CSI_MuNkY Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 OK, for the last little while I have been able to smell coolant when the engine temp gets to around 100. I only smell it if I'm driving hard... Head and intake gaskets are brand new along with a 180 t-stat. Today my low coolant light came on for about 10 minutes and then went off again no smell of coolant at this point. I popped the hood, didn't want to pop the rad cap cause the car was nice and hot, there was a small amount of coolant left in the reservoir, just to be safe I added a bit more to the reservoir. Q-ball and I drove around for another hour or so and checked it again, the level hadn't dropped and the light hasn't come back on... Should I be concerned? I'm wondering if maybe its just a bubble in the engine, I know the LQ1 can be a bitch to get all the bubbles out. If there was a bubble could it of just gotten near the coolant sensor and tripped the low coolant? I'll update in a little while when I check the rad, I just want to let it cool down before I go popping the cap. Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 An air bubble wouldn't cause you to smell coolant. If you can smell coolant you either have a leak and/or burning coolant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted October 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 An air bubble wouldn't cause you to smell coolant. If you can smell coolant you either have a leak and/or burning coolant. yeah... I know that woulnd't cause the smell but I'm wondering if it could of tripped the low coolant light Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Anything is possible. Maybe you had an air bubble that finally worked it's way out of the system. This would cause coolant to displace the air bubble, causing the level in the reservoir to drop. If the reservoir was sucked dry, it would then draw from the radiator, which would cause the Low Coolant light to come on. I'd say top it up with coolant and keep a close eye on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Maybe you are developing a leak in the heatercore. Foggy windshield?? If it is the case I think it's next to impossible to actually find it dripping, cause the plastic around the core stops it from dripping on the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted October 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Foggy windshield?? Nope... but say... your experienced at doing heater cores... wanna come over? lol Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 wait... a foggy windshield could be caused by a leaky heater core! aww crap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJansen658 Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Yes it is a good sign of a bad heater core. Usually if the core is leaking you will be able to find coolant residue on the windshiel directly above the defroster vents in the dash pad. Use a flashlight to illuminate the glass because its hard to see sometimes. And also if it is leaking into the airbox, most airboxes have a drain that comes thru the firewall. You can see it from underneath, and a lot of times a leak can be identified by the bottom of the draintube being wet. A leaking A/C core in the airbox will also exhibit this symptom. On W bodies, the drain tube is about 2 inches below where the shifter cable comes thru the firewall. I am unsure if column shifting uses a cable in the same location. The drain tube is located 4 inches to the left of where the downpipe attaches to the manifold, if you are facing the firewall from in front of the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted October 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 So I checked the rad... just as I has suspected its full to the rim, doesn't look like its lost a drop... Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach 5 Posted October 14, 2006 Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 I agree with the heat core idea. Check it out and see what you get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted October 14, 2006 Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 Jamie I know you've taken apart your interior many times, so a heatercore should be piece of cake for you Just take out the center console, and look in the FAQs at my writeup. If you take the pan off you'll see if there is coolant sitting in there. I think it's a pretty easy job on our cars compared to others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89GP_SE Posted October 14, 2006 Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 Maybe you are developing a leak in the heatercore. Foggy windshield?? If it is the case I think it's next to impossible to actually find it dripping, cause the plastic around the core stops it from dripping on the floor. WERD! That would cause your smell. Put your hand down under the dash against the firewall and feel for any residue or fluid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted October 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Its doin it again! Still no fog at all on the windsheild, no residue either. The Coolant level in the over flow jug is unchanged (again, cars too hot to pop the rad cap), the light is on. I spoke to my father and he sems to think I have a faulty connection at the coolant level sensor. Where might I find this? (I don't have my repair manual with me, I'm out of town visiting the gf) The car has been sitting for about an hour and the upper rad hose is still way too hot to hold onto (back in auto shop class in high school I was taught that its not safe to pop the rad cap unless you can hold the upper rad hose comfortablely for 1 minute) I had the car on the highways for about an hour before I parked it... This time there is no smell of coolant... Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 The coolant level sensor is located on the rad by the top hose on the passenger side (IIRC) well that's the general area anyways. It's held on by a little metal clip, don't bust it or lost it. I think the sensor twists out, it's been a while since I took one out. Try removing it maybe there is some coolant sludge that needs to be cleaned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted October 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 So I just popped the rad cap... the level is right where it was a week ago... full to the brim! I guess I will pull the sensor when I do my oil change on friday... Any suggestions what I could clean said sensor with? Thanx Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supreme Cutlass Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Did you try the TB hoses? Those were really rotten on mine.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted October 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 TB hoses are new... on account of being replaces when the head gaskets were done... I will double check the one that comes from underneith though... Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted November 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Just an update on this.... I'm blaming C-Bad for it... he jinxed me! Sitting in my car today and the windsheild started to fog up... left a slight residue behind... guess I'm looking at a heatercore... Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 I can help you change it. And I can get the part from work or NAPA for $75. NAPA has it in stock I think, might need to order if from work but it would only take a day or 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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