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  • Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

    6 months ago I had the intake elbow and radiator replaced, last month it was the rear main seal.. now I smell antifreeze again. Every once in awhile I will smell a hint of it when starting the car, then it goes away. Today I could smell it when I pulled into work and when I got out, I stuck my nose where the hood meets the fender and it was strong. It doesn't smell like it's burning which is a good thing I guess.

    Any ideas?

  • #2
    Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

    pop the hood , wipe things down and track where it is coming from
    WAWA-A-HOLIC

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    • #3
      Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

      Thats the first thing I'm going to do once daylight comes... I'm about to trade this thing in and call it a day.

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      • #4
        Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

        UPDATE:

        My inspection under the hood included a complete look around the head gaskets, intake, radiator, hoses, lines and over-flow jug. The car does not appear to be leaking or losing coolant anywhere. I've also been looking under the car when I move it and still cannot find even a drip.

        The smell occurs when I have been driving the vehicle and come to a stop or park it. The odor is very strong and enters the vents. It can also be smelled if I pop the hood right away after driving it.

        I would also like to mention that the passanger floor board is and has been completely dry, and the car warms up properly and operates slightly below 210 degrees.

        The intake gasket, elbow and radiator were all replaced 6 months ago.

        Any ideas what to look for or what it might be?
        Last edited by Jtels2593; 01-16-2011, 09:42 PM.

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        • #5
          Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

          Similar thing happened to my oldsmobile. No wet spots, no low coolant, just maple syrup smell. Turned out to be a hairline crack in the heater core, just enough to let out some vapors. Eventually the heater core exploded rather spectacularly, filling the cabin with steam and dumping all the coolant onto the road. That was the worst midnight tacobell run ever. You might try doing the heater core bypass trick to see if the smell goes away before tearing apart the dash to inspect it. Good luck.

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          • #6
            Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

            X2, I'll bet the smell is not entering the vents, it's coming FROM the vents. The bypass is a good idea for a test.
            2002 Silver Firebird A4<br />T-Tops, Leather, Y87, W68, Chrome Wheels<br />Bone Stock

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            • #7
              Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

              It's usually those 2 coolant elbows located right below the alternator. They are plastics and they wear out easily. There are metal ones you can buy but they are expensive.

              You can just run to Pep Boys and pick up the GM coolant elbows.
              Last edited by Mighty Thor; 01-17-2011, 12:28 AM.

              1998 Firebird . 1989 Firebird XS . 1986 Fiero GT

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              • #8
                Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

                How big of a job is replacing the heater core? Or about how much would it cost at a mechanic?

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                • #9
                  Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

                  not had...you can do it yourself. just have to drop the access panel under the glove box and drop the glove box. a few bolts and it's there
                  WAWA-A-HOLIC

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                  • #10
                    Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

                    Awesome! Thanks for the info..

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                    • #11
                      Re: Smelling antifreeze again - I'm about to give up!

                      It also turns out that transmission fluid is in my cooling system again. I had this repaired 6 months ago.. the trans cooler was leaking into the radiator.

                      I was told it could just be a little trans fluid left after the system was flushed.

                      So...??

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