Coolant SMELL!!! WTF?! I'm confused

[gotta240]

Alright. There is a MAJOR coolant smell coming from my air ducts. ie: when i turn my heater on, it smells like coolant is coming from my air vents!!!!

There is no oil in my water.

There is no water in my oil.

There is no white smoke. So, no blown head gasket to my knowledge.

I know the heater works off of the hot water, but how can that hot water get in my air vents!???

[S14DB]

The heater core is in your air vents.

[Ritz S14]

Just as DB said. There is a mini radiator(heater core) attached to your air vents to blow hot air. Sometimes that can leak. Do a coolant pressure test, and see if it holds pressure.

[Jeff240sx]

Only one thing causes a 'coolant smell', and that's a coolant leak. If you don't have water dripping outside, you've got it dripping inside. At the firewall you'll see a heater hose going into the firewall.. going to the heater core. When they go bad, they leak coolant inside the car, and that's your issue.
-Jeff

[kazuo]

+1 for heater core.

Esp. cause my friend just had the same problem, we replaced the core, problem solved.

You'll need to remove the dash to access it.

[gotta240]

DAMN. Anyone have any tips/how-to's on removing the dash???

thanks.

[0kami]

DAMN. Anyone have any tips/how-to's on removing the dash???

thanks.

a bible & some hope

[Jeff240sx]

Dash isn't bad. Remove the radio trim, glovebox, panel under the steering wheel. Then there's only a dozen or so screws to hunt for.. the hard ones are by the windshield. Use an offset screwdriver or a screwdriver bit in a 1/4" socket. It isn't bad. Replacing it.. slightly worse.
And.. disconnect your battery. You DONT want to accidently hit that airbag connection and disconnect it.
-Jeff

[braintumor]

get it done before your passenger area becomes a pool! it sucks:(

[gotta240]

shoot! I just did my carpet too! I like pools, but not in my car!!!


thanks a lot guys.