Green_Lariat

I have been noticing an odor coming from the vents that smelled like antifreeze regardless if its from the A/C or heater, but much worse from the heater. Then one occasion the heater filled the truck with smoke so badly I couldn't see out.

I believe I have a leak from the hoses coming into the heater core.

Can I get to these hoses without pull the heater core out and the dash?

569538

It's unlikely that your problem is due to hoses. It is more likely a heater core leak. I will add that the hoses can be dificult to remove from the heater pipes. I usually reach back there and cut the tubes, then remove the hoses from what remains of the tubes.

jayson_waltz

You can check the hoses, but 95% chance is the heater core itself is leaking. And to replace that you have to remove the WHOLE dash from the pickup, or at least lay it back on the front seats. These pickups are a huge PITA to replace a heater core. If you are very mechanically inclined and confident in your abilities and have a good step by step manual you can try it yourself. If you have a doubt dont even try, it will only cost you more to have someone do it if you have taken some of it half-assed apart not knowing what actually needs to be done and then take it in. Thats theoretical tho, I have no idea what your abilities are. Someone just attempted that about a month ago then took it to a dealer for my dad to do it and them complained when it cost a few hundred more to fix his errors.

Green_Lariat

I think I'm just gonna try some radiator stop leak and top off the radiator with antifreeze for now. It's gonna have to get rather bad for me to take the dash out and I'm not gonna pay what it would cost to do it. Thanks for the help though.

pickupsrule

Heater core leaks, the curse of any vehicle.
Wait until it manages to leak hot scalding AF on your passenger.
I would also try the stop leak, but I think it is too far gone for that.
It could be hose and if so, the stop leak will not do anything.
You really need to suck it up, and go into the dash and see what is going on. Sorry.

mlarky1957

If you can live with out the heater for a while, remove the heater hoses from the motor, run a loop of hose to the engine fittings, taking the heater out of the equation, and the smell. As for the fix...the others are right ( been there done that) pulling the dash is the ONLY way to get to the heater box. Took me about 10 hours start to finish. NOT one of Fords better ideas. Heater core was about $50, the new hoses anoth $20. Cheapest estimate I got for the job was over $800. There is a link that has all the instructions with diagrams and photos that really helped, else where in this forum, or Google it.