Jim Grant's Tech Tips

94 Chrysler Concorde, Smelly Windshield
Q: When I turn on the heater or defroster on my '94 Chrysler Concorde, I get a smelly substance on the inside of the windshield. What is this and how can I fix it? ...Melanie

A: From the description it's possible that the heater core is leaking engine coolant. A failing heater core will allow engine coolant (anti-freeze) vapor to be blown onto the inside of the windshield. Engine coolant vapor will form a film on the inside of the windshield that's a little difficult to remove and sometimes has a sweet smell to it. One of our wreckers had a heater core that was starting to fail. From time to time the windshield would fog over with the defroster on during warm-up. After working on everyone else's vehicles during the day the last thing you want to do is work on your own. It's the Cobbler's kids and their shoe story. After all, the Cobbler needed his fishing, boating, NASCAR, etc., time. As fate would have it, about 20 miles from shop, on a cold winter morning the heater core in the wrecker let go big time! The windshield was immediately a fog wall and the cab of the wrecker filled with a dense and choking white coolant vapor. To keep the entertainment flowing I was traveling at a good clip, in heavy traffic with a vehicle in tow. Do you know why dogs don't stick their heads out of car windows in winter? It's cause the windows are up. Needless to say the wrecker was safely stopped and temporary roadside repairs were made. The heater hoses were pinched shut with a pair of vice grips. The rest of the trip back to the shop was uneventful and with no heat. Have your heater core checked and if necessary replaced. As for fixing it yourself? Some heater cores are difficult to access and require time and patience.