Hey all 2 days ago I noticed a distinct coolant smell while I've been driving, she hasn't over heated at all and seems to be running fine.

I managed to nail it down to the air con. The smell only comes on when the car is at running temperature and I turn the air con on.

I'm wondering if anyone could tell me how this smell is occurring as it's starting to worry me?

Thanks I'm advance


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13 year old car, quite possibly the heater core has corroded.
No damp carpets under the dash?

If it's only when the aircon is on & you aren't losing coolant then it may just be dust/funky stuff on the aircon evaporator. Spray into the a/c intake with Glen20 while the fan is running and see if that helps.

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A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.

Sounds similar to these cases, which was a Heater Core problem. http://www.perth-wrx.com/vb/mechanic...foot-well.html & http://www.perth-wrx.com/vb/mechanic...ing-issue.html

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[I]and then we discovered it wasn't the Robot King after all, it was the real one. Fortunately I was able to reattach the head.[/I]

Thanks guys, I'm going to bypass the heater core this weekend and check for cabin leaks


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defs sounds like heater core, had the same issue, its expensive to get fixed too!! i found mine didnt have any leaks on the passenger footwell, ill find a photo to show you of where i looked to find my leak!

edited**
imag0735 shows the heater core, you can see it if you get under the passenger dash where the carpet goes up. Then imag0736 shows the actual heater core, looks fine, but if you look at the plastic tray stuck to it, you can see green coolant


or go to bunnings, get a $15 globe that is UV and then put it in a lmap, then use the lamp to find the leak, the coolant comes up brighter and more fluoro with a UV globe, the globe was the best thing i bought, shows aircon leaks, oil leaks, quite a few leaks come up with it!

Nelson 20W BC Blacklight Round Globe I/N 7076965 | Bunnings Warehouse

Attached Thumbnails

   

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2002 WRX (GDA) BUGEYE, 204BHP at 290Nm, daily driven

--MODS--
--> Walbro 255LPH fuel pump
--> Grimmspeed 3 port EBCS
--> 3" turbo back exhaust
--> Catless up pipe

Ok thanks man! I'm getting more hose tomorrow so I can do a bypass,

Did urs over heat at all when u found the coolant leak and heater core?

Cause I lost all my water in a day and started over heating


using the Perth-WRX mobile app

A good idea, will try that myself!

no worries Jezza, globe is the best thing i ever bought!! and it looks like i am having a black light party

but to the original post, no my car didnt overheat, it would loose about the size of the reserve tank every day or so, but mine was a very small leak! some leaks are quite bad, usually if you lost coolant and it over heated its a heater core, mao at evo r does them quite cheap in comparison to other garages, and stay away from subaru unless your are a millioniare, dont get a second hand one as once they are 10+ years old, they usually corrode anyways as mentioned so you could buy a new "second hand one", and pay $800 in labour to install it and it breaks again, however expect to pay quite a bit as it takes 6-7 hours to remove the dash, etc (well thats what they told me anyways)... is the passenger footwell wet? can you see coolant under the carpet (the one that sits under your actual floor mat) near where the heater core is?

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2002 WRX (GDA) BUGEYE, 204BHP at 290Nm, daily driven

--MODS--
--> Walbro 255LPH fuel pump
--> Grimmspeed 3 port EBCS
--> 3" turbo back exhaust
--> Catless up pipe

Thanks for you're help guys! I bypassed the heater core and it's been awesome since! Haven't lost coolant, hasn't over heated so all good!



using the Perth-WRX mobile app

Now to cry in the corner when you get the heater core replaced if you choose too, if you get yellowed and go through pits they test demister and you'll fail due to no heat

using the Perth-WRX mobile app

__________________
2002 WRX (GDA) BUGEYE, 204BHP at 290Nm, daily driven

--MODS--
--> Walbro 255LPH fuel pump
--> Grimmspeed 3 port EBCS
--> 3" turbo back exhaust
--> Catless up pipe