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Car heater core leaking or no ?
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SarahBear8907
New User
Nov 25, 2015, 9:47 AM
Post #1 of 6
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Car heater core leaking or no ?
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I have a 2005 Honda Civic. It has 99,000 miles on it. About three and a half weeks ago I decided to add coolant to the overflow container just because I felt like it was a good idea to top up on all fluids. I did happen to spill a good amount of fluid underneathe the hood, I made a little bit of a mess. I have no idea if this is connected to the issue that I am facing, but about a week ago I have just noticed that when I first turn the heat on, I get a whiff of burning coolant for about 3 - 5 seconds. My coolant sort of smells like fish, it doesn't smell sweet. This smell is not constant, it does go away. The car shows no other symptoms such as fogged up damp windows, overheating, wet floor boards or wet rugs, I still have heat - At least all for now, anyway. I did some of my own research on this issue and I read that it COULD be the heater core leaking. I was just trying to think positive and just think that maybe this is just coolant burning off somewhere, or when I spilled the coolant while filling it up it got into the heating ventilation somehow. Has anyone else experienced something like this before ? Is there any hope for me ? Thanks !
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 25, 2015, 10:30 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: Car heater core leaking or no ?
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3+1/2 weeks later! Hmmm. You really don't have the correct symptoms for a leaking heater core or odor. It would smell a unique odor of sweet I'll call like burning Gator Aid, fog windows a lot or little that doesn't wash clean well and or drip onto passenger's floor when leaking enough if so.
No - can only guess you really spilled a bunch in some spot and it isn't done so may need to CAREFULLY rinse it out easy and slow not to harm anything with plain water as that will dry on it's own, antifreeze will not so fast.
It really does make odor if it's dripping on something hot inside the car from under the hood. Look hard for other faults like the reservoir, hose to it or if the level isn't reading properly for "full mark HOT and full mark when COLD."
I'd still suggest a pressure check for leaks and hard look for evidence anywhere.
Did it need coolant or was it just cold and you added anyway back that time? Coolant isn't consumed at all normally,
T
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 25, 2015, 10:35 AM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: Car heater core leaking or no ?
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Sorry for two post but you may have read other already? Any chance leaves or rodent issue going on or something that odor could be caused by, by seasonal crap like leaves and pine needles or anything? Rodents don't always leave much evidence at first if so. Most will chew insulation for hood or something and hide out in it and leave when you start engine and happens most to cars parked in the same spot all the time where rodents are possible,
T
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SarahBear8907
New User
Nov 25, 2015, 10:42 AM
Post #4 of 6
(1351 views)
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Re: Car heater core leaking or no ?
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Thank you for a fast reply.
Did it NEED coolant ?
Nope. I was just paranoid and decided to fill the little plastic tank. (October 31st).
Is the coolant where it was when I filled it up last ?
Yes. I just checked this last night. The plastic tank is pretty full, looks about right where I left it on October 31st.
Needless to say, my only symptom is like a whiff of fishy smell coming through my vents for a few seconds.
I think this even happens without the heat/ defrosters on. This smell still comes out of the vents for a few seconds even if no fans or heat is on.
I was just alarmed by the smell. I popped the hood myself and realized that it was the SAME exact smell as my antifreeze.
So from there, I assumed that anti - freeze was coming through the vents, google'd it, and all I found was "heater core this, and heater core that. "
So far, I have no other heater core symptoms. This random smell has been going on almost two weeks now. Smells just like my coolants smells. But so far the heat works, defrosters work, no wet floors, no window fogging or mist.
I am at a loss and it is very unnerving to smell this smell from time to time .......
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SarahBear8907
New User
Nov 25, 2015, 10:44 AM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: Car heater core leaking or no ?
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I mentioned the filling up of the coolant on October 31st because that was really the only thing that I could link this smell to.
I'm lost !
As for rodents ...... I haven't seen anything just by looking under the hood, then again, I would not even know where to look.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 25, 2015, 1:16 PM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: Car heater core leaking or no ?
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Your adding fluid to the reservoir, but how about the radiator? If your coolant smells like a fish market, that coolant system needs to be flushed. Honda states to service the coolant at 120K, but being 10 years old, might be a good idea to do it now. That system uses Honda Blue coolant. You should have your mechanic check it out and see if you have leaks going on.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 25, 2015, 1:25 PM)
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