NiteriderFRC

UPDATE on POST #13

Literally snapped pics a minute ago and posting this over the phone.

How serious is this? Havnt noticed any overheating...im assuming I should keep it parked for now lol

NiteriderFRC

DGXR

Kinda hard to tell from the pics but that looks like water, not coolant. If that is not coolant, but it's what is in your cooling system, it might explain the leak.

Either way it's likely to be your heater core that is leaking, but I can't say I have ever seen it leaking out the bottom of the box in your engine bay. Check the carpet (and under carpet) in the passenger footwell area - is it wet or damp? That's another sign of a leaking heater core.

My $0.02... you should be OK driving it locally, but keep a jug of coolant in the car and top off the overflow tank/reservoir as needed, when engine is cool. If it is the heater core, get it fixed as soon as you reasonably can and don't take any long trips or you might get stranded. Would be a good idea to flush the cooling system before replacing the core, so the new core doesn't get stuffed with whatever is flushing out of the system.

If it's not the core... I have no idea.

desertmike1

I'm looking at an oily "Low Pressure Switch" for your Air conditioning system.. is the liquid on the ground Water or antifreeze?

Tom400CFI

Condensation from the evaporator.

antfarmer2

Looks like normal condensation.

scuba717

That would be a lot of condensation...if your reservoir is low it's probably coolant. Easy to tell it will feel oily. If it's the heater core, your windshield will have a film on the inside.

Tom400CFI

Guys, coolant from the heater core will leak inside the car. Not in the engine compartment.

Leaking coolant won't leak up hill, onto the AC lines.

NiteriderFRC

Condensation would be from running the AC correct? Which i have had no need to run at all lately. I didnt have a chance to really get down and dirty to check things thoroughly. Been out all day and just got home. Ill run the car again and analyze further when I can.

A Peter C4

Smell or taste sample, is is coolant or water or washer fluid or ? Don't really taste it but identify the fluid.Keep coolant overflow at high mark.You could use dye kit with blacklight to find it but different dyes for oil-coolant.

Tom400CFI

Do you ever turn on your defrost? That is AC.

hcbph

If you use something like the yellow/green Prestone antifreeze, check it out with a black light. Leaked fluid fluoresce's under a black light.

NiteriderFRC

There seems to be no coolant leaks in the cabin or fog/film on the interior side of the windshield. And to top it off the heater works just fine. Is it safe to cross the heater core off the list? And if so where could this leak be springing from?



took the car to work today. Driving home i got on it a bit on the fwy. came home and there was a whiff of coolant I could smell from outside the car. I popped the hood and fresh hot coolant was steaming on the passenger frame rail below the pressure tank.

NiteriderFRC

coolant was dripping down from this pipe

Also is it normal to have all that caked up crap all around?


Im going try and source the leak on thursday but if anyone has a general idea of where or what to start with, Should i put leak tracing dye in the cooling system?

JrRifleCoach

Those coolant tanks have been known to crack.
Time to pull the tank and inspect around that general area.
Twist and bend the hoses for signs of cracking.
Maybe a pressure test as well.

JrRifleCoach

Caked up CRAP? you referring to the black Dum-dum sealing the upper LP line?

You've got green anti-freeze to point the way to the leak..

NiteriderFRC

96 model. Bought the car with orange dexcool in the pressure tank.

I actually hope its the tank, seems like a straight forward fix!

desertmike1

That particular Aluminum pipe is the High Pressure supply line for your A/C [Freon] so no it's not the Source of the Antifreeze leak,, but your getting close, I would heat the system up real good by idling without A/C and use a Bright Flashlight and Mirror to hunt down the leak, this could be a crack in a tank, leaking Heater hose, etc.

Hot Rod Roy

Does your '96 have a heater control valve buried down in that tangled web of hoses?

mtwoolford

My 96 had a coolant leak in almost the exact same area; one of those heater hoses has a small round check valve spliced into it; the body is plastic / nylon and developed a small crack; I only found it when the crack became large enough to **** a stream of coolant onto the exhaust manifold....I misjudged steam for smoke and thought the engine was on fire !!!