Coolant Smell

[97GTSTANG]

I can smell the cooland in the cabin, after about 30min, i can see steam coming from the windshield vents, its a very faint steam, also after i turn the car off and come back about 30min later, the winshield is fogged. I dont feel any coolant on the carpet at all. It doesnt happen all the time either. I was thinking heatercore, am i correct? If so, how much does labor and parts usually run?

THanks

 

[blkhorse]

has all the symptoms of a heater core leak

 

[97GTSTANG]

I got the coolant system professionally drained and cleaned about a month ago, would that have anything to do with it?

 

[Mike97gt]

I got the coolant system professionally drained and cleaned about a month ago, would that have anything to do with it?

No

 

[SaleenGT2001]

it is the heater core. i hear it is a real PITA to replace. let me know how it goes b/c my buddy needs to do his.

 

[03ghoststang]

it is the heater core. i hear it is a real PITA to replace. let me know how it goes b/c my buddy needs to do his.

it is the dash has to come out

 

[merc123]

Yep, whole dash has to come out. Think of it on the bright side, now you can do the LED dash mod

 

[Rougestang]

I had the heater core on my f-150 blow on me when I was going to work one day. All I did was bypass it by looping the hose inside the engine compartment from the inlet to the outlet port of the heatercore. Granted I had no heat, but the air didn't work either, so I didn't care for it anyways.... I live in florida. I'm sure you could do something similar for a quick fix if you need to.

 

[Orange...]

just be happy you aren't driving an early model crown vic, or ltd...

 

[97GTSTANG]

Car is in the shop right now, parts and labor came out to $620. I think that was a good price, any thoughts? Should i have the tech replace anything else while the dash is off? He is also refilling the freon, all included in that price

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Ask the tech to be sure and carefully put it back together so there are not rattles or squeaks. Give the tech a bunch of 1" squares of felt and ask him to stick that in between any fasteners likely to rattle/squeak.

I think $620 is a fair price especially if it is a dealership.

 

[DTNODYA]

Ask the tech to be sure and carefully put it back together so there are not rattles or squeaks. Give the tech a bunch of 1" squares of felt and ask him to stick that in between any fasteners likely to rattle/squeak.

This is excellent advise!!! You always think of random stuff that would be beneficial.

 

[97GTSTANG]

Thanks for the advice, i will ask him to put the felts and tighen properly so there are no squeeks. It was not at a dealership actually, this is at a private company. He does a great job thats why i took it to him. I checked at dealership, they wanted $850 for the job.