Heater core leaking?
 

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.

If it's made in China, no.

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.

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.

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