age old coolant smell

[hamiltonaudio]

well, I'm pretty sure the heater core on my 1996 GA SE is leaking...when I turn the heat on, I get TONS of heat, but it has that ever so slight sweet smell of coolant.... also noticed that after a good run down the highway, I brought it in the shop and noticed the "leaking hot coolant" smell outside as well....

On a cursory glance, I could not see where it was coming from....its not losing coolant, does not leave even a drop on the shop floor....nor does it smell enough to mess with my windows when running hot on a cold morning....

I'm inclined not to care about it at this point....any things you guys suggest I should look at? Its not a hose leaking that I can see...and since the water pump is up front that was an easy check :) anything else to consider investingating? Any word on how bitchy it is to change a heater core?

bmoney

[Matt95GT]

Same deal here... my 95 has been like that for over 2 years now. I assume that there is a very tiny leak in the heatercore... just enough to make the smell known inside the car with the heat on. But... you're mileage may vary... I haven't really been driving the car on a daily basis.

[carlover626]

I have the smell of coolant on occasion as well (mostly when I have idled in a drive thru or something and the temp is high), but the coolant level is okay for now no external leaks that I can see.
What is the cost of the heater core replacement, I don't know if I want to deal with the labor cause I hear it is a PITA.
Is the 2.4's heater core R&R differant than the 3100?

[nice96gt]

Same here on my '96. I get most of the smell when the car gets a little warm and the fan kicks on. I usually smell it the most then. I don't have an external leak and I've replaced EVERYTHING heating/cooling system (rad, stat, waterpump, rad hoses, intake gasket(not really part of heating but whatever), resevoir cap), except the heatercore. So I assume I'm in the same boat as everyone else too. Mine has been like that for almost 2 years now and I still get amazing heat and not a drip inside or outside of the car, but just a hint smell of coolant. I'll let it go untill it has to be changed, since it's such a pain to do.

If you can change it yourself do it because you will save a load on the labour...

[Vhrus]

Yep my 97 is the same. Only sometimes when I turn on the heat I will get a very slight coolant smell for a few seconds, then its gone. Its very periodic, but like you guys Im not leaking any coolant that I can see, and my overflow tank doesnt seem to be dropping at all. Also sometimes when idling for a while (like waiting at a drive through) afterwards it will have a slight smell of coolant under the hood thats only noticable if the winds just right.

For now its not leaking or over heating, and my heat still works great so im not going to worry about it tell I have a pool of coolant in my driveway or I need to fill up the overflow.

[Jibo]

Ding ding ding, same deal here.... no visible leak ont he ground and heat still cranks out great, has been like that almost 2 years as well, just slight hint of smell, either the core has a small leak or maybe all us hhaving this "problems" is a good thing? :lol: maybe it is just the way things are ;)

[Foress_89]

I didn't read every post but.. I get the smell too. But not only the smell, I also get overheated engine and smoke coming out.. I know it leaks, and alot.. I'm going to get it check right now..

[tenspeed]

My '96 Achieva used to give a wiff every now and then in the winter. Keep a eye on the coolent level.

When it goes, you'll know it. The windows will fog and the carpets will be soaked like when my '02 GA heater went.

[rixGAphx]

I'll try to photo my old core with the crack in the plastic nipple of the plastic side tank.
It is a VERY minor leak until it lets go.

A replacement core with all-metal tank is ~$80, but as stated, the labor is outrageous and a PITA.

[Vhrus]

Rick did you get the same very slight coolant smell from time to time the rest of us are getting?

[Riley1123d]

Lol my core is like that too -- I get the smell..

Except my heat hardly works, and im sure the core is gone. I'm gonna get it replaced before it gets TOO cold out.

[Agquadon]

Originally posted by carlover626
I have the smell of coolant on occasion as well (mostly when I have idled in a drive thru or something and the temp is high), but the coolant level is okay for now no external leaks that I can see.
What is the cost of the heater core replacement, I don't know if I want to deal with the labor cause I hear it is a PITA.
Is the 2.4's heater core R&R differant than the 3100?

