Ford Enthusiast

[CelesteEve]

I want to start out I'm a daddy's girl that loves to fix things on her own if at all possible. I just need a little guidance.

So, the car hasn't been blowing consistent heat recently (it will heat up once in awhile especially if I pound on the dash) and starting last night i noticed that it was leaking coolant.....fast. It does not smell like coolant in the car and the hoses under the reservoir seem fairly dry accept for some residual leaking fluid from above.

Today I drove a few miles to run errands and before we got even home it was at HOT. so I took a piece of cardboard and put it under the reservoir (where it seems to be coming from) and after running the engine for a bit and removing the cardboard it was wet. SO i put my hand under it and it appears to have a hole or a crack underneath it. Is there a plug which is located underneath? There is a hole big enough for my finger to sit in. I can buy one from autozone for approx $30. I should be able to swap it out myself I'm hoping.

So I thought I had figured it out. I have no coolant so I added near hot water to the reservoir which i then noticed the fluid in there was a muddy brown. After researching this online i find out that it could be a severe head gasket which is blown or a clogged heater core backing up. I have no experience with anything like this before.

I'm wondering if it truly is just the reservoir and the muddy brown got stirred up because it hasn't been flushed within the last 3 years which could be leading me to freak out prematurely OR should I get the core flushed and radiator flushed as well?

I know...lots of questions...and I'm hoping for lots of answers! Thanks guys (and/or gals)!