dnut24

I searched around and couldn't find anyone speaking of this issue. Here's what I came across the other day. Lately been real busy and not taking good care of car, since it's cold and all that. Well a warm day a few days ago I was driving around running errands and I smelled coolant in the car and shortly after the "low coolant" light came on. Car seemed to run hotter too. Well I was close to home, let it cooled down and basically poured almost a whole bottle of coolant in it!

So that took care of that, but an hour latter while driving windows got all foggy and hazy from what seems to be coolant being blown from the defrost vents. I know it's coolant cause it smells like it and why would the windows got hazy with a film on it? So first off I wonder even with the HVAC controls to off, does air still slowly blow through the defrost vent by the windshield?

So after getting out of car I saw coolant on ground and looking under hood I see some coolant under the passenger side where the black a/c condenser unit. (item 8)



now there's no way coolant runs through that right? So it's most likely a heater core, or hose issue? Is there a heater hose that runs around that A/C unit that would make the bootom of it wet? coolant seems to be running off the frame rails and onto passenger side catalytic converter. I definately think it's heater related since it starts to fog up after t.stat opens at around 195 degrees. and turning on defroster only makes things worse. The car is undrivable as all the windows front to back are covered in a foggy haze. Opening the door lets out a bellow of smoke.

Can someone point me in the right direction for trouble shooting before I go crazy?

Thanks

c4cruiser

Sound like the hearter core is toast. Coolant will get into the box and that's what causing the fogging condition.

Heater core replacement is not a fun job.....

WW7

If you have coolant coming out your vents its very likely your heater core.This is one of the first signs of a bad core.Just make sure you replace it with a GM core, not aftermarket.. Good Luck...WW

dnut24

oh lord... so if I can't see any visable coolant from the inlet or outlet heater hoses, then it's the core? and the core I assume is inside the firewall under dash? if so, lovely...

engle1147

with all these guys...heater core is busted. Welcome to the busted heater core club....I'm also a member.

dnut24

nice... well i guess I'll pick up a core from Ecklers and ponder if I want to do it myself or take it to a shop.

kalister1

Search around for heater core replacement. I have read everything from they start with the heater core and then build the car, to it's really not that bad?

StealthLT4

Thank god I haven't had to do it myself yet (knock on wood), but every recollection I've seen says GM started with the heater core and 4 tail lights (84-91), and built the car around those

NEVRL8T

I have the .pdf file Lani made that is a walk through of replacing the core on '91-'96 cars. PM me your email address or post it here and I will send it to you. Really nice file with great pictures.

dnut24

well, just went home for lunch and it's definately the core. the low coolant light came on as getting into driveway, then seeing coolant all over garage and passenger floor board flooded with green coolant. lovely way to start the weekend! Angelofdeath, I will PM you, to see if I want to tackle this myself.

torchred89

YEP! Been there done that.Sore back skinned knuckles and cramps in every part of your body,before your done.

c4cruiser

And words that would make a sailor blush.

tomtom72

I would be very thankful if you could send me a copy of that file.

I've been suspecting the same with my 90. No smell, but fog on the windshield sometimes out of the defroster ducts. Not consistantly yet, but it seems to be after I've used the A/C on very hot humid days. The heat is very inconsistant when I use it but no fog. I just can't figure out what is going on. I just figure that what ever is wrong, I'll find out when I get to the heater core.

TIA

Tom
thomastom72@aol.com

tarheelracer

Don't buy your core from ecklers. Those Corvette specific magazines are the biggest rip off around. They take a perfectly good reasonably priced part, price it up by 30% and sell it to you because they think you are a rich Corvette owner. And people fall for it every time.

EDIT: Although it seems that on heater cores they are not, ha ha.

jimmers

Have fun if you do tackle it yourself!

NEVRL8T

Sending it now.

WW7

Like I mentioned in the post at the top, make sure its a GM core, not an aftermarket core. I have seen to many people have to do the job again in 2 to 3 years with an aftermarket core.If you don't believe me try doing a search...WW

dnut24

yea Tarheel, the Ecklers site is reasonable price for the core. and WW7, it states its a genuine part.