Heater Stink
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 69
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From: Minnesota
Heater Stink
Did some checking here and don't see anything specific on this. With the recent cold weather here in Minnesota, I've had to use the heater finally. Bought my 05 F150 in June. I know, hard to believe, it is actually warm in Minnesota once in awhile. 
I figured the heater would stink for a little while due to being new, but we are going on a week and it doesn't seem to be letting up any. Doesn't matter where the air is directed. I lets up some when you dial it back. But leave it cranked up and pppppeeeeewwww!!!!! Anybody else notice this??? How long does it last???
Or am I looking at a trip to the dealer??? Some suggestions from the great FTE crew who live in the colder climates????
Thanks in advance for the help!!!
I figured the heater would stink for a little while due to being new, but we are going on a week and it doesn't seem to be letting up any. Doesn't matter where the air is directed. I lets up some when you dial it back. But leave it cranked up and pppppeeeeewwww!!!!! Anybody else notice this??? How long does it last???Or am I looking at a trip to the dealer??? Some suggestions from the great FTE crew who live in the colder climates????
Thanks in advance for the help!!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,393
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Is it a sweetish stink? Antifreeze pinhole leak in the core?
Or is it a dirty sox mildew stink, leaves and other organic mix trapped and rotting in the air intake below the wipers.
Or worst of all, a rotten meat stink. Dead mouse in the bottom of the blend ducts?
Chris
Or is it a dirty sox mildew stink, leaves and other organic mix trapped and rotting in the air intake below the wipers.
Or worst of all, a rotten meat stink. Dead mouse in the bottom of the blend ducts?
Chris
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 69
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From: Minnesota
Chris,
1) No on the sweet stink, had that on another truck, definitely not
2) No on the organic smell
3) No on the rotten meat
Smells like metal getting hot for first time, like your truck when it had 2 miles on it and you drove it, like your exhaust when it first got heated up, like your new home furnace that is being turned on for the first time. Does that description make sense??
The truck itself smelled like that for a couple days. You'd get out and smell hot metal for a short time. Cat back smelled that way for short time as metal heated up and cooled. That all went away in short order. Not the heater core. Still stinks likes its new. And it's been on solid for over a week including a 450 mile run last week and I just about died from the fumes. I expected some stink but this seems excessive. Think I should just wait it out a little longer??
1) No on the sweet stink, had that on another truck, definitely not
2) No on the organic smell
3) No on the rotten meat
Smells like metal getting hot for first time, like your truck when it had 2 miles on it and you drove it, like your exhaust when it first got heated up, like your new home furnace that is being turned on for the first time. Does that description make sense??
The truck itself smelled like that for a couple days. You'd get out and smell hot metal for a short time. Cat back smelled that way for short time as metal heated up and cooled. That all went away in short order. Not the heater core. Still stinks likes its new. And it's been on solid for over a week including a 450 mile run last week and I just about died from the fumes. I expected some stink but this seems excessive. Think I should just wait it out a little longer??
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
try using lysol on the air intake for the heater just in case there might be a mold growing on the ac fins. How is the fan operating? Fan running slow? If it is then the motor might be getting hot and smelling.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
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Hard one. Metal does not 'stink' when it gets hot. Paint on metal stinks when it gets hot, and grease, from the muffler guys paws, stinks badly when you first heat the pipes up.
Clean metal won't smell till it gets about molten. Odor is particles of the substance floating into your nostrils and taste buds.
I know, any one reading this may never go into a public bathroom again...
Still that is defiantly wrong. That's a dealer problem.
I am thinking it's the new 'yellow' antifreeze. Make sure your water level is not going down.
The blower motor (three bolts, one harness, under the glove box) could be yanked in minutes and inspected. Something is really wrong if the smell is not getting better.
Oh, yeah, you don't have small children or an enemy who has been in the truck? Crayons down the dash vents (defroster) can really stink bad...
Chris
Clean metal won't smell till it gets about molten. Odor is particles of the substance floating into your nostrils and taste buds.
I know, any one reading this may never go into a public bathroom again...
Still that is defiantly wrong. That's a dealer problem.
I am thinking it's the new 'yellow' antifreeze. Make sure your water level is not going down.
The blower motor (three bolts, one harness, under the glove box) could be yanked in minutes and inspected. Something is really wrong if the smell is not getting better.
Oh, yeah, you don't have small children or an enemy who has been in the truck? Crayons down the dash vents (defroster) can really stink bad...
Chris
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Minnesota
Chris,
Nope, no crayons, etc, down the dash. Blower seems to work o.k. You'd think if the blower was bad I would smell it with the A/C on or just fan blowing cool air. Not the case. Sounds simple enough to inspect it myself. I agree its stuff on the hot metal that would smell. BAD description on my part. But it smells just like stuff burning off your exhaust. Like your furnace just cranked up for the season. Not sweet at all.
I believe the coolant level is just fine. I will check it again to be sure. I think I'll have to get it in to the dealer. This should be fun!! It's my nose against theirs.
Slightly off subject, but, we've been dealing with a bad smell in the HVAC system where I work. Maintenance/experts they've had come in to investigate it can't smell it. Yet, the 5 of us who work there complain about it all the time.
Thanks guys for the suggestions. Any others are welcome as well.
Nope, no crayons, etc, down the dash. Blower seems to work o.k. You'd think if the blower was bad I would smell it with the A/C on or just fan blowing cool air. Not the case. Sounds simple enough to inspect it myself. I agree its stuff on the hot metal that would smell. BAD description on my part. But it smells just like stuff burning off your exhaust. Like your furnace just cranked up for the season. Not sweet at all.
I believe the coolant level is just fine. I will check it again to be sure. I think I'll have to get it in to the dealer. This should be fun!! It's my nose against theirs.
Slightly off subject, but, we've been dealing with a bad smell in the HVAC system where I work. Maintenance/experts they've had come in to investigate it can't smell it. Yet, the 5 of us who work there complain about it all the time.
Thanks guys for the suggestions. Any others are welcome as well.
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Senior User
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I have the same smell in my 05. It smells like a hair dryer when it starts to over heat. I just think it is some type of coating in the manufacture process that gives off a little smell when it gets hot. I'm not oo worried about it unless smoke starts coming out.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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Mine smells too. It's that hot metal smell... like from a electric heating element. I haven't used the heater much though here in San Diego.
If it was an antifreeze leak it would stink and fog up your interior like a smoke grenade went off.
If it was an antifreeze leak it would stink and fog up your interior like a smoke grenade went off.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 2
I've seen 'seep' leaks that stunk, but no mist on the window and the pressure was not down on the radiator.
Seeping a drop a week, or less.
Don't think that's the problem here, though.
I am wondering about the blower motor.
I had to replace mine, ticking sound.
I am also wondering about the blend doors.
Hope we find out as this has got me interested.
Chris
Seeping a drop a week, or less.
Don't think that's the problem here, though.
I am wondering about the blower motor.
I had to replace mine, ticking sound.
I am also wondering about the blend doors.
Hope we find out as this has got me interested.
Chris