F150 defrost smell and brown fogging on windscreen?
Discussion
If you can get to the heater matrix box, you may find the matrix is leaking as coolant can smell sweet and slightly fishy. Check the carpet under the matrix box. As it gets worse, the screen will fog up with steam. I replaced matrices in a Z28 and a Corvette - they don't last forever.
I'm not convinced by the air con thing but if it has a cabin filter, renew it and get a spray off ebay for about £10 that sprays foam into your vents and onto the air con. That never does any harm.
I'm not convinced by the air con thing but if it has a cabin filter, renew it and get a spray off ebay for about £10 that sprays foam into your vents and onto the air con. That never does any harm.
Once again there is smoke coming out of all vents including windscreen panel and side panels and further brown fogging on inside of windscreen. If I keep the heater running it will all fill up with smoke but then clear and no smoking. It clears after 5 mins and is doing this every day now. Can’t see how the vents clear and then the next day the when I start the truck it does the same and clearing after 5 mins - is it building up again? Is it definitely mould or something else?
Definitely sounds like a leaking matrix to me. The water leaks into the matrix casing and when you put the blowers on hot, the water heats up and steams out of all your vents. Thereafter, the matrix is hot and the water circulating so the leak will be far less. Overnight it will drip and pool again.
Something like Stops Leaks may help but in my experience just clogs up the fine tubes in the matrix - better off replacing it. It usually leads to 2 pipes in the engine bay.
The brown is likely to be the rusty coolant.
Something like Stops Leaks may help but in my experience just clogs up the fine tubes in the matrix - better off replacing it. It usually leads to 2 pipes in the engine bay.
The brown is likely to be the rusty coolant.
Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 17th October 11:39
djo2267 said:
Thanks for that. I may try the Stops Leaks - does it go in the reservoir?
It goes in the radiator/coolant reservoir. Personally, I wouldn't use it as it can gunk things up and it is unlikely to be a permanent fix and may not work at all.The matrix is usually under the dash and the enclosure should be accessible, especially on a pickup. Check the seams for moisture. There uis usually some form of screw/bolt-on cover.
Under the dash somewhere is a black or gray receptacle which has the pipes coming from it to blow air to the dash and your feet and the vents. Start looking down at pedal level and work your way up.
Most American vehicles are designed to come apart quite easily so you may have to remove bits to get at it. Inside that container is a small radiator through which the water flows.
NB - not sure if this is any different with air con.
This may help - it's on a 1998 F150.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_to_replace_a_heater_...
There's not much you can't find on You Tube if you do a search.
Most American vehicles are designed to come apart quite easily so you may have to remove bits to get at it. Inside that container is a small radiator through which the water flows.
NB - not sure if this is any different with air con.
This may help - it's on a 1998 F150.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_to_replace_a_heater_...
There's not much you can't find on You Tube if you do a search.
It depends where it is and how accessible the pipes in the engine bay are. On the Chevys, it was a question of removing the two pipes in the engine bay, capping it (as it will still be full of water), releasing the securing clips and pushing it through and wiggling it out.
The Z28 I did from uner the dash but the Corvette needed the top of the dash removing and several items to be moved aside to get to it.
The new matrix, being empty, is easier to wiggle back in and through the bulkhead. Once in place, before reconnecting the pipes, fill with water so you only have a small amount of air to get out.
As noted, every yank I've had is designed to be unbolted and taken apart, unlike European cars with their hidden clips but without seeing it, I can't say how long it would take.
The Z28 I did from uner the dash but the Corvette needed the top of the dash removing and several items to be moved aside to get to it.
The new matrix, being empty, is easier to wiggle back in and through the bulkhead. Once in place, before reconnecting the pipes, fill with water so you only have a small amount of air to get out.
As noted, every yank I've had is designed to be unbolted and taken apart, unlike European cars with their hidden clips but without seeing it, I can't say how long it would take.
V10 BAT said:
Hi,i think halfords do a aircon cleaning thingy.
Its a bit like a smoke grenade ,have the air on recycle pull the tab on the can ,place on floor and get the hell out of there lol
Not used it myself but tempted when browsing in halfords.
cheers
Yeah there are times I'd be tempted to let off a smoke grenade in Halfrauds!Its a bit like a smoke grenade ,have the air on recycle pull the tab on the can ,place on floor and get the hell out of there lol
Not used it myself but tempted when browsing in halfords.
cheers
See, you guys need to google search in American english... we call it a heater core, not a heater matrix 
http://www.fordf150.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=169...
The file download still works, hope this helps.
http://www.fordf150.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=169...
The file download still works, hope this helps.
Gassing Station | Yank Motors | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff