2012 Ford Focus (Australian model) has coolant leaking into the drivers foot well from the left side of clutch, I am having to replace coolant fluid every couple of days.
I have been told it is the heater core and it needs to be replaced, and also have been told it may just be a leak and a cheaper fix.
How would I find out if it the heater core needs replacing or just a leak that can be repaired?
Coolant Leaking in Drivers Footwell
Comments
Unless he's after a deal on some gumboots and cheap coolant.
I’m actually a she but thanks, the reason I posted on here is because I was told a mate posted about a problem with his car and he got help from users within a day and his car was fixed!
Thank you, I have done so, was told to post on here also by a friend who has received help on a matter relating to his car. Thanks
A mechanic…?
^ This.
Almost guarantee it is the heater core. It is really the only place coolant enters the cabin.
You can't really fix the heater core, if it is leaking from a bad pipe, maybe, but either way the whole dash has to come out. Pretty shitty for a 2012 model to be leaking already. Also the heater cores themselves are cheap, it's all the labour to get to it that is expensive, the heater core is just a small radiator.
My 2004 Commodore started leaking coolant into the drivers footwell in 2015, I couldn't be arsed fixing it, so I just bypassed the heater core piping in the engine bay.
I just bypassed the heater core piping
Lazy. Nice!
The Commodore way!
Really it was coming in to summer, and I figured the heater can wait for later.
Been there.
Leaking heater core in a Torana; looped the hose back to source.Pro : no boiling, rusty water on feet or general sauna vibe.
Con : no cabin heater.… until the rego expired while I was working away and it had to go over the pits.
Quick switcheroo and fingers crossed that hot air came forth before the hot water.Ah yeah, passing a roadworthy would have been difficult.
I just got a small length of coolant hose from Supercheap, a few hose clamps, and two 90 degree elbows, and just made a nice neat little bypass. Also put some bungs on the cabin side so nothing could get in. Just took the 2 hoses that go from the heater tap to the firewall, off.
Ditto, this is cheap and easy, but leaves you driving an icebox in winter if you're in the southern states.
QLD for me, and I love the cold. Foggy windscreen on the other hand was a pain in the rear.
I swear that car designers start with the heater core in front of them (like it's the most important component) and then design the whole car around that.
It's an o ring failure. Design fault that was replaced in 2013 onwards.
I just repaired mine a few months back.
O ring not available in Australia. You have to replace part of heater assembly ($186) and to fit that part you need to remove heater matrix. To remove heater matrix you need to take the dash out. I was quoted around $1500.
I said get fcuked ford and repaired it myself for $50 including replacing all the coolant. Took less than an hour. Could probably do in less than 30 minutes if I had to again.
Give me a day to find the link on the internet. Piss easy dodgy repair if you have some basic mechanical knowledge and prepared to get a sore back.
Edit:here it is
https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/79650-focus-mk3-…
I got all the parts from SCA. Let me know if you want step by step instructions or how to confirm o ring failure.
Thanks heaps, I do have some mechanical knowledge, basic, but pretty good at following instructions.
First to identify it is the o ring…
Remove small opening cover near where your left foot would touch the kick panel
Remove the plastic pin inside by pulling it (you may need to get creative if you don't have any trim removal tools)
Remove kick panel. There are about 5 or 6 securing points. They are held in firmly with metal trim clips so require a bit of force. It's an odd shaped panel so just remove it one clip at a time in a clockwise direction.
Now that this panel is off grab a torch and look for 2 aluminum looking tubes that come from the fire wall and into the heater assembly.
Half way down theses tubes are black retention clips that hold a flared join in the pipes together. Inside that flared join is where the o rings are.
Start your car and get it up to operating temperature. If it is an o ring failure you will see drips of coolant coming from the black clips and dripping into the footwell.
Let me know if you see these drips for part 2 of the repair.
Also, let me know if you get stuck at any stage.
Hey mate, I think I have the same problem and need some advice, can’t PM you not sure why. Can you please shoot me a PM? Cheers.
@chewkl: Were either of you able to work it out? Exact same car & issue. Have confirmed it's the lower of the two pipes leaking at the oring. Just not sure how I should proceed from there. I'm aiming to cover it like the photo in the link OP posted.
I feel like an auto forum would be better suited to join and ask?