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Jim
Grant has been working in the automotive industry for over twenty
years. In addition, Jim is an ASE Master Technician with advanced
L/1 certification. He works as manager and technician in his
family's automotive business in New Hampshire. He writes weekly
automotive consumer columns and is editor of an automotive newsletter
that is circulated throughout North America. |
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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
94
Chrysler Concorde, Smelly Windshield
Q: When I turn on the
heater or defroster on my '94 Chrysler Concorde, I get a smelly substance
on the inside of the windshield. What is this and how can I fix it? ...Melanie
A: From
the description it's possible that the heater core is leaking engine coolant.
A failing heater core will allow engine coolant (anti-freeze) vapor to
be blown onto the inside of the windshield. Engine coolant vapor will
form a film on the inside of the windshield that's a little difficult
to remove and sometimes has a sweet smell to it. One of our wreckers had
a heater core that was starting to fail. From time to time the windshield
would fog over with the defroster on during warm-up. After working on
everyone else's vehicles during the day the last thing you want to do
is work on your own. It's the Cobbler's kids and their shoe story. After
all, the Cobbler needed his fishing, boating, NASCAR, etc., time. As fate
would have it, about 20 miles from shop, on a cold winter morning the
heater core in the wrecker let go big time! The windshield was immediately
a fog wall and the cab of the wrecker filled with a dense and choking
white coolant vapor. To keep the entertainment flowing I was traveling
at a good clip, in heavy traffic with a vehicle in tow. Do you know why
dogs don't stick their heads out of car windows in winter? It's cause
the windows are up. Needless to say the wrecker was safely stopped and
temporary roadside repairs were made. The heater hoses were pinched shut
with a pair of vice grips. The rest of the trip back to the shop was uneventful
and with no heat. Have your heater core checked and if necessary replaced.
As for fixing it yourself? Some heater cores are difficult to access and
require time and patience.
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