Can someone please HELP!!!

I've searched forum after forum but can't quite seem to find the answer to my problem. I have a 93 Explorer and I seem to have A problem defrosting my windshield. It blows hot air,but still does not take care of problem. It defrost when I am warming up the car, but when I get in it to drive off my body temperature seems to fog them up again and can't get it to defrost the windshield and other windows as well.

I switch it to cold air and still does not defrost it, needless to say a pain in the rear end having to drive anywhere with practicly zero visability. And on top of that I smell antifreeze when the heater is on. Could that possibly have something to do with it? If anyone has any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

-CM

 

My first guess would be that your heater core has a small leak. That would put warm humid air on you windshield, fog it up, and give you a coolant smell.

 

derherr65 said it, 99.9% chance that there is a leak in the heater core

 

I appreciate the feedback. It never crossed my mind that it could possibly be the heater core as I have already replaced it before, but quite honestly don't know exactly how long ago. Wouldn't it be wet on the floor board though? I guess it wouldn't be that noticeable if it were a small leak.

I am definately losing coolant as I put in nearly a gallon of water two days ago. I do hope that it is the heater core as it is easy to get to in replacing it. And if it has a small leak, do you all think that it would noticeable? Or is there some way to test it that I am not aware of to find out if it is? I knew it was the heater core then when I last replaced it as it drenched my floor board.

 

Make sure the hoses aren't leaking at the heater core connections. If it's not leaking there, then you might as well replace the core. It's only about a 45 min job, and a new core is around $20. Also, if you have a 2nd person to hold the core in place while you attach the hoses at the firewall, it makes it really simple.

 

I'll definitely try that. Thanks for the feedback, and I will let you all know how it went.

 

The hose check is a good suggestion. If it's not a loose hose connector you could try to test the heater core, once it's out of the vehicle, with a vacuum tester or air compressor. Keep it under 15-20 psi though.

 

On my '91 my windows were always fogged up. I suspect there was a tiny hole in the heater core and the coolant was escaping into the passenger compartment as something like steam. If it is leaking as much as you say then you should see liquid (coolant) dripping from the drain hose which is located underneath, at the firewall, on the passenger side.

I would not wait too long because mine finally went all at once while I was driving. The visibility inside the Exploder was zero feet. It's a good thing it happened on a rural dirt road and not on the freeway.

I like to add a little (half a can) of Justice Brothers Stop Leak to my cooling system just in case of miniscule leaks. I know a lot of folks hate stop leak but this particular brand does not have any clumps or globs of goo in it.

 

Stop leak is stop leak wether the silver flake kind or the black licorish looking kind.

The leaking coolant is likely going out the drain under the car - same drain for the AC condensation.

 

Ya, but when the heater core leaks it is going to go throught the venting system when the fan is turned on, hence fog up the windows, some may go down the drain, but the antifreeze is already in the heating system, its too late

 

Hey guy's, just wanted to give a quick update on the problem I was having. I finally got around to taking care of the problem. The heater core was shot as you all suggested it would be. I had my doubts as I had already replaced it once.

Another good thing is is that I had a lifetime warranty on the one I had replaced before and it costed me nothing. I want to sincerely thank you all for the great advice.

Goes to show that this Forum Rocks....