Heater core leaking?

[alerogls001]

When I was doing a intake cleaning yesterday I noticed "smoke" coming from the back side of the engine. When I looked around with a flashlight I noticed it was from water dripping out of the hose by the firewall real low- it was dripping pretty steady. Now, the last time I ever noticed this was two summers ago and it was my heater core. Just wondering if there are any other possibilities of what it could be. I noticed the car losing water a couple weeks ago- and I have seen water under the car but figured it had something to do with running a/c. Shouldnt the heater core last a lot longer than two years? Almost 1,000 is ridiculous to spend every two years on something like that, so I am hoping it is something else.

[zzyzzx]

Shouldnt the heater core last a lot longer than two years?

If it's made in China, no.

[zzyzzx]

Based upon your description, I would blame the hose or the hose clamp. usually when the heater core goes, it leaks on the inside of the car :(

I've never replaced a heater core, but supposedly they go bad like mad on 1991-1996 Escorts so I read stories about them going bad all the time on Escort boards.

[alerogls001]

Thanks. Ill try to get a look at it this weekend. Funny thing is I had a heater core go out on a crown vic once and it soaked the inside- on this one the first time I had no water coming inside... and not now either.

[zzyzzx]

Whats worse is in some Escorts, no only do they frequently leak, but they leak onto an electronic module and fry it as well.