Being poisoned sucks

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 12/02/2019 at 11:53 • Filed to: None

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I’m getting blasts of coolant through the HVAC from time to time. Not loving it, as it makes me tired and my vision go funky. Pretty sure its either getting drawn in from the outside vent (though I can’t see a place it would be leaking) or its a cracked heater core (woo hoo!).

The good news is that I have a totally independent heater core under the passenger seat that I can turn on to heat the car...but its not as powerful and takes a while to do its thing.

Really hoping it’ s just a minor underhood leak that is being drawn into the intake and I don’t have to do this.

Its a good thing its not snowy and cold though...

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:08

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I had something like that in my first XJ. It suckedddd. Give me really b ad headaches.

dumpsterfire! > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:13

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C arbon monoxide?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:14

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Man, that thing has been giving you coolant/cooling issues on and off for too long now. Time for a 2UZ swap

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/02/2019 at 12:20

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ugh, cooling systems on these things...  I finally got the engine cooling solved, now this.

HammerheadFistpunch > dumpsterfire! 12/02/2019 at 12:20

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no, its for sure coolant.  I smell it, then shortly after symptoms start.  

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 12/02/2019 at 12:21

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was it the heater core?

functionoverfashion > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:22

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Ugh. Our Volvo’s blower fan is doing a great squeaking sound, but only sometimes, of course, becoming more and more frequent and more infuriating. Can’t imagine what’s involved in that job, though perhaps less than a heater core?! I can dream. 

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:27

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Until you get it fixed, fill the cooling system with cheap vodka. That way when it leaks you’ll get a pleasant buzz on.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:31

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How involved is the heater core on these? Both heater cores that I’ve ever replaced were basically 4 simple steps.

1) disconnect heater core from inside engine bay

2) remove glove box

3) remove panel behind glove box

4) remove heater core

Both involved only removing a couple house clamps and few screws.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:34

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Year/Make/Model? I’ll have a look at the plumbing layout. 

RallyWrench > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:34

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Sorry to hear, I can attest that breathing vaporized coolant is no fun. And a failed core sucks . Are you seeing any coolant inside the car or fogging the windshield?

Also, I saw this come up locally and thought of you:

https://slo.craigslist.org/cto/d/san-luis-obispo-1997-toyota-land/7028147199.html

HammerheadFistpunch > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/02/2019 at 12:37

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dash out.

HammerheadFistpunch > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 12/02/2019 at 12:37

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I’ve got the FSM for this, im just hoping its NOT the heater core.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:38

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oof

HammerheadFistpunch > RallyWrench 12/02/2019 at 12:40

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Im not seeing any coolant, and there is no fogging outside of the normal (my car is less waterproof than it used to be around the glass).

decent price on that 40th. Though I’ m not sure what a lock out deferential is. Optionally respectful?

HammerheadFistpunch > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/02/2019 at 12:45

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yeah.  Not into that at all.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:47

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If there’s no external leak under-hood ...my vote goes to t o the heater core leaking. I get very few Toyotas through our shop, but I can’t see any other way it’s getting in there.

HammerheadFistpunch > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 12/02/2019 at 12:49

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The hope is that there is a heater control valve right next to the fresh air intake under the hood and if its dripping there it will hit something hot right away and vent into the car.  The valve is good and easy to get at.

LastFirstMI is my name > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/02/2019 at 12:52

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My experience (all pre-1979 cars and trucks) is that they place the heater core on the assembly line first, then build the car around it. 

Pickup_man > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:52

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My money is on heater core starting to go out. Had similar symptoms with my ‘99 F-150, twice. It starts with just a faint hint of smell, and worsens over time. The first time it got bad enough that it eventually fogged the windshield, by the second time I knew early enough that that’s what was happening. I never had coolant on the carpets.

Dash out heater core replacements suuuuuucccccckkk, I’ve done it twice. My one piece of advice is to very thoroughly clean and flush the cooling system. The first time I did mine I didn’t clean the system very well at all, and it was only 3 -4 years later before the second core failed.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:56

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R eplace the coolant with scented essential oil, swap to Lexus badges and you’re stylin’

Future next gen S2000 owner > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:56

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Or....Cut the roof off. Al fresco motoring! Enjoy the outdoors!

