O/T '95 Escort Problems.

BillinCentralMO · Dec 10, 2008

My friend is having car trouble and she doesn't have the cash to pay repairs. Her 1995 Ford Escort is leaking radiator fluid. It has no heat from the heater. She can drive it an hour and it never warms up on the temp guage and has no heat. Any of you mechanical wizards have any advice? Does she need a new radiator ? Heater Core ? I asked if it was leaking under the radiator or further back. She parks on gravel though and says she can't tell. She adds antifreeze weekly. She says the light on the dash comes on and says ,"check coolant." Any advice for the damsel in distress? She's nice and works hard to get by but can't seem to get ahead. Any help is appreciated.

Dozer Guy · Dec 10, 2008

Check and see if the floor board is wet, If its the heater core there should be a tale tale sighn there. Also if its the H/Core the windows will be fogging up on the inside of the car with coolant... You can also slide a piece of card board under the car ond get a general idea of where the coolant is dripping from and go from there... Good Luck !!! Larry

Anonymous-0 · Dec 10, 2008

Here is some things to look at.
1 Look at the engine oil dipstick if the oil is milky the water is going there. 2 Take the radiator cap off and see if the coolant has bubbles in it when car is running(make sure car is cold when you take cap off)might have blown head gasket if you see bubbles.3 Smell the exhaust when car is running if it smells sweet, burning coolant in cylinders.4 White cloud of smoke out tail pipe also going in cylinders.Be careful make sure you take cap off when car is cold and smell exhaust outside in open air.Hope this helps and one more thing these cars like to crack heads.Blaine

Anonymous-0 · Dec 10, 2008

Second that, what blainef said. They seem to be able to lose a head gasket at any time, made worse by poor maintenance. Had one that wouldn't start, back gasket between 1 and 2. Replaced engine was cheaper than doing the head.

BillinCentralMO · Dec 10, 2008

Thanks to all for their input. It doesn't have water in the oil , and no antifreeze or fumes in the passenger compartment. She is putting a flattened cardboard box under it tonite to try and locate the leak. She's going to bring it by and I'm going to look at it and try and find the leak.My auto repair skills are pretty basic and I appreciate all the advice. Maybe she can get a few thousand more miles out of the tired little Escort. Beats riding the bus. She is my wife's childhood friend and we try and help her out. She watches our dogs and does a lot of stuff for us when we are in a pinch. I'll let you know what the problem turns out to be and whether I can get it fixed for her. Thanks again. She thought it was amazing that so many answered my query so quickly.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Dec 10, 2008

The guys thinking cracked head are thinking of the older escorts that had the 1.6L engine. They fixed the big problems with the 1.9L that the 95 has. The water pump is driven by the timing belt. At least if the timing belt were to break on the 1.9L it doesn't take out the valves like the 1.6 would.

dave guest · Dec 11, 2008

Borrow one of them pump up things and pressurize system and look for leak. You can do this with cold engine and not get burned. Old cars used to leave cap loose, but on this Ford I think it might run hot with no cap. Radiators are now sized borderline. Aluminum engine, one time overheat and usually head or gasket is gone, if not worse. Heater sound like Tstat unless antifreeze is going out so fast, cant maintain level for heat.

O/T '95 Escort Problems.

BillinCentralMO

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Dozer Guy

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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BillinCentralMO

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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dave guest

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