2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Anti freeze smell from heat?

[TJany]

its startin to cool ooff in the NE now so i'm starting to use the heat some... when i tturn the temp dial warmer i get a smell thats kind of like anti freeze comin out the vents, as well as a mist some times. i never have to add anti freeze, and it only happens for about 5 minutes, than clears up. any thoughts?



Thanks

Tim

 

[RustyJC]

My money is on a pinhole leak in the heater core. :{



Rusty

 

[Mundgyver]

Yep, sounds like you have a leak in the heater core

 

[TJany]

i was afraid of that... i can deal with it for only 5 minutes... is it something i should be worried about turning into a bigger problem? would like to put it off til i'm out of school next summer if i can...

 

[Mundgyver]

The choice to put it off is yours to make, but with that said there are things that should be thought about.



1. If you can smell the anti-freeze, then that is bad, especially for your lungs - voice of experience here. So be mindfull of your health.



2. If you can do your own maintenance, then getting a new core and installing it with new hoses can be reasonable in expense on your day off.



3. If you don't have time, then maybe some radiator stop-leak by Bardoll or somebody might get you by till you have the time and money.



4. If the stop-leak does not work and you dont have time, you can always route the the hoses together in the engine compartment and by pass the core, but then you lose the heat.



My sugestion would be to just bite the bullet and get it fixed right so you don't have to worry about. You don't want to keep smelling the stuff, cause it is just plain bad for you in the long run.

 

[AMink]

Eventually, when you turn on your defogger, you will end up with a film of antifreeze on the inside of your windshield. It's a pain to clean off and see through.

 

[RHARVEY]

Went thru that last week. I noticed that the defroster was not clearning the haze off the inside of the windows. . That afternoon I could really smell coolant and then I seen it dripping out of the vent over the tunnel.

I didnt have time to get it fixed before the weekend. . when I had scheduled the inatall of my twins. . so boss let me send it to my buddy's shop.

Its all done now and no more coolant leaks and also the twins are done and sounding so cool!



Rick

 

[Bart]

Just a thought, but before going off the deep end, try tightening the hose clamps. VOE here