FordMustang98
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- Nov 22, 2007
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Well, my 98 GT has sprung a massive coolant leak and it is believed to be caused by a failed heater core. I have taken some pictures of where it is leaking from. It is leaking from a hole in the firewall immediately behind the passenger side cylinder head. It is a pretty damn good stream too, not just a small drip-drip type leak.
Here is the general area where the leak is:
Here is a birds-eye view of the hole (valve?) where the leak is coming from:
and here is another birds-eye view of the hole where the leak is in a different light:
Symptoms include: rapid coolant loss, and the A/C and vent (when the fan is on) air smells like coolant, but it does not smell like coolant when the heater is on. Also, the passenger side carpet is a little damp on the side where your left foot would be while sitting in the car. The carpet is not soaked, but it is damp.
Do any of you have any idea what is causing the leak? Is it a failed heater core or heater core hose? And why is the coolant coming out of the hole in the firewall?
Also, on an unrelated note to the coolant leak problem above, my battery idiot light is on and wont turn off. A few months ago, I replaced my alternator because one of the bearings in the old one failed. I replaced the old one with a new, stock replacement (stock specifications) part. I also have an Optima Yellow Top battery. All of the connections to the alternator and battery are good, and the alternator is doing its job perfectly. It is supplying the correct amount of current/voltage to the battery and car. The idiot light was not on when I replaced the old alternator, but after putting the new one in, the idiot light came on and stays on, no matter what kind of load is placed on it. Any ideas what could be causing the light to come on?
My apologies for being long-winded, but I wanted to be as thorough as possible. Thanks for any/all of your help!
Sean
Here is the general area where the leak is:
Here is a birds-eye view of the hole (valve?) where the leak is coming from:
and here is another birds-eye view of the hole where the leak is in a different light:
Symptoms include: rapid coolant loss, and the A/C and vent (when the fan is on) air smells like coolant, but it does not smell like coolant when the heater is on. Also, the passenger side carpet is a little damp on the side where your left foot would be while sitting in the car. The carpet is not soaked, but it is damp.
Do any of you have any idea what is causing the leak? Is it a failed heater core or heater core hose? And why is the coolant coming out of the hole in the firewall?
Also, on an unrelated note to the coolant leak problem above, my battery idiot light is on and wont turn off. A few months ago, I replaced my alternator because one of the bearings in the old one failed. I replaced the old one with a new, stock replacement (stock specifications) part. I also have an Optima Yellow Top battery. All of the connections to the alternator and battery are good, and the alternator is doing its job perfectly. It is supplying the correct amount of current/voltage to the battery and car. The idiot light was not on when I replaced the old alternator, but after putting the new one in, the idiot light came on and stays on, no matter what kind of load is placed on it. Any ideas what could be causing the light to come on?
My apologies for being long-winded, but I wanted to be as thorough as possible. Thanks for any/all of your help!
Sean
