Help needed - coolant leak + HOT AIR!!!

[Mitch]

Sorry, I ran out of time looking at the LS Girls thread.... I should have been searching, but T&A got in my way

I have hot air no matter how cold I turn my A/C down too... set at 60 degrees, its like fire blowing out of my vents.

Also, I have a coolant leak. Looks like its coming out of some sort of coolant junction box right under the A/C resevior - I have a feeling that this has something to do with my hot/cold issue. AND all of the sudden I have the squeakiest belt EVER! maybe too much coolant spit at it? Or maybe I am loosing a water pump? God, I swear this car costs me WAAAAY to much. I spend less on my dedicated off road 4x4 toy.

Can anyone confirm or post any links for me? How about parts cost - anyone know? Or what is the part called - haha.

Thanks, and I will try searching a little while you debate at yelling at me for not searching.

2004 lincoln LSE (V8)

 

[tireman]

Coolant bottle

Sounds like your coolant bottle is cracked, fairly common problem. Take it out and check it for hair line cracks. You most likely have air in the system too. The coolant bottle is very expensive at the dealer. Try Max at 5 star Ford. Replace bottle, bleed system. The a/c is a different issue. Fix leak first, then a/c.

 

[Mitch]

Sounds like your coolant bottle is cracked, fairly common problem. Take it out and check it for hair line cracks. You most likely have air in the system too. The coolant bottle is very expensive at the dealer. Try Max at 5 star Ford. Replace bottle, bleed system. The a/c is a different issue. Fix leak first, then a/c.

I think I confused you. No A/C leak. If you look under the little a/c resevior thing you will see a box that has multiple cooling lines going in and out of it - I think thats leaking - I also think it has something to do with why I am not getting cold air. I could be wrong though.

 

[Jim Henderson]

See... http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6x33011.htm~gen~ref.htm

For a blow up of the engine cooling system. I believe you are talking about the item 12 18495 Coolant control valve

If that is leaking, either the hoses are bad or the valve is bad. Replace whatever is bad. I bet the valve costs a pretty penny or two.

This valve looks like it controls the water to the heater so if it is stuck open, you will have heat all the time.

Also many of us have experienced heat all the time when the coolant system has air in it. This seems to confuse the valve under the dash board that controls which way the heat goes.

Either case, when all is fixed you will need to bleed the air out of the system.

Good Luck, I just got done doing significant fixes to the cooling system. what a complicated POS.

BTW, if you hear crackly sounds while removing hoses, don't be surprised if you crack some of the cheesy plastic cooling system parts, pita.

Jim Henderson

 

[joegr]

...This seems to confuse the valve under the dash board that controls which way the heat goes. ...
Jim Henderson

No such animal on gen II (gen I has a bypass door). On gen II the DCCV (Dual Coolant Control Valve) is the only thing that controls the heat to either side.

 

[Mitch]

No such animal on gen II (gen I has a bypass door). On gen II the DCCV (Dual Coolant Control Valve) is the only thing that controls the heat to either side.

Is the DCCV what the post above may be refering to?

 

[joegr]

Is the DCCV what the post above may be refering to?

The DCCV is behind the radiator on the left side, just above the aux coolant pump. Is this where your leak is coming from? (Sorry, but I don't know what you mean by the "A/C resevior" [reservoir, I assume] or "coolant junction box.")
Can you take and post a picture?

 

[Mitch]

This is not my pic, but shows the part (circled in yellow) that I am calling the a/c reservior. Directly underneath this is a "junction box?" that has a multiple coolant connections in it - I think that is my leak/hot air problem.

Also, whats the container I circled in red? What fluid(s) go in there? I assume this is my overflow for the radiator, and have been putting water in it when needed - Did I F up?

 

[Mitch]

I should have looked at the drawing link you provided earlier.... VERY HELPFUL!

http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6x33011.htm~gen~ref.htm

These are the parts I am referring to, mind you that I dont think anything is wrong with part 9, that was just to reference part 12, that I do think is my problem.

so if 12 is "bad" and leaking, could that be my problem(s) ?? How much is that little guy gonna cost?

 

[Mitch]

Part #12 = $164
Labor = $125
Ballpark installed at dealership = $350

This doesnt include any "diagnosis" fees. Just fix the leak is what I told them.

 

[joegr]

In answer to your other question, the thing circled in red is the coolant reservoir. It is not an overflow bottle. The LS, like many cars now, doesn't have one.

As for the the "AC reservoir", that is called the receiver/drier, but you are right it is a kind of reservoir, I'm just not used to hearing it called that.

Please note that after the DCCV is replaced, one of the fuses to the climate control may also have to be replaced. Most times, the DCCV's fail because they leak a little bit of coolant over a long time and it shorts the solenoid coils out. It sounds like yours went straight to being a major leak.

 

[Mitch]

In answer to your other question, the thing circled in red is the coolant reservoir. It is not an overflow bottle. The LS, like many cars now, doesn't have one.

As for the the "AC reservoir", that is called the receiver/drier, but you are right it is a kind of reservoir, I'm just not used to hearing it called that.

Please note that after the DCCV is replaced, one of the fuses to the climate control may also have to be replaced. Most times, the DCCV's fail because they leak a little bit of coolant over a long time and it shorts the solenoid coils out. It sounds like yours went straight to being a major leak.

There is some corrosion on part 12 (DCCV right?). Is the fuse your talking about inline or in the fuse box?

 

[joegr]

Fuse box.

 

[Mitch]

thank you very much for your help!

I think you saved me about 125 dollars