Antifreeze leaking INTO car..

[Tom_Servo]

Started yesterday morning during my drive to work.. I smelled collant and could see a whisp of steam cimeing thru the window defrost vent. When I stopped for gas, I popped the hood and looked and could not see any sign of leaks or smell any antifreeze.

It got worse on my way home.. by the time I got home I had a pool of antifreeze in front of the passenger seat I had to clean up.

Needless to say, I drove our other car today. I have ideas as to what is causing the leak.. headgasket and heat exchange locations.

Any other ideas?

It is a '98 with 2.4L and 152K miles.

[Tom_Servo]

Well, more research into this.. looks like it is most likely the heater core that went.

[Hemi99]

Yeah, the heater core is shot. Should be pretty fun to replace on that car too. You're just lucky you didn't get a facefull of the hot coolant! Consider yourself blessed!

[1badredbird]

Yep, it's you heater core. I had a leak in my 92 Toy's Rad, a big one. I went & bought the Copper sealer,(it looks like liquid copper when shaken) it's the most expensive sealer of the bunch, and worth every penny. Read the instructions, cause after it's sealed, You have to flush the system(no biggie) or it says it could possibly cause some of you rad's cores. But leave it in as long as possible, just for added insurance, I did. With that many miles, it's worth a shot,(versus changing your core!) I think $7 or $8.99. Mine is leak free for going on 1 year now, follow the instructions & it'll work. My leak stopped dripping, almost from a slow run, in less than 5 minutes. Whatcha got to lose, 9 bucks?
Good Luck! 'bird
PS: If you do try it, please let us know how it worked for you.

[riverat440]

My 2000 had a smell of antifreeze and leak inside for a spell until I found out that the Ford hose clamps that they install at the factory were leaking at the firewall and running inside to the heater core. It was a pain just to replace these let alone change the heater core. The heater core and the A/C evap are removed as a unit.