Do we have an Auto Repair group?

[Duer 157099]

I know about the Auto Enthusiasts group, but when I want to ask questions relating to diagnosing a problem, "enthusiast" is about the furthest thing from my mind. I notice people ask questions here in the Lounge, but they disappear so quickly that they cross post them over there, but there's hardly any traffic.

What's the best place/way to ask an auto repair question around here, anyone? I know we've got some experienced people here who are happy to answer, but they have to see the post.

Thoughts? Comments? Advice?

[BlueJazz]

1. I've thought the same thing. There's a lot of Brain ...here at DU..that could..

...be a great resource for DTY car repairers.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. You can post your question here in the Lounge

But you may need expert help to decipher the replies.

Advice? Ok. Whatever is broken on your car, spray it with WD-40. It fixes everything.

:hi:

[Capn Sunshine]

3. I've seen LOTS of constructive car trouble advice in the Lounge

timing is key. The car nuts are legion ( I'm one) but you never know. Ask the question, we'll see what percolates up :hi:

[Duer 157099]

4. Cool - yeah I know I've seen great discussions on

troubleshooting car issues here in the Lounge, but the threads can sink so fast!

Anyway, so here's the deal. And I know that I should "just take it in to the repair shop" but I always try to diagnose the problem myself first as much as possible, so there's less chance of getting ripped off (as a female, believe me, it helps to know what you're talking about when you take your car in). Also if it's potentially a huge expensive issue, then I won't even bother taking it in because I cannot afford to have it fixed and then why waste the $$ on finding out what it is.

I'm leaking coolant (94 explorer).

After filling the radiator up and then driving about 3 miles and then letting it cool down, the fluid level had dropped by about a liter.

At this point, the garage floor was dry--the car sat for a day--so I filled it back up to the top with water and immediately the floor was getting splattered with coolant. So, when under no pressure, it looks like the fluid passively went thru the upper radiator hose to wherever the leak is. The connection of the upper hose to the radiator is fine, no leakage there, nor anywhere else along that hose.

When I looked under the car to see the highest point that was wet, it's a part that I don't recognize, and besides, it looks like whatever is leaking is above that anyway, but I cannot see it. It's just below the alternator, above and behind the "tensioner" (see diagram below).

What is in that location that would be leaking? This was leaking without the car starting, so completely passive, no pressure, no pumps.

It's possible that it could be coming from a part of the water pump that I cannot see, and just leaking down that route to the part I see from underneath.

Anyway, if anyone has any advice (besides: dump that car! or take it in!) I'd really appreciate it!

[Capn Sunshine]

5. without seeing it , I'd say cracked heater hose

That's about where they enter the core for heating defrosting your car.

They have these clippy like clamps and generally it spings a pinholeleak just ahead of that.
You won't seee any on the floor because it hits the exhaust manifold and evaporates. Maybe. But by all means, carry a bottle of coolant and some duct tape with you and watch your temp gauge until you take it in.

[Duer 157099]

7. OK, I'll go Google that part name and see what it looks like...

this is how I learn about my car, it's great! Before today, I couldn't even point out where my water pump was, lol.

[Duer 157099]

12. Ahah! I found a schematic and the heater hose is located

exactly where the leak seems to be coming from.

The question is: can fluid flow into that hose passively, without the engine running?

[Capn Sunshine]

13. only if there is air available (ie a leak)

other than that, it will flow there because that's the design of the system flow.

[flvegan]

6. It leaks from the engine when it's not under pressure and not running?

Hm. Though judging by the location, I'd guess that it might be the upper radiator hose or thermostat housing, which on the 4.0L was directly above the idler pulley...I think. Could be a heater hose as well. Just guesses, of course.

[Duer 157099]

8. Thanks, I'll look at the termostat housing and heater hose

I'm pretty sure it's not the upper hose, I traced the whole length of it and it's dry.

I know this is going to really sound lame, but what is the path the coolant takes?

1) leaves the radiator via _____ (upper hose?)

I've been looking for an image/diagram like this awesome one, but for my model. Haven't found one yet

http://image.fourwheeler.com/f/8954222/129_0601_03_z+2006_ford_explorer+engine_view.jpg

[flvegan]

9. Some engines

are reverse-flow systems (which I don't really understand, tbh). On yours, I believe coolant exits the radiator from the lower hose into the engine. Through the various parts of the engine and back out through the upper hose and back into the radiator.

[Duer 157099]

10. OK. So when the car is just sitting, the fluid can still exit

the radiator through the upper hose though, right? It just flows in the opposite direction than how it would be pumped.

Can fluid passively exit the water pump? I mean, just flow through if the car is not running? Because if not, then the leak has to be before or in the water pump.

I can't find a flow diagram anywhere, I think this must be so basic that they don't even bother showing it, lol.

I still can't find where the heater hose is either.

[flvegan]

11. I don't think

so, no. Though, if the engine had been running and coolant was being pumped throughout the cooling system, then once the engine was turned off, were there a leak, I could see there being backflow to the leak from any hoses, etc that are above/ahead of the leak.

[Duer 157099]

14. I think I have another piece of info to add

I drove the car yesterday just for a couple of miles, and then returned and let it cool down.

Now I don't see any leakage underneath the car, which to me means that whatever is leaking is really dependent upon the level of the fluid or the pressure.

I still haven't been able to take it in but also not driving it except for very short trips, as above.

Right now it's completely not leaking, but the radiator level is also probably down by about half a liter or so too. I know that if I add the fluid, it will start leaking again.

Odd. I think I'll go do that.