Trying to understand Heater Core / wet floor.

[westech]

First off Im kinda new at working on my ranger.
I know my way around shop tools but not great with diagnosing problems.

This forum is very helpful


okay here's my issue.
This is a RANGER 1992 XLT
And yes I have read a little about heater cores etc..

I have had a damp passenger floor carpet for years.
It never pools up, just damp carpet.

Its worse when it rains so I assume part of it is a hole somewhere (i also get a small wet spot on my passenger roof carpet corner near the windshield.)

But here is what make me think it might be something other than rain water..

My heat works fine, but I do get a slight antifreeze smell from the vents in Heat mode. but seems to only last a second.

The wetness in the carpet is brown in color. For years I thought this water was from spilled coffee, but I haven't drank coffee in my truck in 4 years.

Also, I noticed today that when I'm driving uphill especially, I can hear a trickling water sound behind the dash Sounds like something is full of water (but I see nothing leaking). Reminds me of the sound you hear from AC units sometimes.


any ideas?

 

[master hec0]

it could just be filling the heater box with coolant and slowly seeping though and on to the carpet. i would check the core. once you take the heater box cover you should either have coolant pooled up in there or dried residue in there and if there is i would replace the core. and the wet headliner (roof carpet) is a bad seal probably around the windshield.

 

[westech]

Sure enough I noticed a few drops of antifreeze in my parking spot,
it was on the passenger side, looks to be dripping from the heater core area.

I also pulled the carpet back near the heater core area and I could see sticky residue all around.


Im sure glad these heater core are cheap.

it could just be filling the heater box with coolant and slowly seeping though and on to the carpet. i would check the core. once you take the heater box cover you should either have coolant pooled up in there or dried residue in there and if there is i would replace the core. and the wet headliner (roof carpet) is a bad seal probably around the windshield.

 

[martin]

Check the drain in the heater box is not plugged. If you can hear sloshing around, that's about all it can be.