Yes the heater core is a total pain in the ass but the guy that was gonna do it for me told me it would be about 450 bucks. I said no way in hell. I bought a book for 30 bucks and bought a heater core for 26$ and replaced it myself. It takes about 4 hours if you have never done it before. Me i have it down to about an hour and a half because i have done it 3 times so far (i think there is something wrong with my cooling system to be blowing that many heater cores all the time). But trust me when it comes to the heater core those shops rip you off bad its totally worth it to replace it yourself and its not that hard. Just a Pain in the ass to take apart your dash. Mostly inconveniance.

[Riley1123d]

Originally posted by Agquadon
Yes the heater core is a total pain in the ass but the guy that was gonna do it for me told me it would be about 450 bucks. I said no way in hell. I bought a book for 30 bucks and bought a heater core for 26$ and replaced it myself. It takes about 4 hours if you have never done it before. Me i have it down to about an hour and a half because i have done it 3 times so far (i think there is something wrong with my cooling system to be blowing that many heater cores all the time). But trust me when it comes to the heater core those shops rip you off bad its totally worth it to replace it yourself and its not that hard. Just a Pain in the ass to take apart your dash. Mostly inconveniance.

Good advice man.. Do you think I could do that? Somebody with no experience?? -- Also, what kinda tools do you need, and what book did you buy?

[pokesmot]

used to have the same deal... one day I screwed around with it, ended up breaking the plastic heater core lines and was forced to replace it.

replacing it is not fun. I had a bit of trouble getting the cover off the fan box; some screws are hidden and everything seems harder when your laying on your back.

as far as the line in front of the firewall.. PITA. the metal clips that clamp the rubber hoses to the heater core inlet /outlet snapped when i tried to remove them, so i had to ever so carefully cut them with a cutting disc and a dremmel. I then had to attempt to remove the broken plastic fragments from inside the hoses.

if you have access to a lift it probably isnt so bad... I was stuck in my driveway in the feezing cold / snow when I ended up doing it.

installing it wasnt as bad... if you replace it though YOU MUST GO AFTERMARKET. not only is aftermarket cheaper than the stock ACDelco heater core, but they are for the most part; all metal design (no crappy plastic tubes that snap a few years down the road)

[carlover626]

So can I guage the raplacement off of the instructions in my Hayne's? I have not had the chance to look at the book yet, but I know it can be of no help sometimes...

[Matt95GT]

Search... there is a guide in either the FAQ or How-to section here. Haynes sucks... it will be very generic instructions.

[carlover626]

Just got a quote on the replacement here in Denver, 631.20! AAHHH! Got the directions from the forum, man what a PITA...even the shop said it is a day job - for me it might be a weekend. :(
Can this wait till my heat is not working and leaking coolant to replace this?

[Agquadon]

Originally posted by Riley1123d
Good advice man.. Do you think I could do that? Somebody with no experience?? -- Also, what kinda tools do you need, and what book did you buy?

i just bought a chiltons manual, it doesnt tell exactly how to reach the heater core but it gives a good idea thats the reason it took me so long my first time. But that was actually my very first repair on that car i had no previous experiance with doing it myself so yeah i think you could do it. But try to use 2 people when you do because if you try to do it by yourself you can pull to hard on the hoses of the new heater core and slightly dislodge them causing the seals to break early.

[Agquadon]

Originally posted by carlover626
Just got a quote on the replacement here in Denver, 631.20! AAHHH! Got the directions from the forum, man what a PITA...even the shop said it is a day job - for me it might be a weekend. :(
Can this wait till my heat is not working and leaking coolant to replace this?

If you dont want to do it right away you an just get some cut to length hose from an auto parts store and bypass the heater core by just hooking the hose to the entrance and exit point on the engine but you wont have any heat if you do that.

[Matt95GT]

Originally posted by Agquadon
If you dont want to do it right away you an just get some cut to length hose from an auto parts store and bypass the heater core by just hooking the hose to the entrance and exit point on the engine but you wont have any heat if you do that.

True... but is better than being stranded and/or attempting to bypass the line from the side of the road with burning hot coolant spraying at you.

[Vhrus]

Originally posted by Matt95GT
True... but is better than being stranded and/or attempting to bypass the line from the side of the road with burning hot coolant spraying at you.
Sounds like someone learned the hard way? :lol:

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by Vhrus
Sounds like someone learned the hard way? :lol:
Learn from the mistakes of others,
You'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.