Not sure on this one....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 195
Likes: 7
From: Sneads Ferry NC
Not sure on this one....
I was at idle in the drive way this morning checking some things on my 01 vert. I have the basic bolt ons and tune. It was kinda hot and humid here in Eastern NC and with the top down and A/C set cold with low fan I began to see either steam or smoke coming out of center vent above radio with smell of coolant faint and minor condensation around the boarder of the vent (sorry don't know tech term for that). So I checked under the hood on passenger side near condenser at firewall and some of metal tubing had minor condensation on them. Another faint smell of coolant but nothing else wet.
Is this normal? Should I be concerned?
Pulled all codes and came up none. Car and all gauges were normal and runs well. Normal idle.
Any thoughts?
Is this normal? Should I be concerned?
Pulled all codes and came up none. Car and all gauges were normal and runs well. Normal idle.
Any thoughts?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 7
From: St. Paul MN
Condensation at the vent will be normal if the HVAC is blowing air that is colder than the current dew point of the outside air (likely if it's hot and sticky, dewpoint in the 60s to 70s) since your top is down. A fog blowing from the vents may also be possible (think of opening your freezer and seeing the fog roll out). Smoke should not be possible unless the blower motor is shorting out or something in the dash is burning, and it certainly wouldn't be scented like coolant. The white mist is very likely water or coolant.
Any scent of coolant is not normal. It's supposed to be a closed system. That usually indicates heater core failure if the smell originates in the passenger compartment. The two hot pipes going through the firewall are the heater core. If they are wet with coolant, or if you have any coolant leakage in the passenger footwell area, that's your problem. If you use Defrost mode, the airborne coolant may leave a shiny residue on the windshield to also confirm the problem. If it's leaking, it won't get better by itself.
The surge tank isn't overflowing, correct? Any coolant leakage outside the car? Does the coolant level drop day after day?
Todd
Any scent of coolant is not normal. It's supposed to be a closed system. That usually indicates heater core failure if the smell originates in the passenger compartment. The two hot pipes going through the firewall are the heater core. If they are wet with coolant, or if you have any coolant leakage in the passenger footwell area, that's your problem. If you use Defrost mode, the airborne coolant may leave a shiny residue on the windshield to also confirm the problem. If it's leaking, it won't get better by itself.
The surge tank isn't overflowing, correct? Any coolant leakage outside the car? Does the coolant level drop day after day?
Todd
Last edited by toddk; Jul 14, 2012 at 01:02 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
100% 
Mine did the same thing on my trip to and from GA a week of so ago.. Looks funky doesnt it. The water vapor smell may make you think its abnormal. It does smell different when the vapor comes out of the vent. When the super cooled air hits the hot humid air, the water vapor condenses very rapidly!
I bet your fan was on medium to low.
If it smells normal after you close the car up and run the AC for a while,,, I wouldnt think that you have an issue.
If you have a bad coolant leak,, you will see it in the condensate drain that drips water on the ground when you run the AC on a humid day.
Mine did the same thing on my trip to and from GA a week of so ago.. Looks funky doesnt it. The water vapor smell may make you think its abnormal. It does smell different when the vapor comes out of the vent. When the super cooled air hits the hot humid air, the water vapor condenses very rapidly! I bet your fan was on medium to low.If it smells normal after you close the car up and run the AC for a while,,, I wouldnt think that you have an issue.
If you have a bad coolant leak,, you will see it in the condensate drain that drips water on the ground when you run the AC on a humid day.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 195
Likes: 7
From: Sneads Ferry NC
100% Mine did the same thing on my trip to and from GA a week of so ago.. Looks funky doesnt it. The water vapor smell may make you think its abnormal. It does smell different when the vapor comes out of the vent. When the super cooled air hits the hot humid air, the water vapor condenses very rapidly! I bet your fan was on medium to low.
If it smells normal after you close the car up and run the AC for a while,,, I wouldnt think that you have an issue.
If you have a bad coolant leak,, you will see it in the condensate drain that drips water on the ground when you run the AC on a humid day.
Mine did the same thing on my trip to and from GA a week of so ago.. Looks funky doesnt it. The water vapor smell may make you think its abnormal. It does smell different when the vapor comes out of the vent. When the super cooled air hits the hot humid air, the water vapor condenses very rapidly! I bet your fan was on medium to low.If it smells normal after you close the car up and run the AC for a while,,, I wouldnt think that you have an issue.
If you have a bad coolant leak,, you will see it in the condensate drain that drips water on the ground when you run the AC on a humid day.
I believe you are both right as it was hot and humid here today. I will still watch coolant levels just to ensure I am good. But no more smell or condensation and best of all, no steam or smoke.Thanks for putting my mind at ease.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 7
From: St. Paul MN
After your test-drive with no issues, I think you're out of the woods.Todd
