Foggier than London...

**Warning: I'm new and I know little about cars. I'm begging your indulgence in advance...**

I've got a '90 Z24 that WILL NOT defog! I there's a wonky smell I think might be anti-freeze, which would suggest a coolant leak somewhere. Any suggestions on where I can look to verify this? Is this common? Are there any temporary fixes I can try?

Thanks in advance
Al

My brother had the same problem. His car was still under warranty though. You'll probably have to take it in to fix it.

Ok, when you say defog, do you meen defog the front windsheild or back? if you meen the back either there is a break in the electrical connection leading to the window for the defogger or there could be just a few lines on the grid that aren't working which is can happen if someone unknowing scratched the lines when cleaning the back window. They do make repair kits that you can pick up at the local automotive store to fix that. To locate the break in the line just take a close look and you will see sections that might be a different color( is shading) or missing all together. follow the instructions on the packaging and that should do it. If you are refering to the front window not defoging. The smell that you are refering too is it stronger when you have the defogger running to defrost the window? If so sounds like a bad heater core. Which is located behind the center console up under the dash board. Being you are not too handy with cars a good mic. can tell you for sure if it's a bad heater core. Are you smelling the coolant with out the heater being on? If so It could be that you have a crack in your head gasket which is VERY common with the early 90 cavys. To see if its a headgasket take it to the mic. and ask them to do a die test. What that is, is they inject a die into the coolant and then run the engine and use a special light to look for the die to leak out around the head of the engine. If it is a head gasket check with your local chevy dealer because chevy put out a recall on 90-93 cavys to fix the head gaskets at there dime. Hence, saving you money. Hope that helps ya.

Thanks! That's uber-helpful.
To clarify, ALL the windows fog up. I can usually get the back to clear a bit, though.
I guess I hope it's a head gasket, if it won't really cost me to fix...(There's also a crack in the mouth of the resivoir tank, which would help explain the over heating, but not the fog.)
I'm also noticing that it doesn't really fog up when the resvoir tank is full. Just after it's been running for a while. Does that make any sense, or lend any clues?

thanks again
Al

You probably need to replace your heater core. It will make your windows foggy and your heater won't work very well. least that is my experience.

Matt~

I had a crack in my resivore tank as well. I just drained what was left and removed the tank and dryed it. Purchaced some JB weld at my local hardware store, mixed part a&b together and placed it over the crack in the tank. Waited for it to dry and checked for leaks, reinstalled it and that fixed the tank. If it is the headgasket keep in mind GM will only reimburse you for your expences IF you meet their requirements. Talk with your local GM dealer for details. A new heater core is pritty easy for the do it yourselfer to install if you have some basic tools and patiences. Once you have fixed the problems with the coolant smell and everything is peachy again. I would suggest that you try rain-X Anti-fog. It's a liquid that you put on the inside of your windows to help combat the fogging of your windshield and other windows.

I just re-read your responce. I would bet and agree with MtLeCe that it is your heatercore. You said that the windows fog up after it's been running for awhile. That would make sence. If there is a crack in your heater core, (actually it's usually the plastic pipes that go) The coolant would leak out of the core and being it's hot would put too much humity in the car and fog up your windows. GM was nice enough to put a catch basin around the heater core so when it does go it dosen't leak inside the car. But to be sure put your hand behind the center console (were the radio is located) between the footwells and feel for anything wet. Hopefully it will be dry and the catch basin will have been doing it job and drain out side the car threw the fire wall.
Hope that helps ya narrow it down a bit.

thanks all. getting it fixed tuesday. The guy thinks it's the core...

keep ya posted

al