96 impala ?'s for hopefully common problems

[MrBrown]

i was wondering if anyone else has problems with the lt1 running hot with the climate control off. sometimes smells sweet while driving the heat in the car doesnt work and also when i run the defrost it seems to stay at a nice low temp my guess would be like 175-195. if the car is cold and the defrost is on before the car is started after you start the car it blows a lot of condensation on the windshield but ive noticed chevys just seem to fog up a lil more maybe a heatercore problem? or fans i dont know i wanted to ask here first before i take it in and spend limited funs on chasing diagnostics.

any help would be great i love this car i lose sleep when its not 100%

[MrBrown]

nevermind i looked about 20 pages back and saw whats up is there any way to get the fans on sooner short of pcm flashing?

[Iflylow]

Originally Posted by MrBrown

sometimes smells sweet while driving the heat in the car doesnt work

You have an antifreeze leak, likely in the heater core. That would explain the excess moisture also.
You may have more luck looking in the Caprice section, since this section is more devoted to the W body Impalas (2000 and up).

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by MrBrown

i was wondering if anyone else has problems with the lt1 running hot with the climate control off. sometimes smells sweet while driving the heat in the car doesnt work and also when i run the defrost it seems to stay at a nice low temp my guess would be like 175-195. if the car is cold and the defrost is on before the car is started after you start the car it blows a lot of condensation on the windshield but ive noticed chevys just seem to fog up a lil more maybe a heatercore problem? or fans i dont know i wanted to ask here first before i take it in and spend limited funs on chasing diagnostics.

any help would be great i love this car i lose sleep when its not 100%

you have a heater core leak...my 96 imp does not have

any of your symptoms...

remember with no coolant pressure the water pump can't pump air...the coolant will boil..also you must use dexcool...if you want to properly repair this and the system is corroded and sludged remove the ks knock sensors to fully drain the coolant system and then with sensors out run water to flush out the mess....I usually blow out the heater core when its coolant time every 4years and all is good 1995-2008.........

also don't spill any antifreeze on the opti distributor....cover with plastic when replacing/removing the thermostat...

there is no need to run engine at any time if you do it this way...

finally use bleed screw to remove any air repeat every day untill air is removed totally..


leak/pressure test before you fill system is recommended...doing this ,,,,once is enough...