Ruptured/cracked heater core hot water tube (metal tube) is leaking very badly. I need a workaround/fix. The heater core blew several years ago and I bypassed it by connecting the heater core inlet hose to the heater core outlet hose... but now the heater core hot water inlet TUBE (metal) has ruptured. I'm not sure what type of connection exists near the water pump going into that tube (grateful if someone knows and can tell me)... but am hoping that perhaps I can just disconnect the hot water tube, and run hose in its place? The heater tube assembly from a ford dealer is over $125... I'd like to avoid that if any way possible, but have to fix this leak somehow, and in a way that leaves the car safely drivable. Very grateful for any good advice! p.s., I would have replaced the heater core, but Chilton's manual says entire dash, steering column etc has to be removed, and the AC system broken into and evacuated to get to that core. If anyone knows of any way to replace it without breaking into AC etc., I'd be quite interested! I found info on how that can be done for 96 and later models, but those instructions supposedly do not work for earlier models like mine....

SOURCE: Power steering fluid leak after $200 repair day earlier...???

sure the hose could be leaking, these are the kind of problems that arise in the auotmotive feild of repairs. take a can of brake clean mabey two and clean the area of good , let it run to find your leak rember make sure the fluid is full and overfluid good luck kdc744

SOURCE: removal of bypass tube for heater core.

is this the bypass tube that comes from the water pump?if so it has 2 bolts .. one on the water pump and one identical bolt, hidden on the tube bracket.

SOURCE: 2003 Ford F350, massive hydrolic pwr steerinfluid leak

What I think you are referring to as the pump is really the steering box because the pump doesn't have an arm connected to it. The pump has 2 hoses and a belt going to it. From what you describe it sounds like you need a pitman shaft seal. The seal is replaceable but you will need a pitman arm puller to get the pitman arm off. If you don't have or can't get a puller don't even bother starting the repair, as you WILL NOT get the pitman arm off without one. When you get the pitman arm off clean out around the shaft and you will see a snap ring. Remove the snap ring. Now make sure the power steering is full of fluid. Start the engine and turn the steering wheel all the way one way or the other and hold it there while increasing the RPM. Doing this will literally "BLOW" the seal out. There will be a couple of spacers and maybe another seal that come out of the hole also. So read the installation instructions that come with the seal kit and it will have a picture of where the components go and in what order they go in. Don't forget the snap ring. When done replaceing the seal you have to center the steering box. From all the way one way turn the steering wheel all the way the other way and count the turns. Now turn back the other way half as many turns and the box is centered. With the tires pointed straight (not turning) the pitman arm should go right on. The pitman arm will go on the pitman shaft in 4 different places. So if you don't center the box and the wheels you might have say one turn to the right before the steering wheel stops and three turns to the left. With all this done fill the power steering with fluid. With the front tires off the ground and the engine NOT running turn the steering wheel all the way from stop to stop 4 or 5 times and then check the fluid again. Fill the fluid and turn wheel from stop to stop another 4 or 5 times. Doing this will "bleed" most of the air out of the system. Now start the engine and turn wheel from stop to stop a few more times to "bleed" any remaining air from system. Turn off the engine and check fluid level. Hope this is helpful.

SOURCE: R&R Steering Wheel Assembly and/or Steering Column Assembly

if you disconnect the battery and let it sit awhile this will disable the airbag.

SOURCE: lower radiator hose connecting tube to water pump.

remove the radiator hose remove the two bolts that hold the tube on and buy new tube and replace is in reverse order.