08-17-2018, 02:25 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2013 2LT/RS Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Florida
Posts: 26
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White smoke coming from vents when heater is on
2013 2LT/RS
Running the heater has always smelled a little coolant-like since I got the car (used). Recently I turned the heater on and white smoke started coming out, which made me instantly connect the dots and assume the heater core is bad. Thankfully I live in Florida so 90% of the year I have the AC on as cold as it can be set and I don't notice the smell or smoke at all, only when I turn the heater on. Checked coolant levels as well and they were extremely low. Refilled and keeping a close eye on it, but my coolant and oil temps have never been abnormal, usually sitting just below the middle vertical mark or on it after running for awhile (did a 15 hour road trip, never passed vertical). I also haven't seen the fogged window or puddle or any sort of leak on the floor of the passenger side and its been almost a year since I got the car but only about a month since I found the smoke. Not really wanting to drop $2k on the repair bill (from what I've heard) so I wanted to check with you guys to see if anyone else has had the same issue and maybe its not the heater core but rather another component nearby? I have also ran the car with the hood open (heater on and off) to check for any other signs of a coolant leak or the smoke but it only comes out of the vents. |
08-17-2018, 06:49 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2011ss/rs camaro Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: florida
Posts: 1,261
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Maybe it's that bag of blow you misplaced...j/k...couldn't resist with that screen name
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08-21-2018, 11:43 AM | #3 |
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heater core would be my 1st guess.if you put defrost and the windshield just fogged up bingo. you can pressurized the cooling system to verify it.
good luck. |
09-15-2018, 11:07 AM | #4 |
Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 79
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Sounds like the heater core, I've read that you can just bypass it if you don't use heat.
Expensive repair bill, very invasive for a stupid core. |
09-19-2018, 09:49 AM | #5 |
Drives: 2013 2LT/RS Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Florida
Posts: 26
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UPDATE
Just got my car back, it was the heater core. Took it to a small shop I trust and they confirmed but said they wouldn't do it and I had to take it to a dealership. Dealership was slammed and it took a week just to get the tech to C/A my car. They also confirmed heater core. Quote was $2,400 for the repair. Involved pulling the glass and dash = 13 hours of work. I had a rock chipped window that I planned on fixing next but ended up working out a deal to have insurance cover the labor / cost of a new windshield (FL covers deductible for this) so the window broke when they pulled it, insurance covered labor and glass. Final price was $2000 because insurance covered all the glass work. |
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