Whelp....it's that time for us in the north.

[Regimof]

It's getting colder and it was decided that this past weekend was the final weekend for 2016. Cleaned it up, took the battery out and littered it with mouse traps....stupid rodents....
Anyway, as I was puttin around with it the weekend prior I started to notice the smell of coolant coming into the cab. I thought I noticed it before, but it was so intermittent that I thought I was being paranoid. That and the fact that there were no signs or puddles anywhere (even as we speak) I didn't think much of it. It happens with the top in or out, heat on or off. Temp goes up and down like always (never gets close to the danger zone). Any thoughts on where to look?

Another quibble is the door chime. It's pretty sad sounding. Granted this is gonna be pretty low on the priority list (fuel pump, tires...whatever that burble is in the motor..) but it'd be nice. Is this readily purchasable?

[-=Jeff=-]

Another quibble is the door chime. It's pretty sad sounding. Granted this is gonna be pretty low on the priority list (fuel pump, tires...whatever that burble is in the motor..) but it'd be nice. Is this readily purchasable?

I think used is the only way to go for a chime module.. I just swapped mine and now I think it is column related as it works if I mess with the key

keep in mind Dash pad needs to come out for the chime.. I suggest if you have to do the Heater core, do the chime at the same time

[GOLDCYLON]

I think used is the only way to go for a chime module.. I just swapped mine and now I think it is column related as it works if I mess with the key

keep in mind Dash pad needs to come out for the chime.. I suggest if you have to do the Heater core, do the chime at the same time

I suggest unplugging it. But used is the only option for replacement. Its just below the top of the dash. Above the radio above the LTPMS module. If I remember correctly its attached to the top of that module. Seperated by a piece of grey foam. GC

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

On a C-4, if you smell it, it is there.
First, have you had any fogging of the windshield, even a little bit, when you turn on the defroster, A/C, or heat?
Second, puddles are rare. we usually find some minimal dampness in the carpet or under padding directly beneath the area where the heater core lives.
Left to it's own, the dampness will continue to get larger and more noticeable as the leak grows.
We have had some success ( although I hate to use that word here) pumping the system pressure a few pounds higher than the 15-16 it runs at, in order to confirm the evidence of coolant intrusion to the passenger compartment, but the whiff of it early on, would be good enough for me.
We seem to be having more and more C-4's coming in for it, and yes, it is quite a job.
Winter layover would be a great time to replace it.

We ZR-1 owners are well known for replacing parts in a preemptive manner.
I cannot think of a better part to do this with than the heater core on a 25 year old car, unless you are looking for a reason to replace the carpet.

If you choose to wait, I would at least feel around the carpet weekly once you have had the trace of coolant smell.

Sorry for the make work news, but better than trying to rid the interior of anti freeze odor, and heaven help you if it is something with a worse odor such as the evans-waterless coolant, great stuff, but hard as heck to get that smell out if it.

:cheers:

Marty



It's getting colder and it was decided that this past weekend was the final weekend for 2016. Cleaned it up, took the battery out and littered it with mouse traps....stupid rodents....
Anyway, as I was puttin around with it the weekend prior I started to notice the smell of coolant coming into the cab. I thought I noticed it before, but it was so intermittent that I thought I was being paranoid. That and the fact that there were no signs or puddles anywhere (even as we speak) I didn't think much of it. It happens with the top in or out, heat on or off. Temp goes up and down like always (never gets close to the danger zone). Any thoughts on where to look?

Another quibble is the door chime. It's pretty sad sounding. Granted this is gonna be pretty low on the priority list (fuel pump, tires...whatever that burble is in the motor..) but it'd be nice. Is this readily purchasable?

