heater core or orings?
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From: Huntsville
heater core or orings?
I got a 99 Expy, 5.4.
Can someone tell me if leaky orings can casue the anitifreeze smell, rather than a leaky heater core?
I get a good hint of anitfreeze when I first turn on the heater, I can smell it very slightly if the fan is on cool or a/c, but only if i pay close attention, and put my ose close to it....
Are these orings replacable without gaining access ot rhe heater box, or am I gonna have to pull the dang dash????
Also, is the rear air system tied into the front system via duct at all? I only smell it from the front vents...
Thanks!
Can someone tell me if leaky orings can casue the anitifreeze smell, rather than a leaky heater core?
I get a good hint of anitfreeze when I first turn on the heater, I can smell it very slightly if the fan is on cool or a/c, but only if i pay close attention, and put my ose close to it....
Are these orings replacable without gaining access ot rhe heater box, or am I gonna have to pull the dang dash????
Also, is the rear air system tied into the front system via duct at all? I only smell it from the front vents...
Thanks!
Last edited by Michael Sizemore; Mar 2, 2006 at 08:31 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Orlando, Fla
Well, the rear unit is a self sustaining system...there, that's covered...lol
As for your smell, check the lines going to the core into the firewall, check the radiator hoses also, it could be as easy as a loose clamp. Thus when your truck is running and the engine fan is blowing air through the compartment, you may be getting a whiff of antifreeze from another point. When you use heat, panel, A/C (not max), you are drawing air from the outside. Max A/C is recycled air from the vehicles compartment.
Now, we need to know, is it noticible with the heater or the A/C on...it has to be one or the other?...unless you get the smell when either is used?
As for the repair process, if needed, I have not had the joy of this problem, so unfortunately I cannot assist with that, but check those hose clamps.
As for your smell, check the lines going to the core into the firewall, check the radiator hoses also, it could be as easy as a loose clamp. Thus when your truck is running and the engine fan is blowing air through the compartment, you may be getting a whiff of antifreeze from another point. When you use heat, panel, A/C (not max), you are drawing air from the outside. Max A/C is recycled air from the vehicles compartment.
Now, we need to know, is it noticible with the heater or the A/C on...it has to be one or the other?...unless you get the smell when either is used?
As for the repair process, if needed, I have not had the joy of this problem, so unfortunately I cannot assist with that, but check those hose clamps.
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From: Huntsville
It is noticable moreso with the heat.
If I have it on cool/panel, or A/C, I can only smell it if I put my nose to the vent. Might even be smelling residual antifreeze from the ductwork...
There is definately a good solid wiff when I first turn it on heat though...
I will have to go double check the MAX vs A/C, but A/C I could barely smell anything...
Also, if I run the defrost, I couldn't smell it hardly at all, but I can't get my head as close to the defrost vent....
I previousl yhad the bad coil, due to leaky clamp, and that no longer leaks, I rechecked it.
If I can't smell it with the MAX setting, does that mean it aint the heater core?
If I have it on cool/panel, or A/C, I can only smell it if I put my nose to the vent. Might even be smelling residual antifreeze from the ductwork...
There is definately a good solid wiff when I first turn it on heat though...
I will have to go double check the MAX vs A/C, but A/C I could barely smell anything...
Also, if I run the defrost, I couldn't smell it hardly at all, but I can't get my head as close to the defrost vent....
I previousl yhad the bad coil, due to leaky clamp, and that no longer leaks, I rechecked it.
If I can't smell it with the MAX setting, does that mean it aint the heater core?
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From: Orlando, Fla
Nope, what's important is the use of your heat/cool control. The more you advance it to warm the air, the more hot radiator fluid you are allowing to flow into the core.
Try putting the temp. control on "hot" before using any of the other source controls, get the vehicle up to operating temp., then activate them to smell what you get. You may have to do this on seperate time tests since your nose may not be able to smell the anitfreeze after the first test or two.
Also try leaving the "hot" on when starting vehicle cold, get to oper. temp, then use the controls to see if you smell it. Then try turning it to "hot" after warm up and use the controls to see if you get the same results. This may help tell if you have just some residual fluid sitting around or you actually have a core problem.
Try putting the temp. control on "hot" before using any of the other source controls, get the vehicle up to operating temp., then activate them to smell what you get. You may have to do this on seperate time tests since your nose may not be able to smell the anitfreeze after the first test or two.
Also try leaving the "hot" on when starting vehicle cold, get to oper. temp, then use the controls to see if you smell it. Then try turning it to "hot" after warm up and use the controls to see if you get the same results. This may help tell if you have just some residual fluid sitting around or you actually have a core problem.
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From: Huntsville
Well I did it, I put some stop leak in it...
Well A/C, and MAX A/C and panel cool show no signs of antifreeze, even when I put my nose to it. I can put it on Warm, and it will immediately smell for a few seconds, then you have to really put your nose ot it to smell.
It might be that it is no longer leakign, and getting rid of the residual antifreeze...
Now just aint the time to pull the dash if I can help it...
Well A/C, and MAX A/C and panel cool show no signs of antifreeze, even when I put my nose to it. I can put it on Warm, and it will immediately smell for a few seconds, then you have to really put your nose ot it to smell.
It might be that it is no longer leakign, and getting rid of the residual antifreeze...
Now just aint the time to pull the dash if I can help it...
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From: Huntsville
It may be the slimey goo I am still smelling cuz it won't go away...
Its not easily detectable, in fact it might have been this way for awhile, and the wife just didn't notice it. I just happened to notice it when I leaned over to the pass. floorboard to get something and caught a faint hint of anti-freeze
Also, when I turn on the defrost, there is no film on the windows...
If it is leaking, it has to be a very small leak, and I find it hard to believe the stopleak wouldn't plug it up.
I also looked up front and can't find anything, all the hoses seem to be dry as a bone, and I check this at every oil change, to make sure it aint leaking onto the #4 coil again.
I still feel like it is the core...
Maybe I'll just have to take a loooong cruise tomorrow to see if it will "burn off" the residue, if a leak has indeed been plugged by the "bars'leak radiator clogger"
Can someone tell me where those orings and tabs are??? Is that something I can check? I don't see where they could be in the engine compartment??? Is it possible that the leak is at these o-rings, and leaking back down in the heaterbox?
thanks alot!!!
Its not easily detectable, in fact it might have been this way for awhile, and the wife just didn't notice it. I just happened to notice it when I leaned over to the pass. floorboard to get something and caught a faint hint of anti-freeze
Also, when I turn on the defrost, there is no film on the windows...
If it is leaking, it has to be a very small leak, and I find it hard to believe the stopleak wouldn't plug it up.
I also looked up front and can't find anything, all the hoses seem to be dry as a bone, and I check this at every oil change, to make sure it aint leaking onto the #4 coil again.
I still feel like it is the core...
Maybe I'll just have to take a loooong cruise tomorrow to see if it will "burn off" the residue, if a leak has indeed been plugged by the "bars'leak radiator clogger"
Can someone tell me where those orings and tabs are??? Is that something I can check? I don't see where they could be in the engine compartment??? Is it possible that the leak is at these o-rings, and leaking back down in the heaterbox?
thanks alot!!!
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
o rings? i never knew there was o rings used in these systems. the core is clamped with tube clamps no o rings. the bars stop leak is also a great way to block every other spot in the engine not a good thing.
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From: Orlando, Fla
Well, if your getting heat, I doubt its your core, they usually fail to provide heat when they go south.
I don't know either where these "o-rings" are you speak of....I only know them to be clamped also, that's why I emphasized checking them. The only connectors I believe you are speaking are the lock rings for the A/C system and the fuel system. You have to use line insert tools to release these type....real easy, they are just plastic pieces that slide down the line under the clamp ring. You push the piece until it slips under the ring and pull the connector apart. But again, only the A/C and fuel have these as far as I know.
That's a good sign you don't get any residue on the window though.
I don't know either where these "o-rings" are you speak of....I only know them to be clamped also, that's why I emphasized checking them. The only connectors I believe you are speaking are the lock rings for the A/C system and the fuel system. You have to use line insert tools to release these type....real easy, they are just plastic pieces that slide down the line under the clamp ring. You push the piece until it slips under the ring and pull the connector apart. But again, only the A/C and fuel have these as far as I know.
That's a good sign you don't get any residue on the window though.
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