator went out, I noticed a coolant leak towards the right front passenger side. The leak isn't coming from the water pump from what I can tell. It looks like it is right at the radiator on the passenger side. BTW, I heard a loud pop before I noticed the leak. Today, I checked the fluid in the radiator and it was bone dry. I filled the radiator and decided to take the truck up the hill which is a steady climb at about 45 degrees and immediately the temp gauge went all the way to Hot. I turned the truck around and switched it in neutral and turned it off and coasted all the way back into my driveway. I then switched the truck on and felt the upper radiator hose on the top and the pressure was good. I did not see any coolant leaks. I figured that if it got that hot that quick, there should be enough pressure in the system to see even a small leak.
Earlier observations is my fan blade has cracks in it, so I know it's due for replacement. Seems like it is more than just a thermostat fix. If I do a radiator replacement, I probably need to just go ahead and replace the clutch, too.
Any comments regarding how I should proceed to fix it? Thanks for any recommendations.
Mike
