Need help ASAP!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
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From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Need help ASAP!
okay, I've been screwin around with my car the past couple of days, and when i pulled a belt, I noticed it leaked coolant out (looked like from my heater core)
since then, I havent over heated, nor have I pulled a belt. but when I romp on the car good, I get steam coming from my vents. and its smells like coolant. I checked under my heater box on the firewall from underneath (lookin for a bad hose) and saw the under side of my heater core. is there supposed to be something that hooks up to this or is it supposed to be exposed to get air into it.
I'd really appreciate this, the faster the better.. if need be I can crawl under the car and snag a pic of the heater box.
since then, I havent over heated, nor have I pulled a belt. but when I romp on the car good, I get steam coming from my vents. and its smells like coolant. I checked under my heater box on the firewall from underneath (lookin for a bad hose) and saw the under side of my heater core. is there supposed to be something that hooks up to this or is it supposed to be exposed to get air into it.
I'd really appreciate this, the faster the better.. if need be I can crawl under the car and snag a pic of the heater box.
Last edited by Corz; Jul 23, 2004 at 09:46 AM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
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From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
alright, I'm gunna wipe the hoses by the heater core dry, take it for a spin and see if the hoses are wet at all when i get back, if so I'm gunna by pass it
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,012
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From: Minnesota
For you to get the coolant smell in the cabin through the vents--its most likely heater core--be glad you are getting a little warning. If it completely lets loose the passenger well will get filled with a pretty green or whatever color coolant. And makes a real mess--hard to get antifreeze out of carpet. Quick solution is the heater hose cutoff. There will still be a small amount in the core. Other possible might be the copper inlet and outlet to the core. They can get cracks--bottom line, it still needs a core replacement(akin to performing a root canal on yourself).
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
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From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
figures 
I took it for a drive just now, I wiped off all excess crap off the hoses and it didnt seem to leak at all. It also didnt smoke.. wtf gives
looks like i cant take it out tonite like i wanted to
I took it for a drive just now, I wiped off all excess crap off the hoses and it didnt seem to leak at all. It also didnt smoke.. wtf gives
looks like i cant take it out tonite like i wanted to
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 201
Likes: 1
From: Taunton Ma
I had a similar problem when I first got my car. Couldn't find the problem. Then last February I had the hood open with it running and a shot of steam came out of the overflow canister. When I inspected the canister looking for cracks or holes I noticed someone had put a 4 pound radiator cap on it. I replaced the cap with the correct one and haven't had the problem since. Not saying yours is wrong but it could be weak. Just a thought.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
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From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
Corz
The hole you are looking at is the drain hole for condensate caused by the A/C or a possible leak in the heater core. I am not 100 % sure about the corvette but on other cars I have worked on it would have a pre-formed piece of hose that is round on one end to fit over the neck sticking down from the bottom of the core box and flat on the other end so the vapors and hot air from under the hood will not be forced into the core box and then make its way into the interior of the car.
The steam and smell could possibly be coming from under the hood through the drain hole. If your car is like mine the overflow bottle for the radiator is right next to the core box, if so than when you drive your car hard the pressure will build in the radiator and force steam and coolant into the overflow bottle. My overflow bottle has a vented cap on it, if yours has a vented cap than the steam and vapors may be coming from there. This is just a guess but it may be something to look at.
Neal
The hole you are looking at is the drain hole for condensate caused by the A/C or a possible leak in the heater core. I am not 100 % sure about the corvette but on other cars I have worked on it would have a pre-formed piece of hose that is round on one end to fit over the neck sticking down from the bottom of the core box and flat on the other end so the vapors and hot air from under the hood will not be forced into the core box and then make its way into the interior of the car.
The steam and smell could possibly be coming from under the hood through the drain hole. If your car is like mine the overflow bottle for the radiator is right next to the core box, if so than when you drive your car hard the pressure will build in the radiator and force steam and coolant into the overflow bottle. My overflow bottle has a vented cap on it, if yours has a vented cap than the steam and vapors may be coming from there. This is just a guess but it may be something to look at.
Neal
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,162
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From: Beaverton, OR
Originally Posted by patsnitrovette
If your looking to drive it tonight bypass the heater core and drive it,you dont need heat for afew more months,and yes the heater core is leaking.
Of course my heater core is in perfect working condition, but I needed to remove some weight to compensate for my giant subwoofer box
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: Middletown Connecticut
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Originally Posted by patsnitrovette
If your looking to drive it tonight bypass the heater core and drive it,you dont need heat for afew more months,and yes the heater core is leaking.
come onnnnnnnn rain