1997ThunderbirdLXV6
Seasoned PostWhore
Alright, here it goes. I chose the thread title based on my best assumption - what else could it be?
Sequence of Events
I was on my first longer trip since the transmission cooler installation: Richmond-Greensboro-Richmond, specifically the western route via Danville. My app was connected because I wanted to monitor transmission temperature, which topped out temporarily at 152°F but mostly settled in the range of 135-145°F; engine temperature was also slightly down at 199-203°F. For anyone unfamiliar with this route, it's mostly state routes with rolling hills; with cruise control set to 65 mph, the transmission unlocks the torque converter to maintain speed uphill, but it doesn't shift down to 3rd.
I hadn't checked coolant directly before the trip, but I checked it a few days prior, and all was normal.
On the way home, about 40 miles out, I suddenly got a Low Coolant light. I pulled over as soon as possible, still expected a false reading. Coolant was indeed about 3" above the bottom of the bottle. Fortunately I had a jug in the trunk; I didn't measure exactly, but it took at least a quart to bring it to between the COLD and HOT markings. Since I couldn't see any obvious leaks in the engine compartment, I proceeded to the passenger foot space, et voilà...
I drove home, and there was no additional Low Coolant light. When I got here, the level in the bottle had fallen at most a quarter of an inch.
Diagnosis
I suppose I should take a good look at the hoses going to the heater core to rule them out. I didn't have a good flashlight handy, it was raining, and I was just over it at that point.
Assuming the heater core is to blame, there are some oddities though:
Repair
I know there's a tech article entitled "Dash removal and heater core change" by @XR7-4.6 , but I can't see the photos in it:
Could that article be repaired?
Has anyone come up with an easier way of doing this? Like replacing the heater core by cutting a hole into the sheet metal under the backseat or something like that? Or...more seriously, by reaching through the airbag area, glovebox area, etc.?
What parts do I need other than the heater core itself, if any? For the heater core, any particular brand, type (copper?), etc.?
Did the leaking coolant potentially damage other components? OBD port, blend door, etc.?
Mood
Look, I'm not happy. This job seems maximum tedious. This is the first car I ever did serious work on, so every job I do is my first time doing it.
But...I know I shouldn't complain. I drive a car I love driving, and I own it as a daily driver at a fraction of the cost of any modern car, even with the expense of an occasional repair.
Which leads me to my last (for now) question: given the work I have done till now, do you think I could complete this in one day? Or is that too optimistic?
Sequence of Events
I was on my first longer trip since the transmission cooler installation: Richmond-Greensboro-Richmond, specifically the western route via Danville. My app was connected because I wanted to monitor transmission temperature, which topped out temporarily at 152°F but mostly settled in the range of 135-145°F; engine temperature was also slightly down at 199-203°F. For anyone unfamiliar with this route, it's mostly state routes with rolling hills; with cruise control set to 65 mph, the transmission unlocks the torque converter to maintain speed uphill, but it doesn't shift down to 3rd.
I hadn't checked coolant directly before the trip, but I checked it a few days prior, and all was normal.
On the way home, about 40 miles out, I suddenly got a Low Coolant light. I pulled over as soon as possible, still expected a false reading. Coolant was indeed about 3" above the bottom of the bottle. Fortunately I had a jug in the trunk; I didn't measure exactly, but it took at least a quart to bring it to between the COLD and HOT markings. Since I couldn't see any obvious leaks in the engine compartment, I proceeded to the passenger foot space, et voilà...
I drove home, and there was no additional Low Coolant light. When I got here, the level in the bottle had fallen at most a quarter of an inch.
Diagnosis
I suppose I should take a good look at the hoses going to the heater core to rule them out. I didn't have a good flashlight handy, it was raining, and I was just over it at that point.
Assuming the heater core is to blame, there are some oddities though:
- Where is all the coolant? The amount of coolant on the carpet just doesn't seem to amount to what was missing from the reservoir. Is it somewhere in the ductwork?
- Does it have anything to do with turning on the heat? This drive was the very first time this fall that I turned the heater on
- Can you hear a heater core leak? Earlier during the drive, I suddenly noticed a whooshing sound. I couldn't put my finger on it and ultimately attributed it to the road surface (wet), then I turned up the music.
- What did I do wrong? My coolant has been changed once by me; the previous coolant was clean, too. I use conventional green. I periodically replace just the coolant in the reservoir because it's easy, so why not. I don't have any added grounding on the heater core, but remember that Ford TSB that specifically advises against adding a ground. A while back, I checked for voltage in the coolant with a multimeter based on some online how-to, and it was fine.
Repair
I know there's a tech article entitled "Dash removal and heater core change" by @XR7-4.6 , but I can't see the photos in it:
Could that article be repaired?
Has anyone come up with an easier way of doing this? Like replacing the heater core by cutting a hole into the sheet metal under the backseat or something like that? Or...more seriously, by reaching through the airbag area, glovebox area, etc.?
What parts do I need other than the heater core itself, if any? For the heater core, any particular brand, type (copper?), etc.?
Did the leaking coolant potentially damage other components? OBD port, blend door, etc.?
Mood
Look, I'm not happy. This job seems maximum tedious. This is the first car I ever did serious work on, so every job I do is my first time doing it.
But...I know I shouldn't complain. I drive a car I love driving, and I own it as a daily driver at a fraction of the cost of any modern car, even with the expense of an occasional repair.
Which leads me to my last (for now) question: given the work I have done till now, do you think I could complete this in one day? Or is that too optimistic?
