Weird Wetness Problem

[John Wilde]

I thought the title would get your attention.

I have noticed that my I get fluid leaking near the passenger side kick
pannel "right by the ecm"!
I think that it is a minor problem with the heater core having some issues.
Latley I have noticed that the car does not wan to defog and that there is
always condensation in the car.
I looked between the front passenger seat and the rear "were the rear seat
passengers put their feet"
and on the passenger side the carpet is soaking wet. You guys and gals have
any idea as to what is going on???

Thanks in advance

 

[brittken]

Heater core

I believe its your heater core going bad. Aintifreeze will build up in the heaterbox behnd the dash and steam from it will rise through the defroster vents and fog the windshield. Most likely your heater core needs to be replaced. Also chec under the carpet and pad for rust . To be on the safe side I would puyll the carpet up and apply por- 15 on the floor pan to stop and rust problems you may have.

 

[Red Regal T]

You left the window down and it rained? How about sail glass window leak? Rust in floor board allowing water in when driving in the rain? Condensation in the car is caused by all the water in the closed car.

 

[fullahotair]

I would tend to agree with Brittken, that it probably is a heater core problem. Another indicater of a leaky heater core would be a sweet smell when you turn on the heater. Does the liquid feel slippery like anti-freeze? Sometimes you can take a paper towel and blot the area where the moisture is, and see if it is green.


Nathyn

 

[John Wilde]

It looks like I may have a 2 part problem.
The heater core has to be bad and the seems to be an
exposed arear on the floor of the car. It looks like something
should be over it. It looks like you can see the carpet pad/ sound deadener from under the car. How much should it cost to have the heater core replaced?

 

[fullahotair]

i replaced the one in my 82 cutlass, and i don't remember the cost, but i know it wasn't expensive. Maybe 20 or 30 bucks??

It isn't a hard job to do either...

Nathyn

 

[87blackbuick]

a easy way to tell if it is antifreeze or water is to taste it. if it is antifreeze it will be sweet tasting.

 

[fullahotair]

Not sure i would taste it, i believe it is ethylene glycol that gives it the sweet taste. But animals are often attracted to the anti-freeze by the sweet smell, they drink it, then they die. But i suppose if you don't drink it as beverage you may be alright.

 

[87blackbuick]

i was not saying to drink it. if you put a little on the end of your finger and just touch it to your tongue the amount that you get on you tounge is not going to hurt you.

 

[fullahotair]

Sorry 87blackbuick, i meant to say in my post if you DON'T drink it as a beverage you would be alright, which would be agreeing with what you said.

Nathyn

 

[turbofish38]

Also if it is the heater core you should be able to smell it inside the car and it should leave some type of film on the windows(assuming you are using E-G type coolant). From what you are describing it sounds like something else...maybe a water leak from the air inlet on the cowl or worse yet a windshield leak? Lots of places for water to leak in on these old antiques. Good Luck.

Eric Fisher

 

[brittken]

Those holes in the floor pan are meant to be there.

Those areas in the floor pan you are describing are supposed to be there. If you pull your carpet up You will see channels in the floor pan that lead down to those holes. I imagine its a place that water is supposed to exit if you ever have a leak. The problem is the water gets trapped under the foam carpet pad and rots the floor pan out. The 1st place to rust out tends to be is behind the driver and passenger seats since it is the lowest part of the floor pan.

 

[Pronto]

Maybe you could bypass the heater core to see if the fogging and wet rugs go away (after drying). It does sound like a heater core problem though.

 

[Roger]

I had 2 problems causing my leak on the ECM.

1. When I R & Rd the windshield, I found a lot of rust & a small hole rusted through.

2. The drain hole in the bottom of the a/c box was plugged by years of accumilating debris finding its way into the box (leaves & such - what a mucky mess). Remove the blower & dig around at the bottom of the box for the drain hole (it's approximately 1" x 4" & has a rubber flap on the outside) & just clean the "muck" out.