I have a 96 Escort LX with a 1.9L engine with only 62,000 miles on it. I now have a slow coolant leak from the upper right ride of the engine somewhere under the distributor (it's hard to get in there to see). Could this be a headgasket problem or cracked head? HELP!!!!

The area you describe is the thermostat housing and sensors for the temperature to the gauge and computer. I don't think you have a cracked head or faulty gasket. There are 4 things that usually go wrong when you have a cracked head or faulty head gasket.

1. Coolant in the oil. The oil dipstick and the inside of the oil filler cap will have a white creamy substance sticking to it.

2. Oil in the coolant. Since oil is lighter than antifreeeze it will readily be seen beading up at the top of the radiator under the cap.

3. Build up of pressure in the cooling system. If the gasket is broken pressure will build up in the cooling system which will blow past the cap into the resevoir. You would see bubbling in the coolant resevoir.

4. Steam out the tailpipe. If the gasket is bad or the head is cracked it will many times suck coolant out of the system and it will combine with combusion and will be seen as steam out the tailpipe.

I have a 99 escort that I replaced the engine in about 2 months ago. I swapped out the hoses for new ones. The clamps on those freaking hoses are so hard to work with, I used the scew on clamps. I had a leaking problem from the same spot and it was actuall comming from the top radiator hose where it attaches to the block. I had not screwed teh clamp down tight enough and it only leaked when the pressure built up. Might check the top hose and see if it leaking there.

Yeah. Check that spring clamp on the top hose. Spring clamps aren't all that good.

Thanks for the info, davescort97. I checked the top hose and clamp, both look good. Looks like its leaking from somewhere around the thermostat housing, I'll tear into it this weekend.

My 93 1.9L leaked there also. Had to remove coil pack mounted on top of thermostat housing then remove housing. Be careful as I snapped off two of the housing bolt heads. Replaced with cat 8 bolts. Might as well replace the thermostat also since yours will be apart to replace the gasket. Now 4 yrs later mine only leaks a bit when first starting below 0.