car loosing coolant, smell from heater

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turbowheelchair
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car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by turbowheelchair »

Hi Guys

my brother has a 2013 polo 1.4

he recently has a small fender bender on the front left fender, the headlight just got pushed back,

now ever since that, he has been loosing coolant. he is filling about 250mls a week. and if he uses the heater, he describes it as a toxic mist that fills the car and causes his eyes to water and makes him choke.

last week he used this radiator flush from Waynes and the instructions are to put the heater on full and let the car idle for about 20 mns. foam started coming out of the air vents in the car...

now I don't think the accident had anything to do with the aircon stories, just trying to paint a bigger picture.

also we don't get a smell in the car because the car wash guys "freshened" the car with the essence of Satan. and that smell overpowers anything.

any advice as to what could be the issue, or where I can look to try to give you more information so that you can give me advice would be greatly appreciated


TIA :hi:
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by billionairebum »

Has the car recently been possessed by evil spirits?
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by EX-DOHCTOR »

Sounds like you have a leak in the heater core.
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by turbowheelchair »

Bruu... if you smell the air freshener that was sprayed everywhere in that car, you would think so.

but it was loosing coolant before the devils air freshener was applied. just made mention of that before anyone asks about any smells in the car
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by turbowheelchair »

EX-DOHCTOR wrote:Sounds like you have a leak in the heater core.

that's what I thought after browsing this forum.

is it a simple fix or does the whole dash have to come out?

any idea how much it will cost? will definitely be a DIY
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by EX-DOHCTOR »

No idea what they cost I'm afraid. You'd need to check with VW.
Unfortunately it is a complete dash out exercise.
2014 - VW Jetta 6 - 1.6 TDi DSG
2000 - VW Golf 3.5 Cabrio - 2.0
1980 - VW MK1 GT - 1.8 Carb - https://www.vwclub.co.za/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=153861
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by turbowheelchair »

oh my sack. thank you though. atleast I know what direction to focus my efforts on
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by EX-DOHCTOR »

Try taking off the lower sections of the dash, like the cubby etc in the passenger footwell and then run the system again. See if you can trace where the leak is.

If you're very lucky, it's just a loose hose fitting.
2014 - VW Jetta 6 - 1.6 TDi DSG
2000 - VW Golf 3.5 Cabrio - 2.0
1980 - VW MK1 GT - 1.8 Carb - https://www.vwclub.co.za/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=153861
1971 - Mitsubishi Colt 1100F - https://www.vwclub.co.za/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=220503
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by turbowheelchair »

Thanks EX-DOHCTOR I will do it tonight and hope for the best
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by EX-DOHCTOR »

Keep us updated bud.
2014 - VW Jetta 6 - 1.6 TDi DSG
2000 - VW Golf 3.5 Cabrio - 2.0
1980 - VW MK1 GT - 1.8 Carb - https://www.vwclub.co.za/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=153861
1971 - Mitsubishi Colt 1100F - https://www.vwclub.co.za/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=220503
MK1 Build Register: https://www.vwclub.co.za/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=192835
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Racing is meant for the RACE track - deal with it...
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by mellos »

Goldwagen here in Pietermaritzburg are selling the heater core
for R650,check with Goldwagen in your area,FYI the hoses are on the
outside on the firewall,no hoses inside.
Need to tackle mine on the weekend not looking forward to it.
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by panic-mechanic »

wow 4 year old cars that need heater cores. Scary.
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by mellos »

Mine is 7 years old its a 2010 model that had antifreeze in the system its whole
Life,you right panic mechanic they shouldn't go so quick.
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by MisangT »

panic-mechanic wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:59 pm wow 4 year old cars that need heater cores. Scary.
Very scary. Thats what i am facing at the moment and need to deal with it tomorrow(Saturday)
2011 - VW Polo Vivo - 1.4 - Silver
2013 - VW Polo 1.4 - Silver
MisangT
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by MisangT »

turbowheelchair wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:47 pm Hi Guys

my brother has a 2013 polo 1.4

he recently has a small fender bender on the front left fender, the headlight just got pushed back,

now ever since that, he has been loosing coolant. he is filling about 250mls a week. and if he uses the heater, he describes it as a toxic mist that fills the car and causes his eyes to water and makes him choke.

last week he used this radiator flush from Waynes and the instructions are to put the heater on full and let the car idle for about 20 mns. foam started coming out of the air vents in the car...

now I don't think the accident had anything to do with the aircon stories, just trying to paint a bigger picture.


also we don't get a smell in the car because the car wash guys "freshened" the car with the essence of Satan. and that smell overpowers anything.

any advice as to what could be the issue, or where I can look to try to give you more information so that you can give me advice would be greatly appreciated


TIA :hi:


Exactly the way you explain it, i am experiencing the same thing with my 2013 polo 1.4.
Adding more to what you said is that the water with coolant is also leaking on the front passenger mat, it is so wet that when you push your hand on the floor you can actually see the water.

I bought mine from a scrap yard here in Pretoria for R650. One guy who was assisting me at the scrap told me that i must just be careful that the person doing it must not remove the dash board, otherwise he is not fully competent to do it. So i am asking myself if it is somewhat different from the old polos.

I tried to open it up yesterday but could only get to the blower motor as it was late, i will continue today to tray an locate it(Heater core\radiator).
Is there anybody who knows how to locate this radiator heater just so i know the amount of work i am facing.
I have a feeling that it is on the passenger' side between the radio and the cubbyhole.

Thank you in advance.
2011 - VW Polo Vivo - 1.4 - Silver
2013 - VW Polo 1.4 - Silver
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by mellos »

Hi if it's a polo vivo remove all the lower sections of the dashboard it is situated in the middle of the dashboard low down in front of the gear lever, there are clips holding the bottom end of the housing,remove those clips and the housing will drop down, on the left there is a bracket that can be removed and you can slide the heater core out that way Assembling will be the reverse of this process.
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by turbowheelchair »

we just pulled the two pipes out of the firewall and joined them together.
theres no heater now, but atleast the floor stays dry
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by isaiahci@outlook.com »

Good day
I know this is a very old thread, but i am experiencing the very same thing
My Polo 6R is just spilling water out of the air vents when i turn on the heater, i also inspected today and found that i have water dripping on both foot wells, its a 2011 model.
Where can i buy the heater core in Pretoria, and can i fit it myself
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by Howie-WP »

I'd try GoldWagen or look at a scrapyard? Dunno if either is open now. Also check gumtree for anyone breaking a car...
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Re: car loosing coolant, smell from heater

Post by Cr@ig »

isaiahci@outlook.com wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:36 pm Good day
I know this is a very old thread, but i am experiencing the very same thing
My Polo 6R is just spilling water out of the air vents when i turn on the heater, i also inspected today and found that i have water dripping on both foot wells, its a 2011 model.
Where can i buy the heater core in Pretoria, and can i fit it myself
Hey man, did you manage the sort out this issue? Got the same car, polo 6R 2011 model and it also started losing coolant. When I drive, I get this bad radiator smell in the car. When I put on the heater, the car starts leaking coolant inside the foot wells. Both passenger and driver side. Someone said the dash has to be removed. Did you have it replaced already?
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