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Do I need a new heater core?


dragonryder

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Alright I have a 96 ranger 2.3l thats got almost 200k miles on her. I've only had it about 6 months and it never seemed to defrost well. I just wrote it off to the fact that it doesn't have A/C so it takes longer. I can smell antifreeze in the cab but I know I have a coolant leak on the lower rad hose so I thought that was why. Now today I started to see smoke from under the hood, so after a short investigation I find coolant dripping from a tube that comes out of the fire wall just below and to the right of the coolant lines going into the heater core. I have no leaks inside the truck but I do have alot of moisture that forms on the windows when it sits and the windows fog pretty good when I kick on the defrost. I'm thinking it's the heater core but I heard it is a real PITA to change so I thought I would ask on here first. :dunno:
 


schmoo

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my 83 was like that- it was easy to change, unhook
hoses, take three screws out on the cover inside,
and it falls out in your hand. don't wait- it is not
healthy to breathe antifreeze.
 

dragonryder

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From what I have read on here it is not that simple on the 95+. We have to remove the whole dash to get to ours. Also antifreeze can be all that bad, it has a nice sweet smell that covers up the smell of the cigarette's. :icon_thumby:
 

modelageek

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in all seriousness you don't want to be breathing in coolant fumes. +1 on 95 and after being a pita to change........is there a chance that the hose is leaking at the firewall and causing this issue. have you tried to tighten the clamp where the drip is?
 

fili450r

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in all seriousness you don't want to be breathing in coolant fumes. +1 on 95 and after being a pita to change........is there a chance that the hose is leaking at the firewall and causing this issue. have you tried to tighten the clamp where the drip is?
x2....check all other solutions before taking your dash out....mine is lucky enough to be the old easy way, but it is not fun, i did it on a 98 exploder.
 

AllanD

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Even inhaled Ethylene Glycol can cause liver damage.

IF you smell coolant...

As for it draining out that little pipe? that little pipe is there to prevent
it from draining inside thecab.

AD
 
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Alright I have a 96 ranger 2.3l thats got almost 200k miles on her. I've only had it about 6 months and it never seemed to defrost well. I just wrote it off to the fact that it doesn't have A/C so it takes longer. I can smell antifreeze in the cab but I know I have a coolant leak on the lower rad hose so I thought that was why. Now today I started to see smoke from under the hood, so after a short investigation I find coolant dripping from a tube that comes out of the fire wall just below and to the right of the coolant lines going into the heater core. I have no leaks inside the truck but I do have alot of moisture that forms on the windows when it sits and the windows fog pretty good when I kick on the defrost. I'm thinking it's the heater core but I heard it is a real PITA to change so I thought I would ask on here first. :dunno:
so after a short investigation I find coolant dripping from a tube that comes out of the fire wall just below and to the right of the coolant lines going into the heater core.
that is the heater core drain tube to keep the cooland out of the cab check under the dash it ma be easy as 5 screws to drop the cover and udo the hoses then pull back the core and down its out put back just the oppisite i just did 1 of them this year on different year and make rbv
 
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Alright I have a 96 ranger 2.3l thats got almost 200k miles on her. I've only had it about 6 months and it never seemed to defrost well. I just wrote it off to the fact that it doesn't have A/C so it takes longer. I can smell antifreeze in the cab but I know I have a coolant leak on the lower rad hose so I thought that was why. Now today I started to see smoke from under the hood, so after a short investigation I find coolant dripping from a tube that comes out of the fire wall just below and to the right of the coolant lines going into the heater core. I have no leaks inside the truck but I do have alot of moisture that forms on the windows when it sits and the windows fog pretty good when I kick on the defrost. I'm thinking it's the heater core but I heard it is a real PITA to change so I thought I would ask on here first. :dunno:
so after a short investigation I find coolant dripping from a tube that comes out of the fire wall just below and to the right of the coolant lines going into the heater core.
that is the heater core drain tube to keep the cooland out of the cab check under the dash it ma be easy as 5 screws to drop the cover and udo the hoses then pull back the core and down its out put back just the oppisite i just did 1 of them this year on different year and make rbv
 

dragonryder

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Thanks all, :icon_thumby: I thought that the tube may have been a drain but I wasn't sure. Guess thats why I haven't been getting and antifreeze in the passenger floor. Now just a question of tearing the dash out and replacing the core.:annoyed:
 

modelageek

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so after a short investigation I find coolant dripping from a tube that comes out of the fire wall just below and to the right of the coolant lines going into the heater core.
that is the heater core drain tube to keep the cooland out of the cab check under the dash it ma be easy as 5 screws to drop the cover and udo the hoses then pull back the core and down its out put back just the oppisite i just did 1 of them this year on different year and make rbv
95+ you have to pull the dash. I think the ford dealers alocate 5 hours plus parts
 

press 1 for english

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Jeez, guess this won't be a week night in the driveway type of job :shok:

Changing out an evaporator coil in a Ranger is easy.......changing a heater core is a major P.I.A. I doubt if it's a 5 hour job, but it's a tough job for a rookie.
 

Psychopete

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Jeez, guess this won't be a week night in the driveway type of job :shok:
Maybe... Never changed the heater core on a 95+ Ranger, but I have in my Mustang which required the dash and the center console to come out. Really need to watch for vacuum lines. Took me 8 hours from start to finish, but I take my time and sometimes can be slow (I am not a professional). It was not easy, but I could do it in a lot less time since I've done it before.

It really helps to have a guide, like a shop manual, it's really frustrating to get stuck on this. And also place all screws/bolts with the components you remove and marking the screws so you know exactly where they went.

Pete
 

Fast Fords

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:icon_thumby::D PITA...good luck buddy!

what you describe sounds exactly what happened to mine..def a heater core.

There is a sticky in this section..check it out. I did it on my 95..took 12 hours (beers were involved; not recommended when you have to remember where all those damn vac lines and bolts go haha). I recommend having a buddy over to help as well. He/she can help you calm down when you chuck your wrenches everywhere and lift the damn dash out. Also, i used a camera to take pics of where things went, an labelled groups of bolts/screws. Its also cool to look back an see what the truck looks like without a dash haha!

once again, good luck!
 

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