Weird smell coming out of the 97

[94SilverSSEi]

There is a weird smell coming out of the 97 and after you smell it for a while with all the windows shut it starts to make you sick

I know it is NOT:
Burning Oil
or any kind of gas fumes


Does really smell like coolant either cuz its not real strong like coolant but it kinda makes you sick-might be exhuast
I really have no clue what it could be
Also this only happens when the heat is on-If the ac is on or nothing is on the smell is not there
Cars runs really good no noises or anything recently change valve cover gaskets like 2 months ago

[wake]

quick question..hows it running? how black is the inside of the exhaust pipe..and does the exhaust leak any water/oil?

[wjcollier07]

Smell like eggs does it?

[94SilverSSEi]

No not like eggs. Its not really nasty smelling its just bad it kinda makes u sick after a while that why i was wondering if it could be exhuast or something

idk about the echaust it seems to run normal and doesnt blow anything weird

[wake]

hows the antifreeze? please tell me its green not red
and is your oil milky?

i could be wrong here but if you say you only smell it when the heat or ac is on..that makes me personally think coolant problems..hows the passenger side carpet? dry i hope

[sonoma_zr2]

sounds like your heater core burst a leak. passenger floor should be wet.

[94SilverSSEi]

I recently took out the whole interior. And both passenger and driver floor were wet but I suspected coffee or something as it looked like there had been as explosion of coffe throughout the car. Don't know. The coolant might have went down a tad but nothing noticeable. If it was the heater core wouldn't I not get heat? Cuz my heat blows really hot.
How could I check to see if it is coolant problems or heater core?

It does have red. But the uim was put on in 06 but there has been 90+k put on the car since then.

[RJolly87]

Have you done the intake gaskets yet? I smelled what smelled like coolant that was burning before a friend of mine's cut loose.

[reb]

Any film residue building up on the interior side of the windshield glass?

[94SilverSSEi]

No film residue on windshield. Haven't changed intake gaskets but they go about 90-100k on them. But it's was all highways and and put on. In 3 years.

[Bugsi]

I'd bet money on heater core leak.

[94SilverSSEi]

Also the coolant does go down a very tiny bit. It takes about 2 weeks to get about 1/4 below the cold mark.
I didnt notice it at first but after checking after a couple weeks realized it was losing a tiny bit every once in a while


Also how would I check and see if it is the heater core for sure?

[bobfather99]

Coolant pressure tester might work in this situation.

One more thing to check is the little weep hole for the A/C system. My mom and dad had a Malibu that leaked from the little fitting, it dripped condensation onto the carpet.

Hate for you to tear out the heater core when its something like that!!

[94SilverSSEi]

Where is this weep hole located?

[00Beast]

I doubt it'd smell, though. The A/C just drips water that condenses on the condensor. I'd also clean your EVAP as shown in Techinfo.

[Ol' Timer]

One more thing to check is the little weep hole for the A/C system. My mom and dad had a Malibu that leaked from the little fitting, it dripped condensation onto the carpet.
Hate for you to tear out the heater core when its something like that!!

That weep hole was/is the a/c evaporator drain tube connection. It was probably disconnected and the water drained onto the floor/carpet.

I'd bet money on heater core leak.

x2

[bobfather99]

The a/c evaporator should drip near the back of the firewall on the drivers side. You should see the end of a tube sticking out of the firewall lower to the ground.

If this leaks, the water would smell a little funky if it allows to stand for while. Just something to check before you tear into the heater core.

[94SilverSSEi]

Update

within about 2-3 weeks my coolant level has went down about 1 inch although it has been mighty cold the last couple days.

Any thoughts?



I'm started to get worried that my gaskets are taking a crap but I want to eliminate everything else first.

[00Beast]

Coolant leak + smell = Heater Core. Check your passenger side floor again, I bet it's wet.

[rogers9c1]

how are your rear wheel well's? mine were rusted out thus letting water under the rear seat giving off a mold like sent, just some thing for you to check. good luck