Strong coolant smell in the cabin when I turn the heat on...heater core gone bad?
 

How hard is it to fix this thing? I have read that you have to pull the dash to get at the heater core. Has anyone done any work on their heater core. Is there a good write up with pics somewhere?

All-Data online covers it, but that service is a little expensive.

yea it is prob the heater core.

Yeah, Heater core, I am replacing mine now, not a hard job, just time consuming as hell. Taking the dash off was a bitch, just take your time and don't go ripping shit off like I did. Damn plastic cost me $96!

Hey jpandes. Do you find your interior steaming up pretty bad? Even with the air recirculating turned off? (arrow on the little car button points in from outside instead of a little circle. I know you know this, but others...) This is one of the best symptoms for recognizing heater core problems.

I will mention that when I had a slight leak form one of my TB hoses, I would get an occaisonal coolant smell with the heat on, but it would also be there with the temp turned to cool (not with A/C on). Sounds a bunch like it is your heater core.. (what ELSE can go wrong with it!!?? Sigh... I know the feeling)

You will need to pull the dash to get at the core. Way to go mazda. Look in this section for dash pulling advice. Not as hard as one might think, just involved (like THAT'S anything new!!)

How is your engine doing, BTW?

Do I have heater core problems if my heater doesnt shoot heat very well? As soon as I pot it on heat, it shoots the heat then just sorta warm air not HOT. The car also doesnt seem to be getting hot enough to even reach the 16lbs cap its got.

/\ how do you know the water temp?

Damn!, I knew this was gonna be a PITA. I had a feeling that my heater core was clogged because it wasn't putting out HOT air. I didn't think it would start leaking.

BTW, my engine is running great(cross my fingers), I also just installed my midpipe, and I love it!

Does anyone have a good, non leaking, nor clogged heater core for sale - cheap? Shit

The hose to the over flow tank never opens. So I guesse that means that.

I have it also occasionally but then again, when I do short and calme drives there are coming ome coolant fumes from unther the bonnet (airpump,turbo's area)
WhenI leave it idling to cool down this event occurs.after about 5 minutes it passes slowly.

When I'm driving an dneed to stop at the red lights I get a bit of acollant sense in the car. It goes away when I'm driving again. really weird.
I don't think it has anything to do with the heater (airco is down due to no airco liquid) but that I'm having a leak in the "small" coolant circuit. As when I have driven the car for several miles and leave it idling there is no sign of coolant fumes. So i guess it's something before the themostat opens towards the radiator, no???

I'm really guessing here. I need to change the belts next week so I'll have a look at the coolant hoses.

Any tips here???

Replace them with OEM once, unless you have the cash for the silicone ones. It will not be an easy job btw

I"ll check the manual for slicone ones. Maybe I can get a good deal with Samco