M1K3YB

Greetings:

I have a 1996 Ford Ranger (5 speed - manual transmission). Within the
past week I've been noticing the smell of antifreeze in the cab. This
is occurring whether the Heater, AC or Vent is on or off.

Yesterday, I checked the radiator hoses as well as the heater core
hoses...all appeared good.

Today upon closer inspection of the engine area and determined to get
to the bottom of this, I discovered that on the engine firewall,
straight down from the heater core hoses towards the bottom, there is
a small hose sticking OUT, which is "seeping" and/or "slow-dripping"
the antifreeze solution.

I stopped into a local Autozone & read through the Haynes manual, but
the information was limited & didn't help.

Is this a drain hose? What would cause the seeping of the antifreeze
solution? Is this hose supposed to be connected to something?
(Nothing appeared out of place or hanging down).

ANY assistance is greatly appreciated.

Tnx in advance,

MikeyB

JimV

M1K3YB wrote:
> Greetings:
>
> I have a 1996 Ford Ranger (5 speed - manual transmission). Within the
> past week I've been noticing the smell of antifreeze in the cab. This
> is occurring whether the Heater, AC or Vent is on or off.
>
> Yesterday, I checked the radiator hoses as well as the heater core
> hoses...all appeared good.
>
> Today upon closer inspection of the engine area and determined to get
> to the bottom of this, I discovered that on the engine firewall,
> straight down from the heater core hoses towards the bottom, there is
> a small hose sticking OUT, which is "seeping" and/or "slow-dripping"
> the antifreeze solution.
>
> I stopped into a local Autozone & read through the Haynes manual, but
> the information was limited & didn't help.
>
> Is this a drain hose? What would cause the seeping of the antifreeze
> solution? Is this hose supposed to be connected to something?
> (Nothing appeared out of place or hanging down).
>
> ANY assistance is greatly appreciated.
>
> Tnx in advance,
>
> MikeyB
>
>
You already know the answer. Your heater core is leaking and antifreeze
is running out the evaporator drain tube.

Spdloader

Your heater core is leaking. That tube you described is a drain, which
usually drips condensation from the Air Conditioner. If your heater core has
a major "eruption", you will have a badly fogged windshield, and the
passenger side floor will be full of hot anti-freeze. You are much luckier
than I have ever been, you have a warning, I have always had the "eruption".

Get it fixed as soon as possible. Not knowing your financial position, if
you can't afford it right now, you can pull the heater lines off the core
from under the hood, and temporarily splice them together with a coupling
until you can afford it.

Good luck,

Spdloader



"M1K3YB" <noone@nowhere.org> wrote in message
news:lt32a1pv3q4h438mht3hfd9nb7agrpts77@4ax.com...
> Greetings:
>
> I have a 1996 Ford Ranger (5 speed - manual transmission). Within the
> past week I've been noticing the smell of antifreeze in the cab. This
> is occurring whether the Heater, AC or Vent is on or off.
>
> Yesterday, I checked the radiator hoses as well as the heater core
> hoses...all appeared good.
>
> Today upon closer inspection of the engine area and determined to get
> to the bottom of this, I discovered that on the engine firewall,
> straight down from the heater core hoses towards the bottom, there is
> a small hose sticking OUT, which is "seeping" and/or "slow-dripping"
> the antifreeze solution.
>
> I stopped into a local Autozone & read through the Haynes manual, but
> the information was limited & didn't help.
>
> Is this a drain hose? What would cause the seeping of the antifreeze
> solution? Is this hose supposed to be connected to something?
> (Nothing appeared out of place or hanging down).
>
> ANY assistance is greatly appreciated.
>
> Tnx in advance,
>
> MikeyB
>
>

M1K3YB

Greetings:

Tnx a million for the advanced information. I searched & priced out a
new heater core & it'll only run about $48.00 + tax. It'll be worth
the fix, believe me. Now I have to figure out how to get this thing
out w/o too much dismantling. Researching the removal & installation
instructions seem easy, but when I looked at it....hmmm. Anyways,
it'll be a challenge for me. No big deal!

Again, THANK YOU for all of your assistance.

MikeyB


On Fri, 03 Jun 2005 21:50:40 -0500, M1K3YB <noone@nowhere.org> wrote:

>Greetings:
>
>I have a 1996 Ford Ranger (5 speed - manual transmission). Within the
>past week I've been noticing the smell of antifreeze in the cab. This
>is occurring whether the Heater, AC or Vent is on or off.
>
>Yesterday, I checked the radiator hoses as well as the heater core
>hoses...all appeared good.
>
>Today upon closer inspection of the engine area and determined to get
>to the bottom of this, I discovered that on the engine firewall,
>straight down from the heater core hoses towards the bottom, there is
>a small hose sticking OUT, which is "seeping" and/or "slow-dripping"
>the antifreeze solution.
>
>I stopped into a local Autozone & read through the Haynes manual, but
>the information was limited & didn't help.
>
>Is this a drain hose? What would cause the seeping of the antifreeze
>solution? Is this hose supposed to be connected to something?
>(Nothing appeared out of place or hanging down).
>
>ANY assistance is greatly appreciated.
>
>Tnx in advance,
>
>MikeyB
>

JimV

M1K3YB wrote:
> Greetings:
>
> Tnx a million for the advanced information. I searched & priced out a
> new heater core & it'll only run about $48.00 + tax. It'll be worth
> the fix, believe me. Now I have to figure out how to get this thing
> out w/o too much dismantling. Researching the removal & installation
> instructions seem easy, but when I looked at it....hmmm. Anyways,
> it'll be a challenge for me. No big deal!
>
> Again, THANK YOU for all of your assistance.
>
> MikeyB
>
>
> On Fri, 03 Jun 2005 21:50:40 -0500, M1K3YB <noone@nowhere.org> wrote:
>
>
>>Greetings:
>>
>>I have a 1996 Ford Ranger (5 speed - manual transmission). Within the
>>past week I've been noticing the smell of antifreeze in the cab. This
>>is occurring whether the Heater, AC or Vent is on or off.
>>
>>Yesterday, I checked the radiator hoses as well as the heater core
>>hoses...all appeared good.
>>
>>Today upon closer inspection of the engine area and determined to get
>>to the bottom of this, I discovered that on the engine firewall,
>>straight down from the heater core hoses towards the bottom, there is
>>a small hose sticking OUT, which is "seeping" and/or "slow-dripping"
>>the antifreeze solution.
>>
>>I stopped into a local Autozone & read through the Haynes manual, but
>>the information was limited & didn't help.
>>
>>Is this a drain hose? What would cause the seeping of the antifreeze
>>solution? Is this hose supposed to be connected to something?
>>(Nothing appeared out of place or hanging down).
>>
>>ANY assistance is greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Tnx in advance,
>>
>>MikeyB
>>
>
>
Good luck. Heater cores swaps are never a fun job...

TomC

FWIW,
If the heater hoses are flush against the firewall, a leak from them can
appear inside and drain from the inside housing. Check the hoses and clamps
first and then take it from there.
TomC

M1K3YB <noone@nowhere.org> wrote in article
<lt32a1pv3q4h438mht3hfd9nb7agrpts77@4ax.com>...
> Greetings:
>
> I have a 1996 Ford Ranger (5 speed - manual transmission). Within the
> past week I've been noticing the smell of antifreeze in the cab. This
> is occurring whether the Heater, AC or Vent is on or off.
>
> Yesterday, I checked the radiator hoses as well as the heater core
> hoses...all appeared good.
>
> Today upon closer inspection of the engine area and determined to get
> to the bottom of this, I discovered that on the engine firewall,
> straight down from the heater core hoses towards the bottom, there is
> a small hose sticking OUT, which is "seeping" and/or "slow-dripping"
> the antifreeze solution.
>
> I stopped into a local Autozone & read through the Haynes manual, but
> the information was limited & didn't help.
>
> Is this a drain hose? What would cause the seeping of the antifreeze
> solution? Is this hose supposed to be connected to something?
> (Nothing appeared out of place or hanging down).
>
> ANY assistance is greatly appreciated.
>
> Tnx in advance,
>
> MikeyB
>
>
>

M1K3YB

Greetings:

In regards to what TomC mentioned about the heater core hosing.
The distance from the hose to the firewall is about 1/2 to 3/4 in.,
so I can tell that it's not leaking from that area. The heater core
is definitely shot.

I was at a crossroad in regards to what I should do.

Step 1) Get the heater core, the book & take a shot at changing it
out. Nah...I'm afraid that if I take the whole dash out, I won't be
able to get it back together correctly. (Frustration)

Step 2) Take the truck to a shop...pay 400 to 1000 in labor plus the
part. Nah...It'd be too much cash to spend on a truck where the trade
in value is around 2,000.

Step 3) Time to trade it in for a 2003 or newer truck since the
heater core is not the only thing acting up.

I'm going to opt for #3 on this one.

Tnx for the assistance.

MikeyB

On Fri, 03 Jun 2005 21:50:40 -0500, M1K3YB <noone@nowhere.org> wrote:

>Greetings:
>
>I have a 1996 Ford Ranger (5 speed - manual transmission). Within the
>past week I've been noticing the smell of antifreeze in the cab. This
>is occurring whether the Heater, AC or Vent is on or off.
>
>Yesterday, I checked the radiator hoses as well as the heater core
>hoses...all appeared good.
>
>Today upon closer inspection of the engine area and determined to get
>to the bottom of this, I discovered that on the engine firewall,
>straight down from the heater core hoses towards the bottom, there is
>a small hose sticking OUT, which is "seeping" and/or "slow-dripping"
>the antifreeze solution.
>
>I stopped into a local Autozone & read through the Haynes manual, but
>the information was limited & didn't help.
>
>Is this a drain hose? What would cause the seeping of the antifreeze
>solution? Is this hose supposed to be connected to something?
>(Nothing appeared out of place or hanging down).
>
>ANY assistance is greatly appreciated.
>
>Tnx in advance,
>
>MikeyB
>