Radiator fluid smell inside car???

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 27th, '07, 21:54

has anyone experienced this before? started two days ago, strong rad fluid smell from inside the car.
steps i've taken to trace the smell

1) looked at all the hoses under hood..all are fine.
2) flicked the knob (near firewall back to cold...temp cable slipped off..so that's the only way i can do it)

3) checked under passenger side to see if smell might be coming from heater core (nothing..can't smell anything)

now the smell seems to be quite strong so i can't really tell wher inside the car its coming from...anyone had this before?

by **CD7H22a** on Mar 27th, '07, 21:59

Turn your vents on full, and blast them at your face? Then you could probably tell if it's coming from outside the cabin.

Most often, if it's REALLY strong in the cabin, it's heater core related. Either fluid hasn't been changed in forever and the acidity level has risen enough to damage the core, or one of the soldered joints where the tubes attach to the core (then go through the firewall) has come loose, and fluid runs down the inside of the firewall, soaking the fire proofing and carpet under the console.

Pull back the carpet under the dash on the passenger side, and stick your hand underneath. See if you find coolant...

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 27th, '07, 22:19

thanks CD7...i'll check that on the weekend. i think its the heater core also, i blasted the air and its not coming from the engine bay.

but i stuck my head under the passenger side dash and couldn't smell anything.

how hard is it to change the heater core?

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 27th, '07, 22:20

what happens if i see no coolant? is there a way to flush the heater core?

by **CD7H22a** on Mar 27th, '07, 22:42

well, you would only need to flush it if it's blocked somehow, right? Why would you think about flushing it? to see if it's leaking? If that's the case, then yes, there is a way. The 2 hoses that go into your firewall are the feed and return to your heater core. Disconnect them from the engine, and run water through one. But I don't see why you would need to do this. If it's leaking, the carpet/underpad will be wet.

And to answer your question about the difficulty of changing the core:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j273/ ... ore005.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j273/ ... ore001.jpg

This is a 5th gen, but you get the idea.

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 27th, '07, 23:35

WTF...are you serious...i changed the blower motor and that was a pain..but i didn't have to rip out the dash.

ok so if there is no leak on the carpet..what else can it be?

by **CD7H22a** on Mar 28th, '07, 07:49

Could be a small leak anywhere, and you're occasionally smelling it in the cab.

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 28th, '07, 14:58

i know...that's what i'm afraid of...how the hell am i supposed to track it down.

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 28th, '07, 19:42

UPDATE !!!

checked the passenger side carpet..not wet..pulled carpet and its dry.

removed glove box to inspect heatercore and no signs of leaks..checked behind and nothing..rubbed my hand all over and couldn't feel anything.

what else can it be?

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 28th, '07, 20:09

question..is the heater core (assembly) directly behind the center console? i think the smell is coming from there. it might be leaking on the my driver side or underneath my center console....FACK ME.

by **CD7H22a** on Mar 29th, '07, 13:12

Yes, it's in the center.

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 29th, '07, 19:55

is there anyway...to remove the heater core without ripping out the dash?

by **CD7H22a** on Mar 29th, '07, 23:31

ummmmmmm...cut through your firewall? lol. For a 5th gen, definitely not. I'm not sure how similar the setup is on a 4th gen, but I'm gonna say it's the same deal. I'll look into it though.

by **redlude2nv** on Mar 30th, '07, 00:48

CD7H22a wrote:ummmmmmm...cut through your firewall? lol. For a 5th gen, definitely not. I'm not sure how similar the setup is on a 4th gen, but I'm gonna say it's the same deal. I'll look into it though.

i would greatly appreciate that CD7...thanks again for all ur help..

by **jas_r34** on Apr 1st, '07, 18:14

wont you be able to smell coolant if your block is cracked?

by **redlude2nv** on Apr 2nd, '07, 14:22

well..i inspected everything throughly...no leaks on hte firewall?...no wetness in hte carpet both passwenger and driver...removed glove box and stuck head near center console and smell is very light...it could be moisture...

the smell is only there when its HOT outside and teh windows are up...it might be a ventalation problem. iwill have to look closer during teh summer.

by **4gen_accord** on Apr 2nd, '07, 14:39

When you check coolant leaks...I strongly suggest you put pressure on the coolant system. There is a tool (not sure what its called), one side its like rad cap and there is pump attached to it...you pump the system to impersonate a running car. not sure if you can borrow the tool from CT, but it would be soo much faster finding the leak.

by **CD7H22a** on Apr 2nd, '07, 18:13

^^ true, or just get some coolant dye, and a black light pen light.

by **redlude2nv** on May 18th, '07, 10:22

update...well the smell is still here..i haven't really noticed it at all when the temps are cool...but once in the sun (at the go station)...its very there...went to a mechanic and we checked teh firewall, carpet, and intake,outake tubes (near the firewall) and nothing.

anyone else have a suggestions? ...i really don't want to remove the dash to inspect teh heater core...

i am willing to drive to anyone's house/shop/garage, to help me diagnose this ...

and thanks again to everyone who replied with suggestions...

by **redlude2nv** on May 18th, '07, 14:49

ok...can it be wet seats? ...i just checked my rear seats and they feel somewhat wet on the bottom ...so that might cause the smell???

Radiator fluid smell inside car???

Radiator fluid smell inside car???

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