Newbie Needs Help -- Coolant Leak

[Rich20001]

Guys, I have a 1999 5.4 L Expedition that was having some idling issues. I took off the TB (cleanded it), replaced the IAC, PCV and some old vacuum tubing elbows that were rotted. Put it all back together and it ran great, no more rough idling or dying while sitting at the red lights.

Well so I thought, until I noticed some smoke (steam) coming off the engine and the smell of coolant. Looked at the coolant level and it is way low. I am loosing coolant big time, it is happening at the back side of the engine by the firewall but I can't tell where the leak is coming from. It is pouring out, kinda like a hose is disconnected or something. It is not leaking inside the truck.

Is there something I could have done to have caused this problem by taking off the TB. Any suggestions on what could be causing the leak.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[tonydiv]

I've never looked, does the 5.4 have a coolant line running through the throttle body the way the 5.0L's did?

 

[Rich20001]

any ideas?

 

[JUST4FUN]

could you have broke a heater hose?or a freez plug roted out?

 

[Rich20001]

have looked at the heater hoses and they appear to be ok as far as I can see them.

Don't know about the freese plug.

There is no coolant in the oil.

 

[cardude427]

You could get a leak detection kit from a auto parts store to help you find the source