Hey guys, I have an 01 f150 screw XLT 4.6 Triton 4x4. I noticed when I'm driving with the A/C on I get that oddly familiar smell of coolant. Now, when I run my A/C it blows a thick steam that obviously stinks. Even with my A/C off, it still leaks through the vents and steams. A/C blows fine on cool, when I put the heater on, it doesn't blow hot. I hear it could be my heater core, blend door, the blend door actuator, or the evaporator... how do I see which it is before ripping everything apart? I'm doing this myself like I have everything else, and not sending it to the shop. Also, is there other ways to do it without completely disassembling the dash etc? Also, I sometimes hear a knock sound from under my dash when I turn my A/C on. Almost like something dropping.

ANY feedback will be much appreciated.

 

take a pencil and mark a small line on the coolant tank to monitor if the coolant tank is dropping... If you smell coolant, I would guess you do have a leak.

 

To see if the heater core is leaking, just pull back the carpet on the passenger side floor (under glove box area) enough to feel if its wet and look up while your down there to see if there is coolant

 

There's no doubt in my mind you have a leaking heater core. It may be a slow leak and not showing up on the floor yet but it will. Complete dash removal is about 4 to 6 hours,about 1 hour to replace the core and blendoor, and 4 hours back. I did mine last January with the help of a U-Tube video
.1.0.35i39l2j0l8.64.3021.0.11383.2.2.0.0.0.0.180.281.0j2.2.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.0LW3HbvQs84Be sure to watch all 3 segments first. Good luck