Heater smells like coolant

[drummerpunk]

I have a 99 s10 xtreme, xcab 4.3v6 auto with 111k miles.

I used to love this truck, but after replacing more parts than the truck is worth, i dont like it anymore. Im trying to fix a couple things so I can sell it. Maybe you guys can help me out on this. (heater core?)

My heater works, but reaks of coolant. When I turn the defrost on, it instantly fogs up my windows like it is blowing moisture. There is no visible leaks, no wet carpet, no spots on the garage floor.

heres the annoying history of my coolant problems. year ago, water pump blew up. radiator was all gummed up with brown ****.... flushed it all out. few months later, it was overheating, and the radiator cracked, gummed up again, i got a new radiator. couple months later, leak in the manafold, took it to the chevy shop where they bent me over backwards and had their way with my wallet.

from what i have heard, you have to take the whole dash out to get to the heater core, so i hope its not that. anyone else have this problem?

[Sparky2263]

Yeah, it's kind of a pain, but not a real big deal.

It's summertime, why not just bypass it for now?

[drummerpunk]

Im selling it. no one wants a truck that smells like coolant. :(

[Sparky2263]

Labor guide says 10.5 hrs. Damn.

REMOVAL PROCEDURE


Remove the instrument panel. See: Instrument Panel (IP) Carrier Replacement (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/34865608/34866019/34849527/85500242)
Drain the engine coolant. Refer to Draining and Filling Cooling System (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/73661385/34856156) in Engine Cooling.
On vehicles with automatic climate control only, cut (1) the outer layer of the A/C evaporator and blower module in order to access the service access cover. Refer to Blower Motor and Fan Replacement See: Blower Motor\Service and Repair (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/34865608/34865794/34849524)
On vehicles with automatic climate control only, remove the service access cover mounting screws.
On vehicles with automatic climate control only, remove the service access cover.
On vehicles without automatic climate control, remove the blower motor resistor. IMPORTANT: Mark and use the same mounting bolt (located behind the A/C evaporator and blower module) for the heater assembly during the installation process. Other mounting bolts are longer and will obstruct the operation of the temperature door.
Remove the heat/vent module mounting bolt through the blower motor resistor or service access cover opening.
On vehicles with A/C only, remove the right wheel house panel.
On vehicles with A/C only, raise and support vehicle.
On vehicles with A/C only, remove the front right tire.
On the Bravada/Blazer/Envoy/Jimmy only, remove the A/C evaporator and blower module heat shield (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/73661385/34856670/56190781) screws.
On the Bravada/Blazer/Envoy/Jimmy only, slide the A/C evaporator and blower module heat shield (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/73661385/34856670/56190781) toward the front of the vehicle.
Remove the 2 lower heat/vent module mounting nuts.
On the Bravada/Blazer/Envoy/Jimmy only, remove the A/C evaporator and blower module heat shield (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/73661385/34856670/56190781) bracket.
Remove the bottom right heat/vent module mounting bolt from inside the vehicle. IMPORTANT: The heat/vent mounting stud has a flange on the inside and cannot be removed from under the hood. Stop turning the stud after the threads are off the heat/vent module.
On the Bravada/Blazer/Envoy/Jimmy only, while an assistant inside the vehicle pulls the bottom right corner of the heat/vent module approximately 1 inch back, remove the 2 heat/vent module mounting studs.
On vehicles with A/C only, lower the vehicle.
On vehicles with a 2.2L engine only, remove the engine wiring harness bracket located at the rear of the intake manifold (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/73661385/34853743/34855755).
Remove the heat/vent module mounting bolt located at the lower left side of the heater core to heater hose (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/34865608/34866063) connection.
Remove the heat/vent module mounting nut located at the lower right side of the heater core to heater connection. IMPORTANT: The heat/vent mounting stud has a flange on the inside and cannot be removed from under the hood. Stop turning the stud after the threads are off the heat/vent module.
On the Bravada/Blazer/Envoy/Jimmy only, loosen the heat/vent module mounting studs until the threads are free from the heat/vent module.
Disconnect all of the electrical connectors from the heat/vent module.
Disconnect all of the vacuum lines from the heater assembly.
Disconnect the heater hoses (http://alldatapro.com/alldata/PRO~V55658774~C33155~R0~OD~N/0/70910848/92030918/92030919/92031014/34853741/34865608/34866063) from the heater core.
Remove the heat/vent module from the vehicle.

[Mikz86TA]

First problem you should have taken care of many miles ago was flushing out the Dex-Cool brown coolant. Put in regular green coolant in its place after a thourough flush. There were probably signs of neglect causing your water pump to fail. The design is perfect and rarely fails. It is also designed to let you know if it is on the way out. Most cooling system failures is due to high milage and lack of maintenence. Since you have had every other item in the coolant system fail, it is no suprise your heater core is bad. Since Sparky has given you the full-scale info on the fix, you should know now what is needed to be done. In the future remember this and also the motto : Maintenence is Cheaper than Repair.

[Blazer69]

i bypassed mine till fall and did the heater core on a saturday...no biggie...

[drummerpunk]

thanks sparky. When you say bypass do you mean you disconnected it, or what? If I could just disconnect it and tell who ever buys it, it has no heater, that would be better than it smelling like coolant. after all, I live in San Diego.

[Hammer Head]

Yea, just unhook the heater core lines at the firewall & just run one from the water pump back to the other one, bypassing the heater core. It's really easy to do.

[Mikz86TA]

youll need a fitting to connect the 2 hoses.

[Hammer Head]

Yea, you could do that, too. But there's a chance it'll leak at that coupler.

[hop]

Don't let anyone fool you. The heater core is a B&^** to change. And I don't think that it's a 'perfect' sys that works well w/proper maint. My sys is maintained and still, the water pump failed. Then one of the hoses leaked. Then the radiator went. Then the heater core went. There was a freakin' gazillion screws that took an insane scientist to find to get the dash out. What a pita!

There are two hoses going into the firewall in front of the passenger seat. Unhook them and cut about an inch off of one. Take that piece to a plumbing shop and ask for a nipple to splice them togethor. Get two of those radiator clamps (but smaller so they fit the hoses) and splice it togethor and dump the beast as quick as you can. If you're not sure of which hoses, take the POS to any shop and ask them to point them out. Even the people at auto zone can help you with this.

Give the sucker a good deal because you know that he's gonna have trouble.