[GOLDCYLON]

Samco hoses users complain of this glycol smell as well. if you have regular hoses, its prob a small heater core leak

[-=Jeff=-]

Samco hoses users complain of this glycol smell as well. if you have regular hoses, its prob a small heater core leak

yep, I get the smell under the hood with my Samco, not in car though

[Regimof]

I think used is the only way to go for a chime module.. I just swapped mine and now I think it is column related as it works if I mess with the key

keep in mind Dash pad needs to come out for the chime.. I suggest if you have to do the Heater core, do the chime at the same time

Is this a recommendation to check the heater core

[Regimof]

Ok.

So getting at said core is ... quite a project?

[-=Jeff=-]

Is this a recommendation to check the heater core

nope, more of before you pull the dash pad for a chime, verify you need the heater core too.. no sense taking the pad off more than needed

[Billy Mild]

On a C-4, if you smell it, it is there.
First, have you had any fogging of the windshield, even a little bit, when you turn on the defroster, A/C, or heat?
Second, puddles are rare. we usually find some minimal dampness in the carpet or under padding directly beneath the area where the heater core lives.
Left to it's own, the dampness will continue to get larger and more noticeable as the leak grows.
We have had some success ( although I hate to use that word here) pumping the system pressure a few pounds higher than the 15-16 it runs at, in order to confirm the evidence of coolant intrusion to the passenger compartment, but the whiff of it early on, would be good enough for me.
We seem to be having more and more C-4's coming in for it, and yes, it is quite a job.
Winter layover would be a great time to replace it.

We ZR-1 owners are well known for replacing parts in a preemptive manner.
I cannot think of a better part to do this with than the heater core on a 25 year old car, unless you are looking for a reason to replace the carpet.

If you choose to wait, I would at least feel around the carpet weekly once you have had the trace of coolant smell.

Sorry for the make work news, but better than trying to rid the interior of anti freeze odor, and heaven help you if it is something with a worse odor such as the evans-waterless coolant, great stuff, but hard as heck to get that smell out if it.

:cheers:

Marty

I seem to have this once in a while, but not any smell of coolant inside really. I wonder if my heater core needs to be replaced.

[GOLDCYLON]

nope, more of before you pull the dash pad for a chime, verify you need the heater core too.. no sense taking the pad off more than needed

Concur. Too early in the assessment yet. You haven't answered the hoses question yet either

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

If you smell coolant.
If the smell is in the passenger compartment with windows closed.
If you have a 25 year old heater core.
Then you would be wise to investigate it fully.
I will say again, it is becoming one of the most common repairs that we are making.
Most all customer complaints start out the same way.
" Months ago I started to notice an intermittent coolant odor".

The core costs under $150.00.

Replacing it before it damages all that lives down there would not be a bad choice.

[dredgeguy]

I agree with Marty, ask me how I know......first was the smell of coolant, then the windshield fogged up. I found green streaking of coolant under the passenger side firewall. The heater core is not expensive but it is a job. Thanks to Wazoo group for doing mine last year during one of our maintenance days. It took 10 hours.

[GOLDCYLON]

Ok.

So getting at said core is ... quite a project?

Yes Cliff posted up (Dynomite) a how do it from the underside vs. pulling the dash I suggest you look for that thread

The biggest joke in the C4 community is that GM Engineers designed the rest of the C4 around the heater core. Bluntly its a PITA job

[Dynomite]

Yes Cliff posted up (Dynomite) a how do it from the underside vs. pulling the dash I suggest you look for that thread

The biggest joke in the C4 community is that GM Engineers designed the rest of the C4 around the heater core. Bluntly its a PITA job

Replacing the Heater Core and Heater Hose Connection (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-zr-1-discussion/3005470-tech-info-lt5-modifications-rebuild-tricks-500-hp-7.html#post1585219751)

[Regimof]

I have no clue what hoses they are.

Heater core job it is. Problem is I don't know that I'm terribly qualified for a job that big. Yikes

[GOLDCYLON]

I have no clue what hoses they are.

Heater core job it is. Problem is I don't know that I'm terribly qualified for a job that big. Yikes

Go boldly :)