26-2060

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
Loss Of Engine Coolant And/Or Cooling Fan Noise

20 February
2026

Model:
Ford
2026 Transit

3.5L EcoBoost
3.5L Duratec

Markets: North American markets only
Issue: Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a loss of engine coolant at the heater
hose assembly near the engine cooling fan. The vehicle may also have DTCs P1299 and/or P1285 stored in the
PCM. This may be due to an incorrectly indexed hose connection at the thermostat housing causing contact with the
cooling fan.
Action: For vehicles that meet all of the criteria in the Issue and Model statements, follow the Service Procedure to
replace and correctly index the coolant heater hose assembly and if necessary, inspect and replace the cooling fan
motor and shroud assembly.
Parts
Service Part
Number

Claim
Quantity

Description

Note

Heater Hose

2026 Transit, 3.5L Duratec

Heater Hose

2026 Transit, 3.5L
EcoBoost

RK3Z-18472-H

1

RK3Z-18472-G

1

VC-13DL-G

As Needed

Motorcraft® Yellow Prediluted Antifreeze
Coolant

All Markets Except Canada

CVC-13DL-G

As Needed

Motorcraft® Yellow Prediluted Antifreeze
Coolant

Canada Only

Parts - Parts To Inspect And Replace Only If Necessary
Service Part Number Claim Quantity Description
RK3Z-8C607-A

1

Cooling Fan Motor And Shroud

W506434-S439

8

Lower Load Path Bar Bolts

W505434-S439

4

Lower Load Path Bar Bolts and Washers

Claim Quantity refers to the total number of individual pieces required to repair the vehicle. This may differ from the
number of service part number packages due to the unit of issue (UOI).
As Needed indicates the part is necessary but amount of the part may vary and/or is not a whole number. Parts can
be billed out as non-whole numbers, including less than 1.
Only If Necessary indicates the part is not mandatory. Refer to the Service Procedure to determine the
inspection/inclusion criteria.
Warranty Status: Warranty coverage limits and policies are not altered by a TSB. Warranty coverage limits are
determined by the identified causal part.
Labor Times
Description
2026 Transit 3.5L EcoBoost/3.5L Duratec: Visually Inspect The Coolant Heater Hose And The
Cooling Fan Blades For Damage Includes Time To Replace The Heater Hose

Operation
No.
262060A

Time
1.4
Hrs

2026 Transit 3.5L EcoBoost/3.5L Duratec: Visually Inspect The Coolant Heater Hose And The
Cooling Fan Blades For Damage Includes Time To Replace The Heater Hose And Cooling
Fan Motor And Shroud Assembly

262060B

2.5
Hrs

Repair/Claim Coding
Causal Part:

18472

Condition Code: 30

Service Procedure
1. Visually inspect the coolant heater hose assembly near the cooling fan assembly for leaks and damage (Figures 12). Is damage or coolant leakage present?
Figure 1

Figure 2

1. Yes - proceed to Step 2.
2. No - this article does not apply. Refer to the WSM, Section 303-03 for normal diagnostics.
2. Inspect the cooling fan blades for damage due to contact with the heater hose (Figure 3). Is any damage present?
Figure 3

1. Yes - proceed to Step 3.
2. No - proceed to Step 4.
3. Replace the cooling fan motor and shroud assembly. Refer to the WSM, Section 303-03 Engine Cooling >
Removal and Installation > Cooling Fan Motor and Shroud.
4. Drain the cooling system. Refer to the WSM, Section 303-03 Engine Cooling > General Procedures > Engine
Cooling System Draining, Vacuum Filling and Bleeding.
5. Remove and discard the heater hose (Figure 4).
Figure 4 - Heater hose 3.5L Duratec shown, 3.5L EcoBoost similar

6. Install the new heater hose assembly.
1. If the new heater hose assembly part number printed on the hose is RK31-18K497-CAC (3.5L
EcoBoost) or RK31-18K497-XAE (3.5L Duratec), proceed to Step 7.
2. If the new heater hose assembly part number printed on the hose is RK31-18K497-CAD (3.5L
EcoBoost) or RK31-18K497-XAF (3.5L Duratec), proceed to Step 8.
NOTE: The part number printed on the hose may differ from the service part number or the engineering part
number.
7. When installing the heater hose, align the mark on the hose so it is oriented 5 mm (0.196 in) to the left of the
alignment mark on the thermostat housing (Figure 5). Proceed to Step 9.
Figure 5

8. When installing the heater hose, align the mark on the hose to the alignment mark on the thermostat housing.
(Figure 6)
Figure 6

9. Fill the cooling system. Refer to the WSM, Section 303-03 Engine Cooling > General Procedures > Engine Cooling
System Draining, Vacuum Filling and Bleeding.

© 2026 Ford Motor Company
All rights reserved.
NOTE: The information in Technical Service Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge, tools, and
equipment to do the job properly and safely. It informs these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or provides information
that could assist in proper vehicle service. The procedures should not be performed by "do-it-yourselfers". Do not assume that a condition
described affects your car or truck. Contact a Ford or Lincoln dealership to determine whether the Bulletin applies to your vehicle. Warranty Policy
and Extended Service Plan documentation determine Warranty and/or Extended Service Plan coverage unless stated otherwise in the TSB article.
The information in this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was current at the time of printing. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to supersede
this information with updates. The most recent information is available through Ford Motor Company's on-line technical resources.