smell coming from under dash
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From: Houston TX USA
smell coming from under dash
i have a 98 f150. 4.6. recently there has been the smell of anti freeze when i turn on my a/c. i think it might be the heater core, but there is not any wet spots on the floor on the passneger side. i guess the reason why i am asking this question is because i am hoping that something else could be the problem because i really don't want to tear apart my dash. any suggestions?
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Louisville,Ky.
It could be the start of a bad heater core. It could be just leaking enough to get on the outside of the core, but is drying up before it drips into the ductwork.
You might want to check the hose connections under the hood, but it sounds like the heater core is on the way out.
Jimmy
You might want to check the hose connections under the hood, but it sounds like the heater core is on the way out.
Jimmy
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Senior User
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From: Houston TX USA
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New User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Indiana
Heater Core
I work for a Ford dealership in Kentucky and yes your heater core is bad. First you will get the smell (pig rectum as I like to call it) which is horrible. Next thing you will notice (if not fixed) is smoke coming out of the defrost vents. Your looking at about an 8-11 hour job and you will need to remove the entire dash and the steering column will need to be dropped in order for complete removal. The good news is the part will only be (depending on where you get it) about $32.00 - $62.00 but the bad news is this is a big job and very expensive if you go thru the dealer.
If you live somewhere warm and don't ever use the heat, just cut your hoses and get a flush kit T pipe and connect the hoses together and bypass the heater core all together. Of course doing this will cause you to have no heat. Good luck and I hope you get it fixed.
If you live somewhere warm and don't ever use the heat, just cut your hoses and get a flush kit T pipe and connect the hoses together and bypass the heater core all together. Of course doing this will cause you to have no heat. Good luck and I hope you get it fixed.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Indiana
Re: Heater Core
Hey medicpg, sorry it took so long to get back to you.
I would go to your local dealer and see if they can print out the instructions from the shop manual. I had one of the guys in the service department do mine (didnt want to tackle a job that big). If you dont have any luck getting instructions let me know and I'll see if I can get them from one of the guys here and post it on a web page for you.
I would go to your local dealer and see if they can print out the instructions from the shop manual. I had one of the guys in the service department do mine (didnt want to tackle a job that big). If you dont have any luck getting instructions let me know and I'll see if I can get them from one of the guys here and post it on a web page for you.
Last edited by Hoosier_Daddy; Dec 1, 2003 at 02:59 PM.