Coolant Smell When Heater Switched On

[Autumn]

Hi,

 

I have a 2002 Ford Galaxy, diesel. Unfortunately I bought it privately and lets say the previous owner wasn't too forthcoming with the truth! Anyhow, after having the head gasket raplaced on the car, I'm still getting a coolant smell coming through the air vents but only when the heater is switched on. The car has been checked for leaks and there are no apaprent leaks from the heather matrix or hoses. The garage that did the head gasket have since stipped the dash and replaced the filter but that hasn't solved the problem. Any suggestions please? Don't really want to do a full dash removal again! I think it could be the heater matrix but confused as there are no noticeable leaks.

 

Thank.

[chrispb123456]

If your not topping up the coolant then it cant be a leaking matrix,

Windscreen wash smell can be drawn in usually after using W/washers then goes after a few minutes, you could try one of those aircon cleaner aerosols you set off in the car, you set heater controls onto recirculation and place can in front footwell, the cleaner is drawn into the heater unit and out through the vents removing any bacteria smells.

 

As for removing the dash to change the pollen filter, dont think so, it's accessed from engine compartment after removing bulkhead extension (3 bolts)

Edited April 18, 2011 by chrispb123456

[Autumn]

Hi,

 

Thanks for your reply. I had the air con serviced and re-gassed at the weekend, they guy who did this said he didn't think an air con cleaner would remove the coolant smell as it only comes through the air vents when the heater is switched on, otherwise it would come through when the cold air is pulled through into the car. However, for

[Mirez]

Did they tell you they stripped the dash to change the filter? If so add them to the "Not to be trusted" list of garages as the only filter for air intake is accessible from the engine side ONLY - there arn't any filters that can be accessed or changed by removing the dash! However a coolent leak caused by a leaky matrix would require the removal of the dash - so check carefully their wording.

 

Did they change the pollen filter? Get it the bonnet with a torch and check the colour of it - I've seen countless garages invoice for "renew pollen filter" and its never been touched, as an example my 03 plate had "Renew pollen filter" down in the service history no less then 5 times (1 main dealer and 3 local garages) and when I removed it I found it to be the original filter with an 03 date stamp on it. Musty chemically smells can quite often come from here when its rotting away.

 

Dont forget that you'll also have a rear heater with its own seperate matrix and fan (Located behind the passenger side tailgate side panel) - try turning off the rear fan and seeing if the smell improves or not.

[Autumn]

The dash was stripped to check the heater matrix, there were no signs of current leakage although the garage has said there is evidence of the carpet being taken up before so perhaps historically there was one? I'm thinking if there was a leak in the matrix, this could have caused the head gasket? There was also signs of sealant in the coolant reservoir so perhaps they had tried that the seal the matrix? don't know, there is also a receipt for a new water pump.

 

The filter was changed from the engine side, just to clear up any confusion.

 

Is the pollen filter located behind the coolant reservoir and it;s about a foot long, that's what was changed, I know it was changed as they showed me the old one they took out, the new one is white and clean!

 

I have switched the rear heater to low and cold setting and I still get the smell when I switch the front heater on.

[Mirez]

Ahhhh ok, then they can go back on the "Trusted garage list" lol

 

To be fair, there isn't a lot it can be - the system isn't exactly complicated so if you can rule out air intake then you are left with the fan, matrix and ducting - the only thing that has coolent near it and could therefore cause the smell is the matrix. If you are 100% certain that its a coolent smell and not intake or A/C smells then the coolent lines are only in the cabin for the front and rear matrix's so its got to be one of them (or the associated pipework) thats leaking.

[daddyfixit]

just to add more confusion ???

 

i had a similar smell now and again, became pungent as days went on......then i took car off the mrs to look myself, only found it when using the screenwash !!!!!!! the cheap screenwash additive had gone off !!! causing water in the bottle to become stagnant.

had to prise pump out of the bottle behind nsf wheel arch liner to drain it all out---------it stunk the place out.

[pauls ghia]

just to add more confusion ???

 

i had a similar smell now and again, became pungent as days went on......then i took car off the mrs to look myself, only found it when using the screenwash !!!!!!! the cheap screenwash additive had gone off !!! causing water in the bottle to become stagnant.

had to prise pump out of the bottle behind nsf wheel arch liner to drain it all out---------it stunk the place out.

Hi I was wondering if the front passenger footwell carpet was wet? Maybe the smell is screenwash from the rear windscreen washer pipe, which has come apart in the floor. This smell could be circulated by the heater fans. You can sometimes hear it squirting under the carpet!

[woodywoodpecker]

be careful when dealing with old screenwash has been found that this is a breeding ground for legionnaires disease (make sure you top it up with a good additive as just water not good)