Need help pretty soon.
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: Valparaiso Indiana
Need help pretty soon.
Okay, so I have this small problem. It happend this evening (3rd time its happened this year). I let my car warm up outside after work before I left. Once I left, I got on the highway. While pulling on the on-ramp, smoke (or what looks like smoke, but up close it looks kinda like super fine dust) starts billowing out of my vents. Fans on or off, doesnt matter. It was 2pm... still daylight, and my windows were completely fogged up. Something tells me this isnt factory, lol. Any ideas what it could be?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 580
Likes: 8
From: Clemson SC
Not really burning the antifreeze, but you should likely get a sweet smell of antifreeze. This is a typical problem with a small leak in heater radiator. You may not even notice that you are losing antifreeze/water when you check it as it only takes a little to really fog the inside up. I have encountered this in several cars. Also, it will REALLY fog up the windshield.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: Valparaiso Indiana
Not really burning the antifreeze, but you should likely get a sweet smell of antifreeze. This is a typical problem with a small leak in heater radiator. You may not even notice that you are losing antifreeze/water when you check it as it only takes a little to really fog the inside up. I have encountered this in several cars. Also, it will REALLY fog up the windshield.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: Valparaiso Indiana
Sadly.. my only option is to deal with it, or sell it. I don't have the $800 for a mechanic to fix it, or the know how to do it myself. This $40 part is killing me. This car is killing me.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
If the stop leak doesn't work, you can bypass the heater by looping the hose around from the water pump to the intake. You can then drive the car without damaging the motor or getting coolant everywhere.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
cars been" fixed/ran" this way for years and years. Its a decent solution to a " bucks down" situation.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
It's a difficult, time consuming project. Been there, done that. Half the dash needs to be removed and you'll be lucky if everything works when you are done. Just kidding. If you have a factory service manual, you can probably do it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
One thing to understand about these aging Corvettes; they can be (and usually are) high maintenance vehicles; it's like having a high maintenance spouse/significant other........you either accept it for what is or part ways to limit the losses.......
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: Valparaiso Indiana
So put a U bend where it goes into the core to where it comes out? Seems easy enough.