I'm hoping you can figure this out...

Kellendros · 10-30-2005, 12:53 AM

Ok, I got a 96 SL2, 160K on it and it's leaking coolant. Now get this. It's not leaking coolant like you'd expect. It's leaking coolant vapors. I can smell the vapors on the inside of my car. And at night, the vapors seep into the cabin of the car from my vents and fogs up the winshield so bad I can't see the road. Even with all the windows down and the defroster running at full blast, the winshield still fogs up, BAD!

So, I checked the hoses, the radiator and bought a new radiator cap. Can't find any cracks or leaks. There isn't any coolant on the pavement from my parking spot. It's clean as a whistle. But I know what evaporating coolant smells like and it's definitley coolant. And of course my coolant levels drop consistantly so have to keep refilling it.

Are any hoses or tubes that run behind the engine that I can't see that run coolant through them. As far as I remember from replacing my radiator a few years back there are two main hoses that run to and from the radiator. A friend of mine suggested that it might be a problem with the heating coils. Now what are heating coils and how would I go about figuring out if this is the problem or not. How hard is it to replace something like this.

All opinions and help are most welcome.

PurdueGuy · 10-30-2005, 12:57 AM

sounds like the heater core to me...

Robert-sl2 · 10-30-2005, 03:23 AM

definately sounds like the heater coil. the heater coil is under the dash. your heated coolant runs through it then the fan (for your heat/AC) draws air over it to be heated then that air comes out your vents. as for how hard it is to replace, I do not know, I am sure someone will replay who has done this job before.

Rob

**Ssicarman** · 10-30-2005, 08:57 PM

Classic symptoms of a leaking heater core. Not extremely difficult to replace but can be a pain getting heater box covers and screws and other parts off and out of the way. Most of the work is done from the drivers side foot well.

Kellendros · 11-01-2005, 08:24 AM

So do you think it's just the heater core or are there hoses and what not that go to and from the core that might need replacing also? Or maybe all of the above?

PurdueGuy · 11-01-2005, 02:23 PM

probably just the core.

**Ssicarman** · 11-02-2005, 03:16 AM

The only hoses to the heater core are the ones on the engine side of the firewall. The metal tubing of the heater core goes through the firewall.

Artificialist · 11-14-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kellendros

So do you think it's just the heater core or are there hoses and what not that go to and from the core that might need replacing also? Or maybe all of the above?

Well, from my experience, it depends on the age of the hoses.

Hoses that aren't old will go back on just fine, but if they are old, they may crack, or they may not effectively clamp on the fittings.

I'd reccomend looking at the hoses, and if there is a pronounced bulge in front of the hose clamp, cracking aft of the hose clamp, or the hose feels very unflexible, buy some new heater hoses and clamps.

lcdrgas · 01-10-2006, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ssicarman

Classic symptoms of a leaking heater core. Not extremely difficult to replace but can be a pain getting heater box covers and screws and other parts off and out of the way. Most of the work is done from the drivers side foot well.

Can you give some detailed instructions?......Coolant is allover the passenger floorboard.

Thanks

gn85 · 01-10-2006, 07:34 PM

I wouldn't wait. It's a slow leak now.. but I've seen them let go when driving down the road. Just imagine your windows fogging over totally. Defrost can not clear it and you're trying to drive. Can be dangerous and when you least expect it.