Car: 1987 740 GLE (232,000 miles)

Issue: When the heater has been on for 15 minutes or more, an awful smell comes through the vents and the heat has to be turned off and windows have to go down. It seems to be worse is the heat is on levels any level past "1" and at the middle of the red bars or higher. In other words the higher the heat is on, the worse the smell and the lower the heat, the lesser the smell.

Other problems I'm having right now, which could or could not be related to the heater smell:

1) The car needs a new radiator. It is leaking coolant.

Some forum posts talk of a "coolant" smell. I don't know what that smells like. I pour the coolant in myself when it's low and the smell from the heater doesn't resemble the smell of the coolant in the container.

2) The car turns off right after I turn it on in the morning, or anytime during the day if the car is cold. I have to either give it gas and let it run, immediately take off, or restart the car. It has been this way since I got the car over a year ago.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

1. What does the awful smell, smell like? Burning wires, a dead rat, skunk, what?

2. Sounds like the cold start injector is messed up. It's been a while since I had my 740 GLE but I do remember the cold start injector. How long after start does it try to cut off? It's not good to rev a cold engine so don't do that.

Coolant smells just like the stuff you put in the motor. next time, take a whiff.

FIX/REPLACE THE RADIATOR ASAP!!! Like today. If the leak gets BAD, which it can at any time, it will loose all the fluid and destroy our motor. DO IT NOW!!!

 

Heater -- it smells something burning, it is a suffocating smell. Like I said it doesn't resemble the smell of coolant.

As for the start up, I will ask my mechanic about the cold start injector. Thanks!

It was the previous owner who told me to give it gas in the morning, which didn't seem like a good idea to me.

Yes I will be replacing the radiator, but meanwhile have kept the coolant container full.

 

Keep a couple of gallons of coolant with you.

As for the burning smell, does it happen when you turn the fan on even with the temp slider all the way to the cold side. Turn the fan up to 3 or 4 setting and see if you still smell it. If so, it is possible that your fan is burning out.

 

Got a new radiator ... and I think you're right, the fan is burning out.