Coolant leak on top of engine: Help Please

[DPSkiman]

01 EXP Sport, 4.0 SOHC, just started leaking coolant on the top of the engine, just behind the alternator. I pressured the radiator, then noticed the leak under what appears to be the intake manifold. I'm not afraid to pull stuff off to get to the problem (likely a temp sensor), but after pulling six screws off the plastic manifold, something else is still rigid, keeping it in place. Need some advice here on what to remove so I can get the beast back on the road. The leak is under at least the plastic manifold and one hose connection, can't really see it without pulling some more parts off. Advice please?

 

[DPSkiman]

For anyone out there that runs into the same problem, here's the fix. First, pressure the radiator cap to locate the leak. In my case, it was the upper heater hose (going to the cabin) that was broken loose. Apparently Ford thought that a plastic pipe nipple would be sufficient for a hose to connect to indefinitely. (Nope) I pealed enough parts back to just barely get to the problem. Hose was loose, I remove the broken off part of the nipple that was inside the hose, then reconnected the hose to the remaining 5/8" of nipple. Cut two pieces of 1/2" conduit, 12-18" in length, use these to "extend" the handles on a large pair of needle nose pliers. This will aide greatly in squeezing the hose clamp and repositioning it back on the block. BTW, I also noticed a slight leak in the radiator cap (replaced it) and after a road test revealed it still overheated, replaced the thermostadt. Project complete. Total cost: about $15 and a LOT of time removing all those things that Ford has put in the way. Good luck! I'm on to parking brakes next.

 

[Doubt Incarnate]

cool beans, let me know how the brakes go, i need to do mine but a cousin with a crown vic said i'd need to pull my axels to get at the PB!

 

[spindlecone]

Pull Your Axles?

 

[Doubt Incarnate]

thats what he said, do i really believe him, no, but i also dont have a book.

appearantly he had pull the axels on his crown vic to change the pads for his parking brakes, but this comes from a guy who has yet to rebuild a motor of any kind and have it actualy work in the end...

 

[Howard]

I did mine without pulling axles. It is just a tight fit and a bit of a fiddle but it can be done.

 

[Doubt Incarnate]

cool, wish i could get a cool UK spec rear bumper for my ex. whats one of those cost? wonder what it would be shipped to the us.