[truck490]

Hello, i have a 2002 2wd 2.0 5 speed. Just clicked over to 101k. Just noticed today that it is leaking what i think is coolant. The leak comes from an assembly at the drivers side of the top of the engine, just below the valve cover and above the tranny. It has hoses that lead to the radiator but it is bolted to the block. WHAT IS iT? and how bad is it that its leaking....looks like maybe a seal. FYI it leaked about a 4 inch circle over 8hours while i was at work. The front of the car was pointed slightly down hill.

thanks for any help :shrug:

 

[SUVord]

That leak is from the water pump area.
You have to check for the dripping while the engine is idling.The leak could be coming from either some damaged hose or from the pump itself.Checking carefully you should be able to verify the source yourself.
If it is a ruptured hose, it has to be changed with a new one.If the leak is from the water pump itself, you can try radiator sealant pellets emptied into the coolant reservoir as a temporary fix.
Please keep us informed.

 

[truck490]

I was think it was the water pump but when i looked it up in my chilton repair manual they were stating that the water pump was on the passenger side and run off of the serpitine belt. This device is on the other side of the block...

 

[Surfscape]

There was an early configuration on the right side but most are where yours is.

 

[MichaelJD1980]

I was think it was the water pump but when i looked it up in my chilton repair manual they were stating that the water pump was on the passenger side and run off of the serpitine belt. This device is on the other side of the block...

I bet it's the thermostat housing. They are notorious for failure on the 2.0L Zetec, at least in the Focus. Check http://www.focusfanatics.com and search for the thermostat housing. You will find more than enough information and how-to's. I replaced mine on my 2002 Focus at approximately 80,000 miles. It took about an hour. FWIW, your valve cover gasket is also probably leaking. Both parts are about $35 apiece.

 

[martin-csr]

I have the same vehicle. That's the thermostat housing. Hopefully, the leak is either the upper radiator hose, or the thermostat housing seal. I flushed my cooling system last year and it was very easy.

Here's some info I posted in another forum:
Cooling System Flush. 2002 Escape 2.0L 5MT:
Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant (Green)
System capacity is 5.3 qts (50/50 mix of coolant & distilled water).
Radiator drain valve: 19mm socket or wrench
Radiator drain valve tubing: ~9mm ID or ~3/8" ID
(for collecting the coolant more easily - I routed the tubing out towards the front of the vehicle into a bucket).
Radiator upper nipple: ~37mm OD (this should be the same as the radiator hose ID).
Engine block coolant drain plug: T40 Torx wrench (I didn't remove it).
Thermostat housing screws: T25 Torx wrench. 89-Inch/lbs (do not overtighten - the housing is plastic)
Temporarily remove the thermostat so that the sytem can be flushed.
When done with the flush, reinstall the thermostat w a new seal.
(replace the thermostat if necessary; mine was fine, so I didn't replace it).
Using a shop vac hose & etc, I fabbed a water hose setup & connected it to the upper radiator nipple to flush the cooling system. I also rigged a swimming pool hose to the radiator/thermostat-housing hose so that the old coolant could be collected more effectively & so that the clean flush water could be directed to the lawn.
I used two 2.5 gal jugs of distilled water as a final rinse.
Note: I did not remove the engine block drain plug. It may not be necessary on the I4, because afterwards I was able to add the correct amount of coolant & distilled water.

 

[truck490]

Thank you everyone! The thermostat housing is defiantly it! And the posting on focus fanatics nailed the cause of a leaking valve cover gasket. Now I just need to fix it!

 

[MichaelJD1980]

Thank you everyone! The thermostat housing is defiantly it! And the posting on focus fanatics nailed the cause of a leaking valve cover gasket. Now I just need to fix it!

Fix it soon. Once the housing starts leaking, it's only a matter of days before it dumps all of your coolant out on the road (speaking from experience).