I have a 1999 F150 4.6L w/145K. I have heat but when I turned it on yesterday the winshield fogged up and everything smelled like antifreeze. I know I'm dreaming for miracles but my heater core is leaking right?

 

Oh yes, that's your heater core leaking. I replaced mine roughly a month ago. The replacement job sucks, but having a friend definitely helped. Replace the blend door while you're at it, they tend to get brittle after years of use and a few months after replacing the core it would really suck to have to tear into it again for the blend door. I went a total of two weeks with my heater core leaking, windows fogging (even when the air was off), and everything stinking of anti-freeze. Hope this helps.

- B

 

Thanks lil bizzy, I was reading to procedure of dismantling the dash to get to it. I wonder what Ford brainiac came up with this design. And of course it's been to cold here to start this type of project without a garage.

Will check out the condition of blend door too. Was also suggested to replace thermostat and hoses. This is gonna start adding up I'm sure.

Was thinking of cutting hoses going to heater and connecting them with a pipe and clamps to bypass heater core until I can get to it but not sure if thats a good idea or not.

 

I forgot to mention I also replaced the heater core hoses, per the ford mechanic's suggestion. I have no idea on sticking a pipe on them to cut off flow to the core, I'm sure it can be done though. After the two weeks of riding around the leak went from bad to worse, eventually getting to the point of draining half of the coolant bottle every 50-100mi.

- B

 

Yea, I'll probably change out stuff to save having to go back. I just can't believe you have to do this for a heater core.

 

Now that I've bypassed my heater core by looping water from the one motor outlet to the inlet side to keep it from loosing anti freeze I now have some time, of course I have no heat and not sure how the air will react but not concerned about that yet still to cold here.

Talking to my mechanic he said he has two trucks with the same problem to work on. He said that the labor alone in $280 plus parts. He also suggested while it is open (dash) to change out the condenser coil for the air due to the truck being 10yrs old (1999).

My question is for the guys that have done this replacement; besides replacing the thermostat, hoses and maybe the blend door did anyone replace their condenser coil when they changed their heater coil?

Also if he is getting $280 for labor is that job as labor intense (6-8hrs) as I have read here?

 

Hey bud, I'm having the same problem, just started today. Where did you see instructions on how to remove the dash? And the two lines that you looped together are the two there on the passenger side firewall running into the firewall correct?

 

Oops, I'm a newb. I had yet to even look through the HVAC section. I had just stumbled across your thread when i did the search. I will go take a look in the other threads and keep posted!

 

I didn't find a thread on how to reroute the hoses. On passenger side of firewall I unclamped the hose that had the screw type clamp and removed it from pipe. I then cut the other line and put the clamp on it and installed it to the pipe I removed other hose from so the fluid goes in and out of the top of the block to bypass the heater core. Keeps from leaking and loosing fluid until I can get to it.

 

i have a 2000 exbedition and the heater core is bad does any one have a step by step intructions how to do that