02pearlmax

iTrader: (8)

The car is a 2002 auto with 107k miles. The radiator and hoses were changed in August. Last week I retightened the hose clamps because they were leaking just a tad. No more leaks, but now I'm getting a coolant smell inside the cabin. The radiator and reservoir are still full with coolant and I cant find a leak or a coolant stain anywhere.

My mechanic pressure tested the system and said it wasn't leaking pressure, and he couldn't find any leaks anywhere. He thinks its the heater core starting to blow out, and said to keep driving until the reservoir starts to go down so he can pressure test again and see where the leak is coming from.

However I'm starting to think its not the heater core because I can smell coolant in the engine bay, not just the cabin. I get a strong whiff of coolant whenever I slow down, regardless of whether the heat is on or off, or whether the car is warmed up or not, or whether the blower motor is running or not. After I stop and start accelerating, the smell goes away. Wouldn't I smell coolant all the time if the heater core was bad?

Does anyone else have experience with heater cores in 5th gens? If the heater core was going bad, wouldn't the smell be affected by the heat setting or engine temperature? Wouldnt the smell be solely in the cabin, and not the engine bay? Is it possible that theres a slight leak somewhere in the bay thats getting wafted into the cabin? I know the leak will be easier to find once I start actually losing coolant, but its not fun to drive around with coolant fumes in your face so I'm trying to find this leak ASAP.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

Look for a small crack at the top of your radiator by the fill cap. I had the same smell for months, then finally the radiator started to drip. It only seems to leak when hot and it's just a small drop or two that turns into steam which is what your smelling.

02pearlmax

iTrader: (8)

Thats what happened to me in August. Radiator and hoses are brand new.

inixratedini

i was getting a weird scent and wasn't sure it was either. My power steering high pressure hose was leaking after i changed it no scent. It's mounted by the passenger side strut.

maxipower

if the heater core was leaking coolant ,,windows inside your car would fog up as soon the coolant temperature goes up ,,,and it would be a strong odor of coolant,,

02pearlmax

iTrader: (8)

@maxipower: the windows don't fog up but the smell is pretty strong. No moisture underneath the floormats either. And I still haven't lost a drop of coolant. This is really stumping me lol.

@inixratedini: what did the PS fluid smell like? was it sweet like antifreeze?