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 12:58

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Hopefully that’s the case. Maybe some UV dye would help trace it.

https://www.amazon.ca/Interdynamics-375CS-Radiator-Coolant-Dye/dp/B002M4E0VC?th=1

Nibby > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 13:01

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get well soon! does this sound play every few seconds?

HammerheadFistpunch > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 12/02/2019 at 13:03

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Thats my next step.  Pressure and dye.  

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 13:06

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Yup.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 13:06

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Sounds like you know what you’re doing. I’m too far away to help but I’m a bored Service/Parts Adviser at a Chrysler Dealership and a lot of experience with various junk. Hit me up anytime for service info or diagnostic help.

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 12/02/2019 at 13:10

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poo

HammerheadFistpunch > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 12/02/2019 at 13:11

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Thanks! appreciate  it.

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 13:15

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Yea, I didn’t have the thing much longer after that anyway. Heater core in a XJ requires windshield removal (!!)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/02/2019 at 13:17

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That would be nice if my miata worked that way. My heater core is leaking and from what I've read, people prefer doing engine swaps over heater core replacements. Step one is remove the entire dash assembly. Step two is remove the seats since there's still no room to work. Then it's easy to just unbolt and swap the new one in. But that first step is a major overhaul. And for now I'm just shutting the blend door and limiting my coolant loss. Not like I really need heat in socal although I never put the top up and it gets to the 40s in the morning in the winter still. 

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 12/02/2019 at 13:21

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I think I was rather fortunate to have had the heater core issue on those particular cars. I’ve heard and seen many horror stories about heater replacement.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > adamftw 12/02/2019 at 13:49

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That’s... pretty extreme

Fuckkinja > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 13:52

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By pass the heater core temporarily with a couple connectors. That should help make a quick determination. Blow out the coolant remains in  the heater core.

adamftw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/02/2019 at 14:08

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Its a massive undertaking on the 97-01 trucks. Whole dashboard needs to come out. I think its 8-9 hours book time.

HammerheadFistpunch > Fuckkinja 12/02/2019 at 14:15

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Thats a good ideal.  I will try that if I can’t see anything obvious.

DirtyDodge > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 14:20

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I have always found that if you really hope it is not the heater core, it will always be the heater core. Have a 1st gen dodge durango RT hea ter core replacement for your time. (i did this on 2 different durango’s)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > adamftw 12/02/2019 at 14:20

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How often do they go out?

adamftw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/02/2019 at 14:25

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In my experience, n ot very. Out of the 15 or so XJs between my group of friends only one was bad enough that it needed to be changed. All of em had at least 200k by the time we finished with them.

wkiernan > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 16:07

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I once went out to my ‘99 Miata to go to lunch, and when I opened up the driver’s door there was an inch of pretty green antifreeze on the driver’s side floor. Did you ever play version one of the video game Doom? You know where you go down into the cellar and you have to wade through radioactive waste, as your health points drop like a rock? It looked just like that. But anyway I had occasionally smelled just a whiff of ho t anti-freeze in the interior for a few weeks before that. I just thought my radiator cap was loose.

It turned out my heater core had corroded through, which I was told was a $$$ all-day job to get to. So I walked to the Advance Auto Parts up the street, bought a little metal tube and a couple hose clamps, and bypassed the heater. I could get away with this because I live in Florida, but looking at your picture that isn’t an option for you.

WRXforScience > HammerheadFistpunch 12/02/2019 at 16:08

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Engine coolant (ethylene glycol) is a cumulative toxin, it accumulates in the kidneys and forms crystals. Low doses over long time periods can still be toxic and potentially fatal.

I’d be surprised if you’ve ingested enough to cause any problems, but if it’s enough to make you dizzy you should definitely start taking action.

So, I looked it up and according to a 1999 US Coast Guard study, “Inhalation of vapor is not hazardous. Ingestion causes stupor or coma, sometimes leading to fatal kidney injury.” So, as long as you don’t breathe enough to have it condense in your sinus, you should be okay.

I also found out that the fatal toxic dose is only 10-12oz of a 50% mix for an adult (it has a sweet taste so kids and pets sometimes drink it).  

wkiernan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/02/2019 at 16:13

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You have to take the windshield out? Wow, that’s some user-friendly design all right. That’s as bad as changing a headlight bulb on an Audi.