Heat question

[abelhands]

Sometimes when I first start up the heat in my car it kind of smells bad, is that a dangerous odor to inhale? I have seen it a couple times blow out a kind of smokey like substance too. Any advice?

[David325e]

Does it smell sort of sweet? That and the blowing would lead me to believe that its coolant from a bad heater core, or bad lines/rings. If you have the heat running and then turn the car off and park it without closing vents/turning off heat do you end up with a thick steam on the windshield?

I believe the chemical in coolant is ehtylene glycol or some such. It is a poisin but I don't know how much you'd have to inhale to even notice symptoms.

[Saphiro]

It may be the blower motor resistor cooking itself to death...When that went bad on mine smoke billowed out for about ten seconds. Scared the crap out of me.

[russiankid]

Heater core is leaking onto the blower motor resistor. Replace resistor and heater core before you car catches fire.

[DIL]

^ The resistor?

[russiankid]

^ The resistor?
Isn't it the resistor box that sits under the heater core? I know someone on this board had the core leak onto something in relation to the blower motor causing car to catch fire, well almost catch fire.

[David325e]

Seems like that makes sense Russian. Where you go to replace the sword or resistor is just below and rearward of where the core sits. But I don't know that that smoke would come out of the dash, without getting bad enough to start a fire. Seems like smoke would be coming out of console somewheres?

[russiankid]

An electrical short can cause a fire.

[David325e]

An electrical short can cause a fire.

right...? If you're talking to me I meant that if hes getting smoke bad enough from that to have it coming out of the vents I would think he'd have a full fledged fire at the same time.

[russiankid]

right...? If you're talking to me I meant that if hes getting smoke bad enough from that to have it coming out of the vents I would think he'd have a full fledged fire at the same time.
Oh haha. I would check it out before I head out for the next drive.

[DIL]

I get ya. I was thinking that the Russian meant that the heater core was leaking on the to motor connections.:rofl

[David325e]

I get ya. I was thinking that the Russian meant that the heater core was leaking on the to motor connections.:rofl

That'd be one seriously hard driven E34 :rofl:

[russiankid]

I get ya. I was thinking that the Russian meant that the heater core was leaking on the to motor connections.:rofl

Well since the system is under pressure, if you have a big leak it will splash fluid everywhere. :eyecrazy

[David325e]

Well since the system is under pressure, if you have a big leak it will splash fluid everywhere. :eyecrazy

+a few. When the top of the bleed screw blew off and I opened the hood, frothy coolant was reaching the windshield. These cars do some things that will scare the ish out of you. But looking back, its always funny. Either that or makes you look helpful on BF.C. Guess thats why we love them.

[russiankid]

When I thought my system wasn't under pressure I started the remove my lower radiator hose clamp. That was quickly followed by a huge hiss and fluid sprayed 10 feet through the wholes in the bumper.:eek: