Disappearing water and OD light

[351bolt]

Two things going on with the wife's 97 Explorer. 4.0 SOHC, auto, all time 4whl, 172,000 miles.

Radiator keeps losing water. Put in a over a gallon from the last oil change and the another 1/2 gallon tonight. There are no external leaks that I can see. No water in the oil or out the tail pipe. Any ideas where I am losing it? Motor does not run hot or overheat.

Also got a call from the wife on her way to work and the O/D light was flashing. She said it was a consitent steady flash. What is that about?

Thanks
Pete

 

[Turdle]

Any sign of water in transmission? fluid level high?

 

[frickea86]

MMM...That flywheel is thirsty...lol...JK

I would check your fluid levels everywhere, especially the transmission. Thats a lot of water disappearing.... I would also recommend you stop driving it till you find where the water is going.

Check Motor oil?
Check Transmission oil?

 

[Paraphoe]

Oh no...not the dreaded flashing OD light...To often that means major tranny breakdown.

 

[351bolt]

Both the oil and tranny fluid levels are fine. No sign of water in either one. What about a heater core? It still blows hot, no smell or fogging on the interior. The passenger side carpet is dry. If the core "pops" where will it drain to?

The OD light quit flashing after she stopped and shut the engine off. I thas not been back since. I drove it and it seems to shift fine, no noises or anything. Will a scan tool pick up a code?

Thanks
Pete

 

[Paraphoe]

If the light is off, I doubt you'll be able to pull a code. I wasn't even able to pull any codes with my flashing OD light.

 

[saewoody]

I don't believe that an OBD II scanner will pull transmission codes. You need a scanner that can read the GEM (transmission) codes.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! You will need a scanner capable of reading manufacturer specific codes. Check the cooling system with a radiator pressure tester.

 

[351bolt]

Just got done with the pressure test. Had to add about 1/2 gallon to fill the radiator and then tested. System holds 16lbs for 10+ minutes till I let the pressure go.

Also let the engine warm up to see if blown/cracked head or gasket. Pressure rose slowly and smoothly.

Didn't have a cap checker, but they're cheap so I'll replace it.

Any other ideas?

Pete

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the gasket on the cap, and see if the coolant reserve tank has coolant. It's possible that the leak might be from there.

 

[budwich]

check around your heat control valve.... the valve leaks and drip on to the manifold and evaporates from the heat.... took a chance "hood viewing" to find mine.

 

[351bolt]

Ok I found a leak, but have no idea what the part is called so I'll try to describe it.

It is where the upper heater hose comes into the intake. There appear to be two bolts on some kind of spacer. THere is a sending unit on same area. This is behind the thermostat housing and below the upper intake.

My Chilton manual does not have a picture of it. What is it, how is it put together, how to fix it?

Thanks Pete

 

[BrooklynBay]

Could you take a picture of it?

 

[351bolt]

Is tucked/covered up by all the other hoses and intake so I don't think I can get a pic. I'm hopeing its just the hose.

Pete

 

[351bolt]

Well I found it. It is the thermostat housing where it bolts onto the lower intake. Didn;t know that was all one piece. What a pain to pull. Also looks like the bypass hose from water pump to thermostat was leaking a little.

I could probably use a new housing since this one is starting to flake apart where the hose mounts. Is this a Ford only part or do parts stores have them?

Thanks
Pete

 

[BrooklynBay]

Send Torrie an email: Torrie@FastPartsNetwork.Com.

 

[351bolt]

Something is still leaking.

Replaced upper and lower radiator hoses. Took the thermostat housing off the lower intake. THere is a rubber o-ring type gasket there. All the parts houses had no idea what I was talking about in trying to replace the gasket. Book doesn't even show it. Reused the gasket with some silcone.

Looked like something was leaking out of the heater/ac box by the firewall, engine side. Wife drove it, came home had about 2' in diameter puddle under the car. Figured it was the heater core, spent 14 hrs replacing that(oh what a pain).

Rig is still leaking out of the heater box. AC has not been used just the heater.

Any ideas's what is leaking now?

Thanks
Pete

 

[marragtop]

Regarding the OD light.... normally when that blinks the trans goes into 'limp' mode which causes hard shifting. It's not good to drive it that way for extended periods.

 

[FireZingr]

On my way to work one evening my OD light started to flash. I clicked OD on then back off and all was well. A few days later it started again turned engine off then back on and flash was gone thought all was well. About a week or two later it starts flashing again. I asked around and no one knew why it was flashing so I continued to drive it. Then as I headed to work one evening I smelled something looked in my rearview mirror and all I could see was white smoke and then the explorer limped off the berm and stopped. To make a long story short a tow bill and $2100.00 later I had a newly rebuilt tranny. It made NO noise whatsoever but they had to even replace the bell housing because they said it was busted when it "broke" inside.
My advice would be DO NOT DRIVE IT!!!!!!!!
They told me had I brought it in before it "broke" would have likely been a $300 repair.