Antifreeze leak? Advice requested

focus · #1 03-13-2006, 12:16 PM

After my '00 Focus ZTS passed inspection last week I took the car through an automatic carwash. After that I noticed small drips of what appeared to be antifreeze leaking to the pavement under my frontend, almost dead-center between the wheels. I checked my coolant and it was empty so I filled it up and still noticed some light dripping. Light meaning a green puddle roughly the size of a CD disk after sitting for 8+ hours.
This morning, however, I didn't see a puddle and my coolant is still at the filled level. Is this something I should be concerned with? I have a scheduled appointment tomorrow to get it looked at, but if nothing is dripping anymore I'll be tempted to cancel; I have a pan sitting under it now so I can check in the morning. All this is assuming it's antifreeze, I'm not a "car guy" and wouldn't know if it's anything else.

Other than that the car appears to be running normal

Thanks!

bluelogic · #2 05-24-2006, 11:23 AM

I would do excatly what you are doing and just watch it. If the leak comes back make sure you get it fixed as a broken radiator cost less then a broken engine. Do not use any of that radiator quick fix stuff. I would only use that stuff if I did not care about my car.

Bluelogic

mtmaurer8ooo · #3 05-24-2006, 12:11 PM

Before you take it in, take a look at the thermostat housing. It's a black plastic housing/box on the driver's side of the engine - it bolts right to the head. They very commonly go bad. Just something to look in to. MM

shizznizz980 · #4 05-24-2006, 06:44 PM

I would check the hose from the radiator to the engine while the car is running because when its running it would leak more than when its off.Hope this helps

pistonring · #5 05-27-2006, 02:46 PM

I would check the hose from the radiator to the engine while the car is running because when its running it would leak more than when its off.

Sometimes the pressure of the cooling system is greatest right after cutting the engine off when the cooling system is forced to absorb the heat from the dead engine after the system stops flowing. I would check it then also.

papiichuulo · #6 06-01-2006, 08:23 PM

I would do like it was said earlier, check the thermostat housing. I know from personal experience. I thought it was just a gasket, I was wrong. First, it uses an o-ring instead of a gasket and the recess that it sits in on the thermostat housing collapsed or broke. I had to repalce the thermostat housing and the o-ring, also did the thermostat since I was there. Hpe this helps-------------L8RS

MarkZX3 · #7 03-13-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papiichuulo

I would do like it was said earlier, check the thermostat housing. I know from personal experience. I thought it was just a gasket, I was wrong. First, it uses an o-ring instead of a gasket and the recess that it sits in on the thermostat housing collapsed or broke. I had to repalce the thermostat housing and the o-ring, also did the thermostat since I was there. Hpe this helps-------------L8RS

I bought an 03 ZX3 Focus with the 2.0 Zetec engine and it has the leaky thermostat water outlet housing, and from what I can gather the Ford replacement housing is still CRAP! and will do the same thing before long! So I found that Dorman makes a replacement kit for this engine. The part number is #902-201 and it comes with the,
housing,
The thermostat,
the cover,
seals,
and some sealant.
Right now the item is out of stock! but has ANYBODY installed the Dorman housing kit?
Is it just a re-packaged bag of Motorcraft parts?

If its better than I'll wait for it, if not then I'll just go with the motorcraft.
Thanks!

rhandwor · #8 03-14-2009, 03:08 PM

I think your problem is the way the housing is made. I used to get adhesive and glue the thermostat in then I glued the gasket on to the housing. This held the thermostat in place so the housing didn't crack. I could easily set the thermostat in place without it moving.
GM used to have the groove in the intake and it was much easier.
If the thermostat moves when you bolt the housing down it will crack.
Ford thermostats have a clip to hold them in place.
I'm not sure on a Focus but it was common on Fords.

MarkZX3 · #9 03-14-2009, 09:27 PM

From what I've got from some research on the internet is that on the Zetec 2.0 DOHC engines this is VERY common! they pretty much all do it and it is the housing but the problem is that its plastic and just doesn't hold up! even the dealers are feed up with re-fixing them. So when I found that an aftermarket company has a replacement housing I was wondering if its a FIX for the OEM housing, or is it just a re-boxed OEM Motorcraft part?

I was going to order it but I was told that Dorman is out of stock of that item?
MarkZX3

rhandwor · #10 03-15-2009, 05:30 AM

Google Amazon has Dorman 902-201 in stock $39.00
Search by Dorman number

MarkZX3 · #11 03-18-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhandwor

Google Amazon has Dorman 902-201 in stock $39.00
Search by Dorman number

Thanks for the tip, but I had a problem. I went online and found it, they had two in stock. So I decided to get one while the get'en was good. I ordered it this morning at 4:30am, I got a phone call from Parts Authority about 1:00pm. He said he was VERY sorry for the mistake in the listing, but he was out of stock of that item and he has over 100 orders for them just sense the 1st of Feb, all on back order. He said he has contacted Dorman and they just keep putting him off with one reason after another for them not being able to ship the item.
I bet he'll get hit a bunch more times now that this came out on the forum!
So I'm still looking for the Dorman water outlet housing

Any other ides?
MarkZX3

papiichuulo · #12 03-19-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkZX3

Thanks for the tip, but I had a problem. I went online and found it, they had two in stock. So I decided to get one while the get'en was good. I ordered it this morning at 4:30am, I got a phone call from Parts Authority about 1:00pm. He said he was VERY sorry for the mistake in the listing, but he was out of stock of that item and he has over 100 orders for them just sense the 1st of Feb, all on back order. He said he has contacted Dorman and they just keep putting him off with one reason after another for them not being able to ship the item.
I bet he'll get hit a bunch more times now that this came out on the forum!
So I'm still looking for the Dorman water outlet housing

Any other ides?
MarkZX3

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

there's quite a few listings here...

MarkZX3 · #13 03-25-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papiichuulo

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

there's quite a few listings here...

Thanks for the link but its not a problem at all finding the factory OEM housings, but they are a piece of crap! that will just leak again later on. My hope was that the Dorman housing kit being called an "OE Solutions" would be a fix for the ford screw up!.
I'm still trying to find somebody that has bought and used on of the Dorman housings, I'm trying to find out if they are in FACT better than the OEM's, ANYBODY???

NEWS!!!! this just in. I did find that a company called HTpreformance is making a machined aluminum housing kit! that should be the perfect solution to this problem. The housings will be available in red or black, and they are taking pre-orders, BUT!!!!! they are not cheap! $249.99 plus $10.00 for shipping. Its a complete kit!
The main housing,
The Thermostat housing cover,
Seals,
Fittings.
Here is a link to their site.
http://htperformance.net/index.php

Man I just wish that it was more around $150.00 bucks!

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD