Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting please help

I have a 96 Zetec with 76,000. It has been losing coolant recently although I cant locate where. Sometimes with the heater on you can smell antifreeze lighty, and it goes away and comes back when it wants to. Also when you get out of the car you can smeel antifreeze smell.
I did a pressure test today built pressure to 16psi, and it dropped steadly, indicates a tiny leak.
I have checked all hoses, and clamps no leaks clamps are tight, the radiator is less than two years old.
The hose going from the coolant recovery tank to the thermostat housing is hard though for some, like pretty hard not soft dont know why that would be.

I'm leaning very much to the heater core, only reason I havent done it yet is because it hasnt been wet on the passanger side flood board.

Any ideas thanks

Usually when it is the heater core leaking, you will get a film of coolant on the windshield. You won't have to get out of the car to smell it. Check the weap hole on the waterpump.

I think there is a drain hole in the heater box, for the evaporator when it defrosts...so you might not see a leak onto your floor. I would maybe try eliminating the heater core by either pinching the lines to it or plugging them, then pressure test it again. If it holds pressure with the core eliminated, then you know your leak is in the core. I usually use some cut off broom handles about 5" long and then take 2 of them and drill and bolt them together like a clamp. They are great when you need to disconnect a line and dont want to loose your coolant, and would allow you to clamp the heater core hoses without damaging them.

Just wondering if anyone else has any other ideas. The parts store folks said it was most likely the heater core, because you smell antifreeze with the heater on, they say nothing else will cause it. As far as pinching the lines, tried it but couldnt them really tight enough to have it all the way cut off.

I have a 96 amd was having similar problem. First time it was heater core , but the second time it was the water pump. Where the water pump is located the water would lieak onto the crossmember or the lower control arm so the water would sit there instead of onto ground. Don't know if this helps hope so.