Coolant type smell ?

**nobananas** · Saturday 20th August 2011, 12:15

Hmm, been having an odd problem of late. I've always got an odd whiff of coolant when the car is first started (or re-started) but have been putting that down to a slight coolant leak from the expansion bottle. The missus has been saying that recently the smell has been getting worse and the windscreen steams up when the heaters on. 'Heater matrix' I hear you all cry (as I did !) but I've just had the side covers off and there isn't any trace of a leak. I've even cracked open the bottom of the matrix and still no signs of coolant (all this with the motor running and heater on full blast). I use the red type of coolant in my T5 so any leaks show up quite easily (goes pink and furry). Any ideas ?, I'm wondering whether the pollen filter could be sodden and causing the misting.

**crezzy2k1** · Sunday 21st August 2011, 23:44

I have a very similar problem no leaks at all but i get a misty screen. Need to take a look at the pollen filter as the car is stinking at the moment especially when the fan is first turned on!

**p fandango** · Sunday 21st August 2011, 23:59

afraid i'd say it was the heater matrix, the carpet soaks up the coolant so quite hard to notice

**volvo** · Monday 22nd August 2011, 00:02

maybe you could try checking the carpet in the front foot wells to check if they are wet/damp. I have seen this problem before (non-volvo) once the pollen filter housing was cracked causing a wet pollen filter, the other time, it was actually the heater matrix

**nobananas** · Monday 22nd August 2011, 21:56

Well I ordered a pollen filter today and decided to fit it tonight. Pulled all the wiper/scuttle panel off but alas no pollen filter ! (can't find one under the glove box either !). What I did find however was lots and lots of plant matter !. Around the fuse box on the O/S was packed thick with muck and it was warm, warm as in that it was composting !. Similar situation around the fan intake on the N/S (which is where I was expecting the pollen filter to be) so an hour or so was spent digging all the muck out and flushing the whole area with water and cleaning out the drain holes. I'm hoping that the misting up may be caused by the humidity in the scuttle area (caused by the rotting plant stuff) made worse by the hot and humid weather being drawn in through the air vents and also that it may explain the smell !. There is no wetting of the carpets in either footwell although I have ordered another matrix just in case, I'll know by tomorrow after the missus takes it to work.

**Volvostorm** · Monday 22nd August 2011, 23:27

Not all 850 had a pollen filter, mine hasn't, and everyone I've look at in the the scrapyards hasn't.

It is under the scuttle panel

**frobes2** · Tuesday 23rd August 2011, 09:43

Totally agree with Paul,

If you do have one then it will be on the n/s under the scuttle, just take the torque head screw out and lift the scuttle to see if you have one.. hth

Scott..

**cherry1809** · Tuesday 23rd August 2011, 10:21

Am I the only one that found the composting muck funny? Lol.

**M-R-P** · Tuesday 23rd August 2011, 10:26

Originally Posted by cherry1809

Am I the only one that found the composting muck funny? Lol.

I must check mine now, could use the compost on the mushrooms growing out of the carpet in the back!

**crezzy2k1** · Tuesday 23rd August 2011, 18:21

Hmm must check mine it does get parked under a tree every now and then!

**nobananas** · Tuesday 23rd August 2011, 19:50

Bugger, missus says it still smells and mists up !. Looks like I'll have to yank the matrix this weekend and have a look !

**Volvostorm** · Tuesday 23rd August 2011, 20:03

Originally Posted by nobananas

Bugger, missus says it still smells and mists up !. Looks like I'll have to yank the matrix this weekend and have a look !

It does sound like you have a drippy one!

**nobananas** · Wednesday 24th August 2011, 20:17

Originally Posted by Pault5estate

It does sound like you have a drippy one!

THAT'S NO WAY TO TALK ABOUT MY WIFE !!!!.....any-who...interestingly she said that it misted up almost immediately this morning but the heater was on cold !. Surely with it on cold the air is diverted away from the heater matrix so why does it still mist up and smell ?...hmmmmm.

**Volvostorm** · Wednesday 24th August 2011, 20:56

It will still blow moisture out, the inside of the heater box could be wet.

Have you felt your carpets yet?

**nobananas** · Wednesday 24th August 2011, 22:30

Originally Posted by Pault5estate

It will still blow moisture out, the inside of the heater box could be wet.

Have you felt your carpets yet?

Had the carpets pulled back at the weekend when I was feeling around the bottom of the matrix, all dry as was the sponge underlay.

**Tomcat** · Wednesday 24th August 2011, 22:38

Are you loosing any fluid?, mine is loosing some and I can't figure out where it's going, mine also is occasionaly misting up but it doesn't smell of coolant, going to pull mine next week and check it.

**Volvostorm** · Wednesday 24th August 2011, 22:42

Have any of your local garage got a coolant pressure pump? They are great for find leaks like this

**nobananas** · Thursday 25th August 2011, 08:05

Originally Posted by Tomcat

Are you loosing any fluid?, mine is loosing some and I can't figure out where it's going, mine also is occasionaly misting up but it doesn't smell of coolant, going to pull mine next week and check it.

A little over a long time, but a lot of that seems to be from the small circulation pipe on the expansion bottle, no matter what I do it never quite seals, I suspect there may be some micro-cracking in the plastic.

**nobananas** · Thursday 25th August 2011, 08:07

Originally Posted by Pault5estate

Have any of your local garage got a coolant pressure pump? They are great for find leaks like this

Yeah may well borrow the ones we have a work and try them. I know in the past I've seen leaks only leak when cold and under pressure, when hot the coolant just evaporated .

**nobananas** · Wednesday 31st August 2011, 22:39

Well I think I fixed the problem, it was the matrix after all !

Odd one though as I still didn't have any signs of coolant leaking from the bottom of the matrix housing or any wetting of the carpets. I'm assuming that because the leak was from the very top of the matrix that the coolant must have been running down the matrix and evaporating before it has chance 'leak'. Live and learn.