I have a 1999 Malibu and anytime I turn the heat on you can smell coolant very badly. So strong it will make you sick. Even if I turn the Temp control just a little above complete cold it smells bad. Does anyone have any idea what this may be? Thanks for your help.

Ever had the intake gasket done? Are you losing coolant? Is the oil on your dipstick milky coloured? Any dark crap floating around in the coolant recovery tank on the passenger fender?

Cheers

Check heater core.When you put it on defrost does it leave a sort of oily film on the windshield?

Talk about fate: just watched a neighbour try to "purge" his cooling system with bursts of air from his compressor to hurry the job up. Guess what lives in the firewall/passenger compartment and blew out?:grinno:...
Anyway, sounds like you make have a heater core leak?

Talk about fate: just watched a neighbour try to "purge" his cooling system with bursts of air from his compressor to hurry the job up. Guess what lives in the firewall/passenger compartment and blew out?:grinno:...
Anyway, sounds like you make have a heater core leak?
Yes water and cooling systems...GOOD. Air, water and cooling systems ..... BAD especially when the pressure is about 100-120 psi.

Your heater-core is shot. If you smell coolant when the heat/fan is on, then there is coolant in your air lines...

Your heater-core is shot. If you smell coolant when the heat/fan is on, then there is coolant in your air lines...
:confused: at that last statment????