Don't you just hate it when....

[dvdswan]

So today I went back to work after taking a few days off, truck was driving great no issues at all. I pull into my parking spot and hear steam hissing. What the hell, those are brand new hoses. Turned the ignition to run and looked at the temp gauge and it was climbing fast. Popped the hood and saw steam coming out from behind the AC compressor below the exhaust manifold. My next thought was I blew a head gasket. I guess I need to start moving accessories to see exactly where the steam was coming from. I shot a video but I don't think it came out as well as I hoped. Take a look and any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[19Walt93]

Isn't there a freeze plug nearby?

 

[dvdswan]

I haven't looked yet. But it looks like it was blowing steam right under the exhaust manifold towards the front. I thought freeze plug but have never had one blow.

Edit: Just looked and the front freeze plug is dry.

 

[rubydist]

water pump bypass hose?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Timing cover?

 

[dvdswan]

Timing cover?

Looks like you nailed it. Thank goodness, I didn't want to do head gaskets...

Took off the Alt and pressurized the system. "THAR SHE BLOWS"

 

[Uncle Gump]

Dang... that's a pretty good leak.

 

[dvdswan]

I'm hoping the cover isn't cracked or something.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I know one member (that got themselves banned) did one about a year ago and did a thread I believe. User was 8thton... I've never done one but I believe it's pretty straight forward. I seem to remember he had corrosion issue on the cover. Tru to search it maybe.

 

[racsan]

Ive done one in a taurus chassis, Im sure it will be much easier to do in a ranger.

 

[bilbo]

Looks like you nailed it. Thank goodness, I didn't want to do head gaskets...

Took off the Alt and pressurized the system. "THAR SHE BLOWS"

I had the exact same thing happen on a 2003 Taurus 3.0 I used to have. In the middle of winter when it was -10 of course, on the way home from a kids basketball game. I was able to limp it nearly all the way home, going through about 5 gallons of coolant. My wife towed me the last 10 miles with her Elantra. Good times when I was younger, dumber, poorer, and less prepared.

It wasn’t too bad to do the repair. I did a timing set too while I had everything apart.

 

[19Walt93]

Before tearing it down, I'd drain it as thoroughly as you can- including pulling the block drains- and flush it with water first, it'll be a lot nicer to work on. Then before you refill it, replace the freeze plugs, too. They're steel and rust over time, it could save you another coolant shower. I've had corroded timing covers resurfaced by a machine shop- if you do that you will need to shim behind the water pump pulley to preserve belt alignment. A new timing cover might be cheaper and easier if yours is corroded.

 

[dvdswan]

So why would an engineer design an AC compressor bracket as part of the motor mount? I figured it was just a simple bracket until I got under the truck to pull the rear two bolts on the bracket. Low and behold the engine mount is part of the bracket. SMH.

As I said in the joke thread, "An engineer will walk past 72 virgins just to screw a technician".

 

[Blmpkn]

So why would an engineer design an AC compressor bracket as part of the motor mount? I figured it was just a simple bracket until I got under the truck to pull the rear two bolts on the bracket. Low and behold the engine mount is part of the bracket. SMH.

As I said in the joke thread, "An engineer will walk past 72 virgins just to screw a technician".

It could be worse.

Imagine needing to remove the entirety of your IRS just to change brake rotors, or needing to remove your motor to change headgaskets.

 

[Bgunner]

That exact spot on the timing cover must be the weak point as mine leaks in the same spot, albeit no where near that bad.