knight75

Hey guys I was wondering if anyone could tell me why I smell antifreeze when my heater is on???

Thanks!

Knight75

TA5LiterHO

Your heater core is probably leaking. Is the carpet damp on the passenger side?

knight75

Man I hope its not leaking I just put in a new tan carpet. I will check it out. Is there a good stop leak that I can get or should I change out the heater core?


Thanks!

knight75

White91GTA

just change the heater core. they are only $17 at autozone and i am sure that other parts stores have them for about the same price, maybe a little bit more at some places.

knight75

Hey guys thanks for all your help. Looks like I'm gonna change a heater core today


Thanks!


knight75

thirdgen88

Yeah, its really simple (don't follow the instructions in a haynes manual, they tell you to practically remove the whole dash... On my firebirds, all you need to do is remove the lower plastic panel on the passenger side, then you can get to all of the bolts (it helps to have one of those flexible shaft drivers)... Then the cover will slide to the side and out and you can then access and remove the heater core (once you remove the hoses, etc)...

The first one I did was in my 1988 Firebird.. I followed the procedure in the haynes manual and it took me like 6 hours.. Recently, I had to put one in my 1991 GTA, and I got started and then said "wait one damn minute"... 20 minutes later my way and I was done..

knight75

Sounds good I'm gonna giveit a try!


Thanks!

Knight75

IROZINCO

iTrader: (1)

Hey, thirdgen88 - could you post step-by-step how you did it in 20 minutes? I've been ignoring mine for a while, it's not actually making the floor wet, and after about 20 minutes the smell goes away and the heater works fine. I'd always heard it was a major hassle and an all day job. If you can walk me thru step by step how do to it, I might just run out and buy a heater core today! And, BTW, got any hints on how to replace the fuel pump in 20 minutes instead of 4 hours? ;-)

White91GTA

cut out the metal above the fuel pump and install an access panel

thirdgen88

I'll try to make a write-up on it... One thing to check is if you still have those stock spring clamps on the hoses, replace those first.. Once I got my old heater core out, I pressure tested it and it was perfect.. (good thing I only spent 30 minutes on the job or I would've been PISSED!) What turned out to be leaking were the hose connections at the firewall (they were leaking and allowing coolant to go inside the passenger compartment)...

I still have that lower panel off because I'm still doing my tuning, maybe I can take some pictures if its nice today...

thirdgen88

Try reading the thread before you post..

How would that help get the heater core out??

White91GTA

how about you try reading the post...he also asked about getting the fuel pump out in 30 minutes instead of it taking 4 hours.

thirdgen88

Wow... I feel like an @ss... Doh!... Sorry..

theratdude64

ROFL thats funny right there... I gotta do my heater core out too, got that guide for 20 minutes yet?

IROZINCO

iTrader: (1)

I have the opposite problem - no leaks at all, but any time i turn the temp lever to heat, you can start to smell the anti-freeze. Funny thing is, after about 10 minutes or so of steady driving, smell goes away. And I do have heat. So hurry up and publish that 20 minute "how too!" My local shop wants $250 to do the job!!!!

xlwhellraiser

iTrader: (1)

Ait, I ainto no genius but I went ahead and did it with the Haynes manual, and it took me about 2hrs tops. It was pretty straight forward, and if I did not remove unnecessary screws the thing would be done in an hour or so. Its really easy, you just need to relax and really pay attention. Now if you wanna do the 20min. replacement, I would recomend that you take your time anyway. You dont want to damage the plastic thats holding the heater core, cuz duh. its holding the heater core. Just take the bottom panel out and you will see the black plastic box. Start taking the screws out, its important you have an extention to put on your screwdriver ( ) and go for the furthest in bolts. Than take some low profile to get one or two right behind the center piece (radio..) I belive there was a screw or two there. Than be carefull when you move it, and if its caught in anything dont try to pull it, cuz its probably another hidden screw holding it. I can tell you right now one of the furthest top left screws is not deteceble untill you take the rest of them off. Than you will see. Its stuck all the way back at the very top left corner. Get that one out and you should be fine.
When taking the core out also be careful not to drip anti. into your car, its a b!otch. Also, when you put a new one take your TIME, the pipes are not bent well and you will have to kind of mudge them in, but try not to damage the heater core.
Ofcorse make sure you unplugged the lines on the firewall first before you take it out.
Now, you know sometime you can smell a bit of coolant when you first start out the heater. Its not coolant that smells, but your senses tell you that it might be. Trust me on that one, I've been through that ****!!! And no its not leaking, checked all of it.
Good luck and let me know if you need anymore help!

xlwhellraiser

iTrader: (1)

Ait, man do your windows fog up when you got the heat on?? Cuz if you do than you gotta leak, if not than check the hoses, save yourself some time!!