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2004 aztek coolant smell


Kelsey92504
01-25-2012, 06:05 PM
My 04 aztek always has a coolant smell after driving it. The waterpump doesn't seem to be leaking, and reservoir tank doesn't ever seem to go down. It always seems to have the same amount as always does. The reservoir tank has a plastic plug on the top of it, and a plastic fill cap. The top of the reservoir tank always seems to be a little wet around the fill cap and the plastic plug. As if thats where I'm getting the smell from. Anyone else have this problem with this style reservoir tank? I plan on replacing the water pump just have to crawl under the car to see if its actually leaking or not. The smell is coming from the outside of the car, not the inside. Dexcool has been flushed out last year and switched to yellow.

Tech II
01-25-2012, 07:38 PM
Don't replace a w/p for nothing......the w/p is easily checked.....remove the belt, and shine a light behind the pulley and using a small mirror, look at the bottom of the w/p weep hole.....if you still are not sure, don't take the belt off.....the belt will hold the pulley for you ......now break/loosen the four bolts in the pulley.....now remove the belt and remove the bolts and the pulley(may hae to pry off).....if that water pump was leaking, the back inside of the pulley would be wet, and at the bottom of the w/p, you will see a weep hole, if there is a residue trail out of the weep hole, then the w/p is leaking.....if there is nothing on the backside of the pulley or weep hole, don't replace it......

You say your level is not dropping in the reservoir.....should always be checked cold......you say you don't smell anything on the inside, so that just about eliminates the heater core........Recheck all hoses, radiator, and especially the lower intake gaskets........the leak could be so small, but it could be just enough to be smelled(especially on a warm engine or radiator)......

The reservoir is not pressurized....it is just there for expansion.........there is a tube that goes into the top from the radiator(via a rubber hose)......that tube and grommet in the top of the reservoir should be secure.......if coolant is coming out of the top cap, and the reservoir is not overfilled, then you have a problem(air pocket, head gasket, head, etc.).....

How is the temp gage? Ever have wild swings or go towards the "red"?

Kelsey92504
01-25-2012, 07:48 PM
Have never had spikes in temp gauge. I will check water pump, and see if its leaking. I know the intake gasket needs to be changed. Around the block where the intakes sets on there are wet spots. I have cleaned the motor before, really good in those spots to see if it was leaking in those areas. A little while after cleaning they would become wet again.

Kelsey92504
01-25-2012, 07:51 PM
The temp gauge usually runs under half. It does rise a little bit sometimes, but has never went past half on temp gauge, which is around 210 I believe.

Kelsey92504
11-21-2013, 04:57 PM
Ok guys still need help with stupid smell and it has been almost two years. In those two years I have replaced the lower intake manifold gaskets. I'm so sick of this car. Two weeks ago I found a leak at the coolant line at bottom of throttle body. Put a new hose clamp on the line and tightened. No more leak. STILL HAVE THE FREAKIN SMELL! My wife said on the way to work the other day she smelled antifreeze bad and there was smoke or steam coming from under drivers side of hood. She got it home and I checked it out, got nowhere. I'm thinking the leak is at those lines under the throttle body. The leak is hardly noticeable by checking the coolant. I notice the coolant level drops just a little tiny bit cause I check it so often. The smell is coming from the front of car by coolant reservoir tank. Right at front drivers side of car under the hood. Guys and gals I really need some help tired of dealing with this.

aleekat
11-21-2013, 06:26 PM
Have you looked closely at your coolant tank? They have been know to crack. You can get a coolant pressure tester at any parts store that does the "loan a tool" program. You just connect, give it a few pumps and look for leaks.

Kelsey92504
11-21-2013, 06:42 PM
Ok so I've found where the leak is finally coming from. After a closer look the leak seem to be coming from the top radiator hose. So I ran the car until it was up to temperature and no leak from top hose. The is a steel line that goes into the front or top of radiator on the same side as top radiator hose. There was steam or smoke coming from in front of top radiator hose. It seem to be coming from the area that steel line was going towards. Problem is I can't see up there to see if it is leaking at that line. Anyone know where that line goes to? Or what it's called?

aleekat
11-21-2013, 07:20 PM
Like most modern rads. Aluminum core surrounding with plastic. The hose neck is plastic, so 9yrs on it. I would look real close at the neck. With gloves, grab it and look for cracks. The only steel line that I can think of is your tranny cooling lines running to the tranny cooler. No antifreeze in it. Like I said. Pressure tester. autozone, advanced auto, oreillys. etc..

Kelsey92504
11-21-2013, 07:48 PM
I will definetly be working on it tomorrow. I plan on pulling that hose off and looking closely at every possible area. I was working with a flashlight in dark when I actually found the problem. It used to never leak out anywhere now that I I can see where it's actually leaking it's easier to narrow down leak. I will definetly post my finds tomorrow. Thank you for your help.

Kelsey92504
11-22-2013, 05:34 PM
So today after work I swapped cars with my wife. I went to a good friends house to borrow his coolant pressure tester. He looked at the car I showed him what I've found. He said we wouldn't be able to put anymore pressure on the system than it already had. But he asked how many miles where on it. I said 190,000, he took one look at it and said it was the plastic neck on the radiator. He said that was definetly where it was coming from. He also stated that these newer radiators were known for that just like you said. So ordered a new radiator, it will be here on Monday. Thanks for your help everyone

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