Coolant leak driver's side...

[Roger]

My son called me Friday and said his EX (4.0, A4LD, 4x4, 203,000 miles) was spitting coolant. It was dark and cold, but he thought it was coming from the left side... So we drove down today (120 miles each way), hoping it was just a hose or some such. No such luck.

It seems to be leaking right behind the timing cover on the drivers side. Is this a usual place for it too leak? Or am I looking at something catastrophic? It leaks too high to be a block freeze plug, but suppose it could be the headgasket. It just doesn't look like its going to fun to get to. Not really hard. But not fun.

So I will go back Friday with a tow dolly and drag it home where the garage is sort of heated...

 

[Sinx53]

I had the same problem with my 96 Ranger 4.0. At first I thought it was the water pump but it ended up being the timing cover gasket. It was leaking on the driver side right by the water pump.

 

[Roger]

Sounds like the same leak. I asked about this on anotehr forum and they concur that the timing cover gasket is the culprit. Did you replace the oilpan gasket too?