okay--if this is a dumba%# question, let me know, I can take it.

I checked the coolant level (engine cold) and it is just above the top of the "MIN" line.

white

 

not normal, may be seeping from heater core or could be up front (radiator, a hose or cap leaking) and just able to smell it on defrost cause it blows in your face off the window? i dunno, you should be able to smell it on the face setting also (aka panel, lol)

 

roger that stunt driver, I'll try the panel tomorrow

 

also try and see if you can smell the smell anywhere under the hood, drive your truck until it is good and hot, then park it in the driveway and turn it off, maybe you can trace teh smell that way, just a thought

 

I am thinking heater core as well....not a nice repair at all, very expensive. But you have to make sure that is what it is as most garages will want to do the heater core before looking elsewhere because it costs so much.
What year truck do you have? Even if its an '04 thats terrible.
I had a Dodge that the Chrysler dealership said the heater core was gone...$1120 Cdn to fix. Took it to just a regular garage and they changed the leaky thermostat...total cost $86!!

Hopefully you can find some kind of a leak somewhere.

 

Or it may just be the rubber hose connector to the heater core if the smeel comes back. The clamp/s may not be tight enough and the coolant is just "oozing" a little amount down to the heater core to be blown into the passenger compartment everytime you turn on the heater fan.

 

thanks gents. The Old Man and I will check it out this weekend. If I am understanding people's experiences correctly, I will not see drops/puddle from a heater core leak?

white

 

I smell coolant around the hood area and somewhat inside especially after shutting off a warm engine. More so now than in summer. You don't smell it coming from the vents, even with w/ heat on high and directed toward your nose.

Under the hood, the level never changes, no visible leaks. But odor is strong around radiator cap and overflow bottle cap.
Has been back to dealer about 4 times for this. They replaced the radiator cap and can find nor other problems.

My daughter's Expedition is the same way- strong antifreeze smell around ther hood area.

On mine I think it is just some smell escaping around the radiator and overflow caps.

 

I smell coolant around the hood area and somewhat inside especially after shutting off a warm engine. More so now than in summer. You don't smell it coming from the vents, even with w/ heat on high and directed toward your nose.

Under the hood, the level never changes, no visible leaks. But odor is strong around radiator cap and overflow bottle cap.
Has been back to dealer about 4 times for this. They replaced the radiator cap and can find nor other problems.

My daughter's Expedition is the same way- strong antifreeze smell around ther hood area.

On mine I think it is just some smell escaping around the radiator and overflow caps.

i noticed this too, the rad. cap probably isnt a perfect airtight seal and im sure some air escapes... ive noticed it on other vehicles too, but through the vents is not normal just to clarify...

 

Stunt--no noticeable smell today (just using panel vents). It was most noticeable on recent cold days (20 F or less)

 

do our trucks have an overflow? if so maybe when the heat builds up and pushes fluid into the overflow thats when we get the smell... just a thought...

 

I notice the smell of coolant while the while on defrost and heat dial turned-up. I have read the various threads about the leaking cap and radiator cooler lines and I don't have any visual signs of either leaking. I don't notice the smell while not on defrost. I also didn't notice the smell last year.

Is this smell "normal"?

thanks
white

2 years and 25k miles on my truck and ....yes, it seems to be normal on our trucks. I've noticed the same thing MANY times, especially after towing or long trips. I did have to have the radiator cap replaced once but the smell is always there. I've hed it checked, rechecked, and checked again. I've had the system pressure tested as well...all at the dealer. Nothing was found. I've never lost coolant either. So I'd replace the radiator cap just for the hell-of-it. Otherwise, if you see no leaks and the coolant level is ok, I wouldn't worry about it.

EDIT: I should add that the smell was always from the front of the truck...never smelled on the inside or coming thru the vents.

 

i just started getting the coolant smell today .. and my truck has 25 thousand miles on it.. im taking it to the dealer tomorrow and hopefully they will find somthing or atleast replace some CAPS to rull those out.
I havnt noticed anysigns of leakage...just the smell

 

2 years and 25k miles on my truck and ....yes, it seems to be normal on our trucks. I've noticed the same thing MANY times, especially after towing or long trips. I did have to have the radiator cap replaced once but the smell is always there. I've hed it checked, rechecked, and checked again. I've had the system pressure tested as well...all at the dealer. Nothing was found. I've never lost coolant either. So I'd replace the radiator cap just for the hell-of-it. Otherwise, if you see no leaks and the coolant level is ok, I wouldn't worry about it.

EDIT: I should add that the smell was always from the front of the truck...never smelled on the inside or coming thru the vents.

Exact same thing here (except at 17k miles). I've cranked the heat a few times this winter so far and havent smelled coolant though. I would take it in to the dealer for that.

 

after looking at the second pic of the first post in this thread
http://www.titantalk.com/forums/tit...l-discussion/48432-leaks-should-i-concerned-see-attached.html?highlight=coolant

i seem to have the same COOLANT LEAK
here are some pics .. mine seems further along than the other guys truck in the thread i posted. i know the pics get a little redundant but you get the idea.

