jethat

No mistaking a heater core leak. The HVAC sysem blasts moisture throughout the cab. Even without the smell and I cannot imagine running a vehicle I intended to keep for more then a year without antifreeze.

MrXLT

For people who've never had one, yes there is mistaking it. Only a couple out of like every 20 people I've seen talk about them said anything about fogging up the windows (I suppose that's what you mean by moisture, as that's not clear enough a statement).

I can't imagine running something without antifreeze in it either, but as I stated the previous owners were doing just that. I am in a hurry to get it flushed and up to my standards of maintenance (full flush procedure and filled 50/50 with coolant/distilled water), but there is a leak I have to fix which the only place at this point it can be coming from is the horribly caked up and dripping oil filter adaptor I would be changing today if it weren't raining. I'm not doing all that just to have it run all back out again and literally pour money into it.

But hey after some time has gone by, I've had a real good think about it, I can look on the bright side.

I could say all I did was take out the whole dash to upgrade a blend door because I feel I didn't investigate something as well as I thought I should've.

But that's ok, cause now I can say I did it, can do it again, and I WILL do it again. I'll do anyone else's (97-03) in SC for $300 (dealer/mechanics get $800-$1000), 1 day turnover!

Only thing that took up a lot of my time was being on the wrong side of the car port (pontoon sits on the other, but could've been moved), I had to bag and tag everything and it was all very brand new to me and scary.

It's not anymore.

When life hands you lemons, make you some lemonade.

jethat

welp you have my sympathys. doing a heater core in these trucks is a major drag. Would not want to do on I didnt have to! Remember from now on its normal for there to be some water come out of the HVAC system. Even when your using the heater the AC compressor still functions to remove humidity..

MrXLT

Thanks man!

Yea I knew about Ford's default of turning the AC on when you hit defrost from my old Crown Vic, but this truck's controls are different and I had to learn pretty much all of them are default for AC except for like what, just "panel" and "floor". haha

Gunslinger57

Did u happen to write these directions down? I have to replace my heater core (2001 F150, 5.4L, 4X4, SuperCreqw Lariat) and I would appreciate ANY help I could get.
By the way, where in S.C. I'm from N.C. although I live in KS. In a couple of years when my wife retires we're moving back out there. I'm disabled/retired now.
Thanks for your help.

jethat

I found a write up some where and there are videos that helped. There is a very good write up that I printed out when I did mine. Google is your friend. Use it. It is a HUGE job. Get someone to help you if you can. I would almost rather pull an engine out of one of these trucks then do another heater core.

jethat

BTW DO THE BLEND DOOR! you dont want to tear that shir apart again!