1998 silhouette Heater core?

[stud575]

I just purchased a used silhouette with 98k. I am having some problems, most I have found in threads posted already. Themain one that has me stumped is the heater core. I keep smelling coolant after i drive it, outside the vehicle and sometimes inside. I had it checked out at a radiator shop, and due to the stain under the passenger side carpet, he said it was the heater core. I pulled the carpet up and found water, the padding was soaked. There is no sign of coolant though, just water. Someone told me i should check the drain plug, did that found that there was a leak coming inside, i fixed that. However I still smell coolant, No leaks on engine or underneath. Temp guage has got up to the half mark while idling, then goes down. I have already bought the heater core, just dont want to fix something thats not broke.
HELP

[cdru]

Is your coolant level going down? If so, then you obviously have a leak somewhere.

One of the symptoms of a heater core leak is a film right above the defroster vent on the dash. This area also quickly fogs up in cooler weather.

The smell that you smell, might it be coming in from the outside through the air intake? It might be leaking in the engine compartment, evaporating, then being sucked into the air intake.

Getting to the heater core is a chore, but not horribly hard. The hardest part is getting teh clamps on and off the hoses under the hood. The best thing may be just to get down to the heater core cover and take a look.

[stud575]

Originally Posted by cdru

Is your coolant level going down? If so, then you obviously have a leak somewhere.

One of the symptoms of a heater core leak is a film right above the defroster vent on the dash. This area also quickly fogs up in cooler weather.

The smell that you smell, might it be coming in from the outside through the air intake? It might be leaking in the engine compartment, evaporating, then being sucked into the air intake.

Getting to the heater core is a chore, but not horribly hard. The hardest part is getting teh clamps on and off the hoses under the hood. The best thing may be just to get down to the heater core cover and take a look.

Yea I got to the heater core and saw no leaks, thing looks brand new. See thats the thing there is no film above the defroster vent either. Wouldnt there be coolant with the water that was puddled under the carpet, if it was the heater core? It has no smell of coolant either.

[cdru]

The only place where coolant enters the passenger compartment is for the loop going to the heater core. If you have rear heat, there is also a core back there. Anything else would be coming in through the air intake vent at the bottom of the windshield.

You can buy a UV dye at Napa stores that will glow under a real black light indicating leaks. Check in the mess if fittings just on the engine side of the firewall going to the heater core. Those clamps can weaken over time and leak. There is also the intake and head gasket leak possibilities among other things.

[stud575]

Originally Posted by cdru

The only place where coolant enters the passenger compartment is for the loop going to the heater core. If you have rear heat, there is also a core back there. Anything else would be coming in through the air intake vent at the bottom of the windshield.

You can buy a UV dye at Napa stores that will glow under a real black light indicating leaks. Check in the mess if fittings just on the engine side of the firewall going to the heater core. Those clamps can weaken over time and leak. There is also the intake and head gasket leak possibilities among other things.

Ok I pulled out the air filter and found red stains on it. Still no visible leaks anywhere. I am thiking that maybe some got pured down in there if it was worked on. I dont know for sure. I just dont think its the heater core. Could be wrong there too.
thanks for the info

[cdru]

Yeah. Something's screwy. There shouldn't be any way for antifreeze to get to the air filter.