Heater smelling like coolant - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Yagz · 08-02-2004, 02:26

heya guys..

i recently blew a top radiator hose, and replaced it..

now, the heater smells really bad, like coolant..

How can i fix this, whats causing it?

cheers,
yaggy

Cobra · 08-02-2004, 02:41

Uh oh, sounds like it could be a leaking heater corr, which would mean a dash out job if it were to be replaced.

Yagz · 08-02-2004, 02:48

Wouldn't a leaking core mean that i'd have a coolant smell all the time? and the floor would be soggy and wet? It only smells bad when the heater is on..

Cobra · 08-02-2004, 03:16

Sorry yeah you're right about the floor being wet. Well depending on how much it's leaking will depend on how wet it is but yeah you would get the coolant smell all the time. Sorry I should have read your post more thorough before posting.

So have you checked the coolant level? How is it?

Yagz · 08-02-2004, 03:19

Coolant level is ok i think.. Haven;t noticed it going down.. Just wondering if it's normal..

RaceCraft · 08-02-2004, 03:22

a good stream clean and degrease will remove the last of the coolant residue in the engine bay..

RaceCraft · 08-02-2004, 03:24

Most people set the heater on recirculate, it doesnt draw in fresh air .. i know it is alittle backwards to heat the air in the cabin then exchange it for cold air from outside but try leaving it on the other setting for abit after you wash it to 'flush' the air

Yagz · 08-02-2004, 03:33

I never use re-circ for heater, i don't like the stuffyness.. I gave the car a complete hotwash after changing the hose, and i pressure tested the cooling system, and it kept 120kpa for atleast 3 mins.. So the cooling system is all in check..

08-02-2004, 04:40

probably got a dose of coolant laden air through the fresh air vent when the top hose blew, once coolant is on the heater core it will smell like coolant for ever until U pull the core and thoroughly clean it. I blew an under dash coolant hose that feeds the heater (dodgy hose was new but at 6500rpm the pressure was too much, at first thought i'd popped the donk) and it still smells like coolant when I use the heater, too lazy to pull and clean it!

xr8ted · 08-05-2004, 00:03

I also have the same problem and have been unable to locate exactly where the smell is comming from. I did blow the heater tap about 2 years ago now, and i think that it still is the smell from that. As stated earlier by someone else, try using the outside air button rather than the circulate button. It works with me, as primative as it sounds.

Cheers