I have been smelling antifreeze inside the car and it is a little worse when heat is on. I have replaced a radiator at recently because of a small crack in it. I have not noticed any leaks outside the car or any puddles in the passenger area. The level in the radiator and over flow tank look good. Hasn't even dropped a little in the overflow. I did notice on the hose that goes from the radiator to the overflow a very small amount of antifreeze on top of the radiator where the hose connects. Ill put a small hose clamp and lightly tighten it to stop that. Pretty much what I'm asking is the heater core the only thing that would make sense and what is the difficulty and process of pulling the heater core?

 

You have to remove the glove box, right center console trim, and passenger lower trim. Then you can get access to the core. There are a number of wire harnesses in the area you'd have to disconnect.

 

Your radiator cap is probably defective, replace it ASAP. Especially if your not sure how old it is.

Do not put a hose clamp on the over flow tube. Thats your tell that the cooling system is not working right. It's telling you that there is air in the cooling system by pressuring the over flow tank, ballooning that hose, and allowing coolant to escape.

I would replace the cap and see if you still smell coolant.

 

Unless the carpet is wet then the problem is in the engine compartment.
Try the recirculate button to stop the smell from going into the cabin.

However the the cap 01acls mentioned is the likely culprit here.

 

Another possibility is that the thermostat is starting to stick and causing the coolant to boil. Once that happens the pressure in the cooling system will exceed the radiator cap's pressure capacity and bleed off the extra pressure in the form of coolant vapors. Therefore, no coolant leak under the car but coolant smell.

OP, keep a close eye on the temperature gauge and the over flow tank. The car is not going to over heat until you loose a substantial amount of coolant.

 

thanks everybody. ill try the radiator cap and see. As for the thermostat. It need one anyway. I have no idea when it was changed. Whats the opening temp for these engines?

 

Assuming that you have an '00 & up model, the OEM thermostat starts to open at 169*F and is fully open at 194*F.

 

Car's a 99

 

The '99 thermostat starts to open a little sooner - 163*F.

Both thermostats could start to open a few degrees above those temperatures and that would still be within specs, but not below.