smelled coolant then the heater fan stopped running

[83-240D]

just like that. since cleaning the tank it has been in daily service. went out for frozen custard tonite and i smelled coolant from the heater. then the heater fan just quit.

btw i did use search but didn't find this exact combination of things to relate to.

i have not checked the fuses as it is wet damp rainy and foggy tonite(wimp!!) i will tomorrow. this car has a thumb wheel on the console for the ac/heat. is this an auto shut off kind of device?

i drove it home and took the grand am. when i got back i started it again but the fan did not run.

any thoughts?

[83-240D]

and there is no coolant on the ground. i should have said that the temp held even at a little above 80c.

well well well it was the fuse. it was a skinny fuse and i replaced it with a thicker one.

hey is there a heater core in these cars?

[P.E.Haiges]

83-240D,

Of course these cars have heater cores. How else would you get heat in the cabin? THe heater core is buried inside the dash in front of the radio.

If the heater core is leaking, you should see antifreeze leaking from the AC drains hoses. But I see no correlation between smelling coolant and the fan not working.

Was the fuse burned out or was it just not making a good connection like frequently happens with this type of fuse?

P E H

[83-240D]

no it was burned out. severed at the thin middle part.

i looked in haynes but didn't find a heater core section. i will look again. thanks

the last time i whiffed coolant the cabin of the grand am filled with smoke 30 miles from home on the expressway.

[P.E.Haiges]

If a fuse burns out, there must be a reason. I wouldn't be surprise if it burned out again. Its more difficult to find the problem when the fuse burns out intermittently.

Not a good idea to replace a fuse with one of a higher amp rating. The fuse is designed to protect the circuits from overheating, and if you put in a higher rated fuse, you do not have that protection. If the correct rating fuse continues to burn out there is a problem and you should look for why is it burning out.

You should have a fuse chart in the fuse box, it will tell you what fuse should be used.

If I had designed the fuse holder, only the correct fuse would fit in each circuit. Something like the type S fuses in homes where only the correct value fuse can be screwed in the socket.

P E H

[JimmyL]

Didn't I read somewhere that Mercedes came out with a bulliten call for a 30amp fuse to replace the 20?

[83-240D]

since i had to worry about replacing fuses. thanks peh i know about the wrong amperage and will switchout this afternoon after i get to autozone.

[whunter]

the fan motor shaft bushings, they are binding.

[83-240D]

what is the correct amp fuse for the fan? i have a 16 in there now and had an 8 previously. i remember that the heater usually took a higher amp fuse.