Coolant Smell through ACC
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Fair Oaks CA
Coolant Smell through ACC
My 89 L98 has a 180 degree thermostat. When the water temp goes above 180, a slight smell of coolant starts coming through the automatic climate control system. I've checked my exhaust for coolant smell, but nothing. I've checked the coolant level in the radiator and the overflow tank, but no change. I haven't noticed any coolant leaking from the car to the ground.
Sometimes the ACC lights and digital display go wacky, flickering and flashing, so I'm thinking there's a slight leak somewhere that's messing with the circuitry.
Any ideas of the possible problem?
Thanks in advance,
-WL
Sometimes the ACC lights and digital display go wacky, flickering and flashing, so I'm thinking there's a slight leak somewhere that's messing with the circuitry.
Any ideas of the possible problem?
Thanks in advance,
-WL
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 0
From: Antioch IL
Re: Coolant Smell through ACC (White Lightning)
I don't know if this is the same problem, but when that happened to me last summer, it was my heater core. At first I just smelled coolant, then it started fogging the windows. I hope it isn't your heater core, because it's expensive to fix, and a bear to do yourself.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 42,935
Likes: 20
From: Sydney, Australia
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17, '22
Re: Coolant Smell through ACC (art91)
I don't know if this is the same problem, but when that happened to me last summer, it was my heater core. At first I just smelled coolant, then it started fogging the windows.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Re: Coolant Smell through ACC (White Lightning)
Your Display problems maybe a bad ground or the Cluster could be on its way south. For '89, there is a Cluster ground that passes through the Firewall with the ECM Harness which is near the Heater Core. There is a second ground in the driver's footwell. Might be good idea to have a radiator shop pressure check your system to pinpoint a possible leak. Since you only notice it when the thermostat opens, maybe something closer to the fresh air inlet, such as a manifold gasket, as opposed to the Heater Core.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 460
Likes: 12
From: Gulf Shores AL
Re: Coolant Smell through ACC (art91)
Hey, don't be afraid to do your heater core yourself. I did mine. It took a good ten hours, but everything pretty much went as described in the service manual, and I don't think I scraped a single knuckle.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 42,935
Likes: 20
From: Sydney, Australia
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17, '22
Re: Coolant Smell through ACC (jwg2)
Hey, don't be afraid to do your heater core yourself. I did mine. It took a good ten hours, but everything pretty much went as described in the service manual, and I don't think I scraped a single knuckle.
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