1994 Dodge Spirit - no heat, coolant smell/smoke from vents.

IDONTKNOW!!!

MEMBER
1994 DODGE SPIRIT
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
176,000 MILES

Ok. So I have a 94 dodge spirit 6 cyl, I am not sure how to explain this so bare with me, when the cars running smoke that smells like coolant comes out of the vents. It did leak quite a bit of coolant last week but the car wont over heat, the temperature gauge likes to bounce around. It did this awhile ago and we put this sealing fluid in it and it worked, for awhile. Then one day driving home and when I got off the highway a lot of coolant came out either from the radiator cap or somewhere around it (that corner of the car) in the parking lot and it was smoking from the grill. Not sure if it was smoke for all I know it could have just been because a crap ton of coolant came out and got on something hot. I want to say its the heating core but id like to be sure before pulling apart the dash and going through all that first. If you guys have any info that would help me out that would be absolutely fantastic thank you. Yes I will be doing this repair my self. DETAILS! Please and thank you.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,727 POSTS

It sounds like the heater core could be leaking. When the coolant level gets low enough, circulation ceases resulting in overheating and excessive pressure leading to spray from the overflow reservoir. Use a cooling system pressure tester to pressurize the system, then look for signs of leakage. If your car has air conditioning, there will be a drip pan under the heater core. Leaking coolant from the heater core will drain onto the ground between and behind the front tires. If your car doesn't have air conditioning, the coolant will drip onto the passenger front floor.

The fluctuating temperature gauge can also be attributed to low coolant level. The sending unit responds to hot liquid, not very well to hot air.

Caradiodoc