Driving home last nite, I noticed a slight coolant smell. Then all of a sudden my windsheild steamed up and the defrost would barely cut it.

No apparent coolant leaks under the hood???

I remember reading that this is a symtom of some condition. I just can't remember WHAT it means ???

Thanks!

Probably the heater valve inside your car is broken. This is a quite commen problem and as a result, coolant pours into the passenger area. You can best reach it by assesing from the foot-area on the driver´s side in the middle under the levers for adjusting temperature. Hope you understand what I tried to express! :)

Greetings from germany

Andreas, ´91 944tic

Hi Andreas,

Is there need to remove the radio etc in the centre of the console, or will removal of the glovebox enable access?

Am I right to assume you are talking about the passenger side in a right hand drive car?

Round dials are turned to adjust the temp in the 940s I have seen. Do the levers you speak of interact with the dials?

Thanks for your posting.

Take Care,

John H from DOWNUNDER

Sounds like it's time for a heater core. Ugly job. Once it's finally out the car looks like someone lobbed a hand grenade under your dash.

Bill - If your 900 is similar to 240 in heater/a/c core construction, there will be a housing that has both the heater core and the a/c exaporator inside, and since the a/c creates condensation there will be a drain to vent this to under the car. This is also the path coolant will follow if there is a leak in the core. Look under the car under the main part of the tranny.

On the 240 the drain is a 1/2" in diameter rubber tube that runs from the PS of the bottom of the housing through the floorboard and exits over the transmission. The bottom end looks like metal tubing looks when it gets pinched off. It can be seen inside by removing the PS kick panel and looking to the DS across the tranny hump.

Do what the Aussie said and keep the inside air fume-free. Antifreeze has all sorts of evil non-human-friendly stuff in it, ethylene glycol being the one that comes to mind, and he alluded to a baaad experience. Best Luck, Bob

Bill,

My posting made a few days earlier, re 'heater core woes',refers to the same symptoms you are experiencing.

Thomas's advice not to inhale air moistened coolant should be heeded. You may continue to suffer this problem even when the heater is off. The headache of how to go about a repair is the only headache you need at the moment. I'm talking from first hand experience!

It is most likely that you have coolant soaked carpet in at least one of your front footwells. To prevent further coolant loss and to enable you to keep driving you will need to remove the heater hoses from the firewall and loop them back into the engine.

Removing the heater hoses from the firewall can be difficult. After loosening the circular fasteners using a 7mm socket or screwdriver, twist and pull at the same time. If this fails it is often advisable to slice the hose just sufficiently to allow removal.

When this is done join the hoses by placing inside them a suitably sized metal tube.This tube only needs to be about 4 inches (10cm) long. Use the circular fasteners to make them secure. This will loop coolant back into the motor instead of taking it through the heater core. Next top up your coolant and monitor it to check for leaks. You will now have time to contemplate your next move.

The job I believe is time consuming and back breaking. As it is summer in Australia my job will wait until I have time. As it is winter in the U.S you may not have that luxury.

The best scenario for both of us would be leaking plumbing rather than the core itself.

Take care,

John H from DOWNUNDER

In my experience with an '84 pontiac parisienne, this was a symptom of a leak in my heater core. I was continually pulling that thing out to repair small holes in it. A leak in your heater core may not result in coolant spilling onto the ground, since the core is surrounded by duct work, coolant usually collects in the plastic that surrounds the core and never makes it to the ground. Though it could potentially seep into the interior, depending on how much has leaked out.

Could also be a split hose attached to the core or a puncture in a hose.

I don't think inhaling air moistend by coolant is good for one's health. I recommend dealing with it ASAP. You prevent more coolant from escaping by switching your heat to the cold setting thereby closing the valve that regulates coolant flow to the heater core. But then you have no heat and you'll probably still have moisture in your air from any coolant that has pooled.

Good Luck!