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Guest
Anonymous Poster
mderba1a@yahoo.com
Jan 11, 2007, 6:48 PM
Post #1 of 5
(1439 views)
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About 2 1/2 months ago I was driving my car (98 Pontiac Grand Am with 128,000 miles) in the Black Hills of SD at an elevation of 7000 feet and I noticed the temperature gauge went up and I could smell it like it was overheating. I let the car cool off and we then drove the descent without incident. In the next few days everything was fine and I didn't bother to have anything checked as I'd heard previously that cars are more susceptible to overheating at steeper ascents at higher elevations. Well then after getting back to Minnesota, about a month later I started noticing the smell of coolant after shutting the car off in the garage. There were no signs of a leak, no problems with the temperature gauge going up, etc. After of few weeks of noticing this I decided to have it checked out. They did a cooling system pressure test and an engine block test to make sure a head gasket wasn't allowing coolant to leak into the engine. Both were negative. They visually inspected and could not find any leaks or spills. Despite being able to smell the coolant themselves after shutting the car off, they could provide me with no explanation and just said to "keep my eye on it". It is now several weeks later and it still smells during the first 5 minutes after I shut it off. There are still no signs of leaking, and no problems with the temperature gauge showing overheating. It is driving just fine (despite some nasty loud cupping on the tires!) Any suggestions what could be wrong? I’m a nervous wreck about my car breaking down on a trip and have another trip back to the Hills planned for the end of this month.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 11, 2007, 11:16 PM
Post #2 of 5
(1431 views)
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Re: Coolant issue?
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Proper pressure cap and a new one is called for. High altitude is a strain on a cooling system by both pressure and less air to cool the radiator. You must maintain just -34F antifreeze and not stronger or it won't work well.
The smell could just be the hot engine burning oils that are on it but haven't been challenged for a while to burn them away.
Don't allow an overheat if at all possible. If you haven't, check that the cooling fan for radiator works and fluids full. If not then find out why.
I had a great time back when in the Black Hills of SD so I think I have a clue as to the damands on the car. Cars work hard to get you up a hill ---- try pushing one on level ground and imagine how hard it's working for hills!! T
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Aeriydne
Novice
Jan 11, 2007, 11:56 PM
Post #3 of 5
(1429 views)
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Re: Coolant issue?
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There have been many people who have experienced a similar problem and it has been the heater core. I have been doing a lot of research today on coolant system problems as i am trying to resolve one of my own and that is a problem that is highly likely to be the reason you are smelling coolant but cant seem to find any leaks. It is probably leaking there, but not much.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 12, 2007, 2:05 AM
Post #4 of 5
(1428 views)
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Re: Coolant issue?
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YES! A heater core and that system can be part of the bypass system that regulates even temp thru the engine.
Test: Put heater on full blast and carefully feel the temp of the hoses to the core. One should be HOT and the other much cooler. PLEASE DON'T BURN YOURSELF - A QUICK TOUCH SHOULD BE OK, T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Jan 12, 2007, 9:16 PM
Post #5 of 5
(1424 views)
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Re: Coolant issue?
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Interesting about the idea of the heater core. I specifically asked the technician who was handling the tests when I had it in if it could be related to the heater core in any way. The reason I asked?... The heater core failed back in June and I had it replaced new by this same shop. I am not very knowledgeable about car issues, but had recalled that they had to flush the system when they did this work. When I asked if this could be related I was told 'no'.
So here are the next questions: if there is something wrong here, is it serious? Could it be a result of something improper with the work done when the heater core was replaced? The core was extremely difficult to access and replace in this model car (98 Grand Am)... have to take the dash board out to get to it. And finally, what should I do; how should I approach them about this as a potential problem? I live in Minnesota and it has only been since the colder winter weather here started back in late November since I started noticing the smell in the garage, so the heater core makes sense?
As for the suggested test, (and this will show how much I DON'T know), do the hoses to the core come off the coolant tank? How do I know which ones are going to the core?
Thanks for the help in trying to solve this problem.
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