Hey Guys and Gals
Just wanted to bounce a few questions off you. I have a 98 F150
4x4 reg cab with 48000 miles on it and I'm getting a faint Antifreeze smell in the cab but I'm not losing any antifreeze at all.
I have had the smell for atleast 2 yrs now...It's really weird and the smell is very, very faint... I have read the heater core problems that people have had, where are these cores leaking?
and does Ford know what is causing it? I already replaced the
leaking rear window. Man what a difference from the stock win.
to the new replacement...your feedback would be appreaciated
Thank you

 

My 97 f-150 heater core went bad, I had that antifreeze smell but no leaking inside the cab. My experience has been if your heater core goes bad, passenger side floorboard was wet. Where I found it leaking was at the bottom of firewall, down on to the frame on the passengers side inside the engine compartment. If your not having to add coolant, Maybe you just have a very small leak. After changing mine and wiping out the box, I still had that smell when I turned on the heat and fan

 

I would suggest taking your truck to your Ford dealership and ask for relief under TSB 01-15-6 titled Heater Core-Repeated Failures. This TSB was issued August 2001. Hope this helps.

 

Thank you for your responces, I will try the dealership next.
I have to say that I have been very satisfied with this truck
but a antifreeze smell in a cab is a turn off.
But I plan on running it until it dies or I do...
Take care and thanks again.
John

 

OK, Here is the deal....
I wrote an e-mail to Ford Motor corp and they called me back in 24hrs.....WoW
The rep on the phone said that they can not determine if the heatercore falls under the assistance program unless a dealership looks at it. So I'm going to bring the truck to the dealer tomorrow. I spoke to the Service manager at my dealership. He said that they will take a look at the truck and talk to ford motor company to see if they will approve the assistance on the job. I'm looking for them to atleast go halfway with the bill. What do you think the chances of that are?

I also got a qoute of 159.95 for a complete Tranny fluid change
that includes the converter "4X4" filter, gasket and merconV
fluid. How's that price?

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Just a quick warning on the heater core if you see steam from the vents, unless you need you heat now I would cut the hoses for your heater and by-pass them for now until you can change it . It will fog up your windshield at night and make it impossible to see and cleaning oil from your windshield is no easy task. You will be lucky if ford helps you out at all with your core replacement. It should take about 8 to 12 hours to complete. I have done 4 so far in the 97 F-150.

 

bluovl6


That's the weird part, No steam, nothing!!!! just a faint smell.
Also, you did 4 cores on your personal truck? Same truck?

 

Yes on mine I think the first replacement I might have nicked it or something but the other 2 were fords recommended fix. They want you to ground out the core, that only lasted 3 months before it leaked then put a restricter in the lines and that one leaked in 3 weeks. I have had this one in for 6 months now and so far so good. and one on another truck.