2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission coolant smell from vents

[JArgo]

for some reason every time I adjust my temp. knob on my dash with my ac on a bad smell comes into the cab. It smells like engine coolant but I have no leaks inside or out. JArgo

 

[RustyJC]

I'll bet you have a small leak in your heater core.



Rusty

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'll bet you have a small leak in your heater core.



Rusty

YUP - and it's probably leaking out the drain tube if it's bad enough. Try locating the small (one half inch or so) AC condensation drain tube coming out of the firewall over on the passenger side, see if there is any sign of leakage there and try some on a rag to see if it smells like anti-freeze. If it does, yer in trouble...

 

[DieselTweaker]

Sounds like your heater core. Do you have A/C too? If so I would recommend replacing the Evap. Core when you have the heater core done, the evap core's are know for going south, and Ive made plenty of money changing them out so I know first had and anytime I do one I recommend replacement of both just to save on labor.



Zach

 

[Fishin Guide]

I had a head gasket leaking in the drivers corner on the rear of the head. No loss of coolant, but you could smell it until the engine warmed up.



Dave

 

[AMink]

When you turn on your defrost, does it fog up the windshield with a very difficult to remove fog? If it does, it's the heater core.

 

[JArgo]

no my windshield doesn't fog up, but iam going to check my drain tube for the smell, thanks Gary

 

[WadePatton]

Good advice, if indeed it's the core. Good luck.

Sounds like your heater core. Do you have A/C too? If so I would recommend replacing the Evap. Core when you have the heater core done, the evap core's are know for going south, and Ive made plenty of money changing them out so I know first had and anytime I do one I recommend replacement of both just to save on labor.



Zach

 

[JArgo]

Zach, Could you let me know an approx. price to have my heater core and evap. core replaced so I dont get ripped off to bad

 

[Matt42]

Zach, Could you let me know an approx. price to have my heater core and evap. core replaced so I dont get ripped off to bad

Where, generally, do you live? Soem of the list members will know reputable shops. But a shop in Paducah won't help you much if you are in Fairbanks.



If you live in a place where you can do without the heater, you can bypass the heater core for a while. (Flush it out with water, which you can do from inside the engine compartment. ) I live in Arizona, so that's easy for me to say. My daughter would testify to the coats we wore when driving through Colorado a few Decembers ago.



You can have the smell without the drainage out the HVAC box. It only takes a little coolant to smell awful. You might go months and months before your coolant level drops half a cup full.



Whether you do it yourself, or have it done, you will avoid future squeaks if you also replace the plastic sockets that the dashboard screws go into. They cost about $3 each at the dealer. Also, use a MoPar evaporator. The knock-offs don't fit right. The act like they fit right, but will slowly leak refrigerant out of one of the connectors. Make sure, also, that the ground circuit from the heater core to the chassis is tight. Mine wasn't, and I think that contributed to the smell. If you do it yourself, a 3/8 inch diameter 36 inch long dowel will be your friend.



Go ahead. Ask me how I know this stuff.

 

[JArgo]

I live in Sweeny texas, thats about 50 miles south of Houston. How do you know all of that stuff?

 

[Matt42]

I live in Sweeny texas, thats about 50 miles south of Houston. How do you know all of that stuff?

If you lived close by, I'd offer to help. I know that stuff, including the mistakes, by doing that stuff on my 1996, and making the mistakes.