late 80's cavalier, petrol, when turn heating on fumes blow into car, choking me out. with heating off all o.k. but b.cold. If its heating matrix is is difficult to fix myself or are there any other likely probs to look out for. dont think head gasket gone as oil looks o.k.

This is about 99% caused by a leaking "heater core" which is a miniature radiator in the dash which is not very DIY friendly to replace.

If the car must be used for a while till this is fixed it would minimize the problem to loosen radiator or pressure cap of cooling system but be sure it's properly filled with correct mix of anti-freeze/coolant and water.

The fog that no doubt is now on glass will be "sticky" and won't wipe clean without real window cleaners and lots of towels. Same is on interior parts and uphostery too and you may notice a wet RF floor or better said "passenger's" side floor as that's where the core is usually located - some would be LF in "right hand drive" vehicles.....

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston
http://acsource.net/acforum/index.php

thanks for your help, sounds like a bad job but will give it a go and let you know the result.

In Reply To

yes you were spot on a pig of a job to access the beast, but leaking badly so had to get garage to replace as didnt fancy that one. thanks for your help. chris