1998 Saturn SL2 Smell coming from A/C

Tiny
GOAVSROY33
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 SATURN SL2
Air Conditioning problem
1998 Saturn SL2 4 cyl Automatic 220000 miles

So, I pulled into my friends driveway, picked him up, and then after we noticed a smell coming from my A/C. It starts like paint thinner, and it only comes when the A/C is on. We think it is a leak of some sort, but we aren't sure.
Friday, July 23rd, 2010 AT 8:15 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
First of all thank you so much for your donation.I have never heard of R134 charge being described as paint thinner smell. You can't smell anything with just the fan on or the heat on can you?
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Friday, July 23rd, 2010 AT 10:52 PM
Tiny
GOAVSROY33
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Nope, just when I have the a/c on. And when I get into my car after it has been sitting, it smells like paint thinner then too. But I get no smell with the fan
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Friday, July 23rd, 2010 AT 11:36 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The only thing that might make sense from what you describe is the evaporator core could be leaking r134 into the heater a/c box but I wouldn't describe the smell from it being paint thinner. You could try charging the a/c system with some dye and see if the dye come's out of your a/c drain if it does then you know the evaporator is leaking. If your heater core was leaking it would be a sweet smell and you would usually see coolant leaking on your floor board.
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Saturday, July 24th, 2010 AT 3:39 PM

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