Please help: heater hose transfer tubes

[yingling]

Hello, I hope someone can help me with my problem. I have been reading and searching this website for a while now and it has helped me out alot with other problems that I have had, but I cannot seem to find an answer to my problem either here or with the factory manuals. You guys seem to have a great relationship with each other, and always willing to help. Here is the problem that I am having. 1997 4.0 SOHC engine. 80K The coolant was brownish when I bought it but not too bad. On the pass side of the engine there is a metal bracket/tube assembly that connects the heater core hoses with the engine. This tube assembly is bolted to the engine, and it has a pinhole leak in it. I have a coolant smell and staining on the exhaust manifold. I want to fix this before it gets any worse, and I get stuck somewhere. I had no luck locating this part on the various ford part websites, and can't even find it in the service manuals. What are my alternatives to fix this problem? Can I eliminate that part and just run new hoses without it? I can't beleive search did not find any info on this, being there are Explorers on this site with triple the mileage on them that I have. Please help, This is my first SUV, and I can see now why people love them so much. Joe from Pa.

 

[TOMANDPAT]

Sounds like the Heater Control Valve to me. Should be an AutoZone part, don't go to the stealership, they'll rape 'ya
Tom

 

[nhill]

heater control vavle

TOMANDPAT are more then likely correct. I had the same problem. It's about 17 bucks or so at Autozone. Easy fix. I believe you can only get plastic aftermarket valves though, don't quote me.

 

[yingling]

Thanks for the replies.It is not the Heater control valve. I tried my best to make this a clear post. It is the fluid transfer coolant tube that is leaking.

 

[fixxxer]

It's the part that has two tubes attached to a bracket, male fittings on each side and the rubber heater hoses slide over the male fittings? Supply and return side for the heater-core? That is, if I read your post correct.(A picture would REALLY help here)

 

[yingling]

Thanks fixxxer, thats what I need to fix. I am picture stupid.

 

[fixxxer]

You can bypass that piece by using longer heater-hoses or use male to male hose-barbs (barbed hose-splice) to connect the two pieces of hose. You can use the metal or plastic, most of the metal ones are brass, so non-corrosive and only a little more expensive than the ABS plastic hose-barbs. Make sure you use new hose clamps to seal the fittings but if you get the plastic hose-splices, don't tighten the clap down too much or you may crack the splice.

 

[yingling]

I just completed the repair. I just ran bulk 5/8 heater hose. I still had to reuse the hose manifold because it also served as the transmission dip stick tube support bracket. I just cut the hose ends off of it. It actually looks factory and cleaned that side of the engine bay up. I also reduced a leak possibility by eliminating four extra and unneeded clamps. I don't know why engineers have to over-complicate things. Thanks for the help.

 

[CHRISXPLOR]

nice name!! good beer!!!