 

after looking at the second pic of the first post in this thread
http://www.titantalk.com/forums/tit...l-discussion/48432-leaks-should-i-concerned-see-attached.html?highlight=coolant

i seem to have the same COOLANT LEAK
here are some pics .. mine seems further along than the other guys truck in the thread i posted. i know the pics get a little redundant but you get the idea.

Isn't that the tranny oil cooler line or oil cooler? Doesn't look like a coolant line.

 

Isn't that the tranny oil cooler line or oil cooler? Doesn't look like a coolant line.

im not sure. I just assumed that the first guy who took the pic on the other thread new what he was talking about.

ANYONE ELSE CARE TO CHIME IN ON WHAT THIS LINE IS?

 

Import

Yes, we have the same leak. After my initial post on this thread, I asked the dealer to pressure test the system to see if my heater core was leaking. They pressure tested the system yesterday to 16 lbs and said there are no leaks. Then I noticed the hose last night, which I am sure wasn't there before, and then tonight the main black hose running from the radiator to the engine I noticed has antifreeze caked on it. No wonder I smell coolant! I know these guys aren't pulling down big bucks but clean up after yourself when you are done! Now I don't know if the mess and the leak on smaller hose was caused by the pressure test/messy mechanic or if they are really leaking!

Thoughts/comments on spraying the engine down with water to see if the leaks come back? I hate spraying the engine down with all of the wiring under the hood.

I do not know if this is the tranny cooler line in my pic and in imports (tranny cooler used radiator coolant, correct?)

thanks
white

 

thanks for the info whiteLE .. I havnt had the pressure test done yet and i have the leak and the little puddle on the splash-gaurd under the hose. I guess i should point out what i have found or should i let them tell me what and or where they found it....just to see if they even bring up that leak.

 

so it turns out i have a crack in my radiator. they did not tell me what or why the hose is leaking .. they did the pressure test and saw a slow drip coming from the radiator. I diddnt see it for myself.

so anyohter problem came up. while checking into my extended warranty they tell me that my warranty was canceled on 04/17/04... about one month after purchasing my truck. however in checking with my bank .. they did not recieve a REFUND CHECK in the amount specified for the extended warranty .
I dont have an answer yet as to what happened and or why it happened. BUt i was told that the only way an extended warranty can be canceled is if the CUSTOMER signs off on it . ANd i did NO such a thing ...

they are supposed to be getting back to me but not for a few hours

anyway the cost of fixing without a warranty would be 785 and some change.

WHat should i do WHo should i talk to and should i make another thread on this as a seperate issue?

 

Unlike some other makers, Nissan doesn't usually screw the customer due to their mistake. Wait and see what they say, then go from there. Good luck!

 

yeah give them a chance to make it right and go from there... i doubt they will screw you over, especially if they cant produce a document where you signed off saying you wanted to cancel...

 

Well As Stupid As This Makes Me Look ... My Wife And I Recieved A Fax From The Dealership With Both Of Our Sigs On The Bottom Of The Cancellation Form ..... But Neither Of Us Can Remeber For The Life Of Us, Signing That Paper ... .. But Even Though They Found That Document With Our Sigs They Still Have Some Explaining To Do About The Cost Of The Extended Warranty Not Being Taken Off The Financing ..... So In Other Words Were Paying "x" Amount For A Warranty That We Dont Even Have ... And There Was No Check Sent Back Ot The Bank In The Sum Of Thewarranty Cost.

Now This Is Unofficial But The Guy I Spoke To Said If They Dont Find Any Proof Of A Check Being Sent Then They Will Either Cut Me A Check In That Amount Or Reimburse The Amount That Ive Paid In Financing The Cost Of The Warranty And Take Off The Cost Of The Warranty From The Original Finance Charges .... Or They Will Reinstate The Warranty ..... But All Of That Is Up In The Air Until Monday.

So They Also Seem To Want To Work With Me On The Cost Of The Repair.. If Things Go Another Route.....becuase I Got It Diagnosed At Another Dealership And I Think They Want To Beat There Price Or Somthing Like That Because They Keep Asking Me What They Quoted Me Over There.

Well Im Sorry For All The Cpas .. I Just Noticed It....

 

import

I learned a few valuable lessons tonight from my dealer:

1. The coolant hose leak we have is not a coolant leak but a power steering fluid leak. Bring it in and they will order you a new hose. First pic--power steering hose.

2. What I thought was caked on coolant on the main hose is actually a protectant applied to the hose that makes it last longer. Note the picture "Christmas2006" and you will see where I have rubbed it off on the top right while the unrubbed portion still appears dirty. When you rub it, your finger will have a green residue on it. Does everyone's hose look like this? (no sick comments here, please, this is serious business).

3. Don't ever take a water hose to the engine to clean it. (my other cars have been old)


thanks
white

 

AWSOME... nissan was able to reinstate my extended warranty..
but it takes 30 days for the warrenty to take effect...so they are going to fix it and sit on the bill ... i still have to pay my deductable but thats nothing compared to the cost of fixing it. .. i assume that they did not ever find a check and thought it would be easier to just reinstate .. either way im happy.

oh and the other good news is the radiator is in stock.