strong A/F smell

[mr cribb]

Just got it today, W/P was leaking had it changed. Super strong A/F odor from inside....carpet is dry (thought it was heater core). Any ideas?

92 XL 5 speed 194k-? (reads 94700)

Also is it common for the temp gauge to fluctuate in normal range (N-L) I can see when t-stat opens cause it shoots back down towards "N". Just curious cause my 94 ranger hardly moved off the "R"

 

[FIND]

Air Fuel?

You are gonna have to check your fuel pump

 

[ragajungle]

If you smell it in the cab it is probbaly the heater core seeping a bit.

 

[FIND]

oh duh, antifreeze. acronym fail

 

[mr cribb]

I was gonna say....water pump change....not wet carpet ....heater core

LOL @ air fuel...

so in other words heater core "failing" just not to leak stage yet? Crap....how indepth is this....I've fought with one in a 90 beretta, and one in a 85 camaro...not fun to say the least.

 

[ragajungle]

oh duh, antifreeze. acronym fail

Fail LOL:roll:

 

[ragajungle]

you ranger is a magical phenomena as far as heater cores are concerned. Ford actually put an heater core access panel just behind the glove box - Right! - That's what I said too! Takes about 20 minutes and heater core is around $20 - replace the heater hoses too!

 

[FIND]

normally when someone says A/F they mean air fuel..... A/F = Air/Fuel since it is the ratio of how much air molecules per fuel molecule

I have never heard of anti/freeze, though in this case, I probably should have guessed that was what you were talking about since you mentioned your leaky "water/pump"? earlier in that post.....

you ranger is a magical phenomena as far as heater cores are concerned. Ford actually put an heater core access panel just behind the glove box - Right! - That's what I said too! Takes about 20 minutes and heater core is around $20 - replace the heater hoses too!

yeah, ford did this to make up for being *******s when they designed the taurus and escort

 

[brianp007438]

Surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but there is a drain that leads through the firewall for the heater core "box" and that may be why you smell coolant but have a dry carpet. Mine was clogged and my carpet soaked, but yours may be OK since your carpet is dry. Like they said, real easy to check at least. Also, the leaky water pump was probably limiting your cooling system's ability to pressurize. Now with a fresh one installed, your system can hit higher pressures, which your old heater core can't handle. And so it goes with an old Ford.

 

[mr cribb]

Carpet was dry, and had to be the EASIEST job I've ever done as far as heater cores go...20 min start to finish. Cost me $23.00

No extra cash for new heater hoses....wifey already PO'd that I traded to begin with.

I'd be more concerned with replacing the radiator hoses up/low before the heater hoses.

The access box had a little antifreeze in the bottom and the old core was rusty about 2 in from bottom...I do know when I pulled the fenderwell side hose from core it pushed a good bit of antifreeze out. The heat was mediocre to say the least...we all know fords are famous for killer heaters....well now that it's replaced the heat comes on far sooner than it did previously and NO MORE hellacious smell.

From what I notice the temp gauge works like it should, as in it was fluctuating really high and low yesterday and kinda scaring me.....guess that would make sense if the old heat core was blocked up.

 

[mr cribb]

yeah, ford did this to make up for being *******s when they designed the taurus and escort

The only exception I've seen is in my buddies old 95 mustang GT....damn near tore out the dash to get to the box only to find out it was sealed somehow by the factory I think...(not 100% on this) needless to say the stang's heat core didn't get changed.

 

[FIND]

The only exception I've seen is in my buddies old 95 mustang GT....damn near tore out the dash to get to the box only to find out it was sealed somehow by the factory I think...(not 100% on this) needless to say the stang's heat core didn't get changed.

Escort, taurus, ford contour... yeah, they are all just like that. You have to rip out the dash to get at the heater core. Now you know why you drive a pickup