I had a coolant odor on my 2004 on first heat from the HVAC. Took to dealer told something about coating on compressor--normal for TL's. Right. They did pressure test and found no leaks. However, now have strong coolant odor in engine compartment everytime I drive, but no apparent leak. Help?

Thanx.

Rexorg

 

I had the same problem with my TL. Up until about 1200 miles
I could smell coolant on start up. Also, on occasion when I
stepped out of the car.

I now have 2200 miles and I haven't noticed the smell in awhile.
Of course, it has been too cold to smell anything where I live currently!
I get in the car as quick as possible... drive... and get out as quick as possible.

But it isn't your imagination that you smell coolant or a similar smelling material in the HVAC...


Steve

 

Milano is right. I've seen a previous post regarding the same thing, in addition, my car had a few weird smells when it was new too. Yours should be gone in not too long. Since coolant is critical make sure to check the reservoir periodically to ensure it is not being lost.

 

Mine had that smell at first, I have about 1200 miles on it and it isn't as bad. So it's going away albeit slowly, thank God.

 

Thanks to all for the help. Good to know it's going to go away. Only have about 850 miles on the TL since I purchased 12/27. It likes to stay in the warm garage. I wonder if the radiator is heating the overflow bottle and the bottle is venting thru the small hole on top of cap? That's where the odor seems to be coming from. Any thoughts on that?

Rexorg

 

It's amazing to me some of the BS a dealer will feed the customer. The compressor pumps HFC R-134A through the refrigerant cycle (condenser/txv/evaporator/etc.), this is a pressurized and closed system so it is impossible to smell any coating internal to the compressor. There is also no possible reason for the compressor to be coated on the outside, even if it was this coating would then have to melt off and the fumes would have to travel outside the engine room and into the plenum/air inlet.

I said it on a previous post, I will be dimes to dollars that what you're smelling is linkage grease that was accidentally smeared on the inside of the HVAC case.

PM me if you want more information


Also not that likely since you're in IN, venting on an overflow happens when coolant pressure gets really high (mostly due to high ambients). Besides (and I could be wrong), I thought that the TL used a surge tank system.