coolant line just beneath the "snakes"?...

[DavidT]

well, I finally got the crank pulley off... of course, stupid me did NOT line up the dots on the cam sprockets and the crank pulley before removing the timing belt doh!
My middle timing cover is in 2 pieces
(BTW, what is a good adhesive to join it back together?)
But enough of that,
I still can't trace the starting point of my huge coolant leak!!!!!!
I can hear dripping sounds from directly under the intake plenum (right in the middle... maybe a little closer to the front end/timing belt area) while building pressure in the coolant system.
The majority, but not all, of the coolant will gather at the front corner oil pan bolt and flow down pretty good.
Let me guess... I took apart the whole front end for nothing... my problem is top end?!?
I assume I need to take off the intake plenum, but if I disconnect the coolant line from the throttle body, I will not be able to use my pressure tester, right?
Where do you guys think my coolant is leaking at?

 

[SnoSho]

Check the Coolant bypass hose it runs up under the Throtlebody, mine blew and the water looked like it was coming from the snakes as well. If it came off at the TB it out of sight and all you see is water.

 

[sdpatt]

There is a straight metal tube, sealed at the water pump outlet by an O-ring, that runs all the way across the valley to the distribution block with the thermostat. That may have a seal leak on either end. There is also another O-ring sealed outlet from the water pump to the block. While you are in there, you are going to replace the timing belt, right? Just use a strap wrench to position the camshafts where the index marks are at 12:00. Or, you can just reinstall the timing belt to position the camshafts by turning the crankshaft. Make sure that you position the crank pulley where the index mark is aligned to the raised ridge at about 5:00 before you install the new (or old) timing belt.

 

[AutoSHO]

sdpatt:
There is a straight metal tube, sealed at the water pump outlet by an O-ring, that runs all the way across the valley to the distribution block with the thermostat. That may have a seal leak on either end. There is also another O-ring sealed outlet from the water pump to the block.

Scott has, as usual, hit it on the head. My red car was doing exactly what you describe, and it was the O-ring behind the water pump on the tube that runs below the intake. Both O-rings can be had at a local hydraulic supply store for less than a dollar total, or you can go buy them from the ford dealer for $9 each. I chose the obvious thumbs_u

 

[DavidT]

so whats my best way to access this? Do I need to take off the intake plenum, and that only?

 

[Slick_3.2]

take off the water pump. No need to remove the intake.

 

[DavidT]

ok, now I'm confused...
The dripping sound doesn't sound real close to the h2o pump.
I was going to check my timing chain tensioners anyways. So would removal of the intake make things any easier at all?

 

[DougLee25]

Say the seal on the thermostat side is leaking.... do you have to pull off the thermostat housing in order to access that O-ring? I suppose there isn't room to slide the crossover tube out and put the O-ring in then can you?

Doug

 

[projectSHO89]

You have to remove either the water pump from the front of the engine or the water outlet from the back of the engine in order to access the O-rings. If you remove the intake, at least you will have more room to see where the leak is at.

Here's a front and back view of the water outlet housing so you can see what it looks like:

Steve

 

[AutoSHO]

dkautumna:
ok, now I'm confused...
The dripping sound doesn't sound real close to the h2o pump.
I was going to check my timing chain tensioners anyways. So would removal of the intake make things any easier at all?

You can take the intake off if you like, and you'll have to remove it anyways in order to check the tensioners, so I guess you might as well. I have my money on the O-ring behind the water pump. Does it leak more if you run the car hard? Did it get progressively worse as the car warmed up? Mine ran down in exactly the same place yours did, which is why I am apt to believe it is the same problem.

 

[rangerj]

DK,

Before you remove the intake plenum/manifold, try pressurizing the system again. Now that you have the leak narrowed down to the "valley" area, watch for a leak at the water pump where the metal tube is inserted.

Then look for a leak where the tube is inserted into the back of the thermostat housing. See Steves top picture on the left, not the "shiny" areas.

Watch along the tube for the possibility of a pin hole leak in the tube itself. Then check the hoses, or snakes as you referred to them. Look at the large short hose also. See the hose with two clamps close together in Steves pictures.

DK, I know this must be frustrating, but you are to deep into this now to just guess, throw a bunch of new gaskets and "O" rings in, and put it back together, only to find out it was a pinhole leak in the tube.

Take your time, be patient, and be deliberate. Make up your mind you are going to find "the" leak, and fix it. If you do not take the time to do it right, you will have to find the time to do it over. rangerj