coolant smell mystery

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Jun 9, 2003 | 10:05 AM

skidmarc

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Drifting

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From: Ocean County NJ

coolant smell mystery

Ok guys I have had this C5 since October and along with it a mysterious ..lol....coolant smell........no leaks....and the coolant level isnt dropping that I have noticed.....replaced the res cap....

Any ideas????? Could it be the waterpump?????? No fogging up on the windshield...and not smelt in car so I do not believe its the heater core....

Jun 9, 2003 | 10:47 AM

'97 C5

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From: Santa Clarita Ca

Re: coolant smell mystery (skidmarc)

I had same condition and it turned out to be coolant leaking past the oring that seals the steel plate to the back of the water pump. Large enough to let coolant leak onto the hot the engine and stink like hell - and small enough to be hard to find.

[Modified by '97 C5, 7:49 AM 6/9/2003]

Jun 10, 2003 | 11:03 AM

skidmarc

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From: Ocean County NJ

Re: coolant smell mystery ('97 C5)

thanks bud...did ya have any visible leaks???

if not how do I get the dealer to fix it under warranty???? lol

Jun 10, 2003 | 12:47 PM

Got uid0

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St. Jude Donor '17

Re: coolant smell mystery (skidmarc)

probably a leak out of the weep hole on the water pump and burns off so you never see it and it only occurs of course while driving..

Jun 16, 2003 | 10:09 AM

skidmarc

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From: Ocean County NJ

Re: coolant smell mystery (knowledgefreak)

I am having the dealer install a new waterpump under warranty...hopefully no coolant smell mystery anymo..lol Better to change it b4 it fails and I get stuck..lol

Jun 19, 2003 | 01:30 AM

EHS

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Re: coolant smell mystery (skidmarc)

This is pretty typical for your car's model year. Usually comes from a split hose behind the fuse section in the passenger foot well, I would be careful you don't fry the wiring -- park it and have a competent dealer look at it.

Jun 20, 2003 | 11:37 AM

skidmarc

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From: Ocean County NJ

Re: coolant smell mystery (EHS)

HMMM....any idea on how to get to it? do you have to remove fuse panel or go from wheel well?
thanks bud

Jun 20, 2003 | 12:56 PM

tpocock

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From: Glendale CA

Re: coolant smell mystery (skidmarc)

I had a problem like this on an old Honda which turned out to be a hair line crack in the plastic radiator reservoir which only opened up when it was hot and the coolant pressure as high. It did not show any signs of leakage and it passed a standard pressure test.
I found it by running a pressure test at 5 pounds over the max pressure recommended in the manual. This opened the crack enough for it to be detected.
This would also demonstrate the leak through the weap hole or a hair line crack in one of the hoses.