GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Got the coolant changed a couple weeks ago and ever since whenever I turn on the heat a strong odor of coolant comes through the vents. As if that wasn't bad enough, the windshield gets a greasy film on it. So turning on the defrost fogs up the windshield instead of clearing it. I assumed they were just a little messy during the change and it needed time to burn off any spillage. I figured it would have burned off by now.Googling the problem indicates a bad heater core could lead to coolant odor in the car, but that would just be much of a coincidence that it would go at the same time I got the coolant changed. Anyway, I guess I'll run it by the dealer and see what they say if it doesn't get any better.

Coincidence is right. Let us know how this turns out.

The coolant change could have dislodged something that was plugging a hole.

May be the o rings at the heater core connection is rotten and when they vacuum the cooling system out actually dislodge the o ring's position?I am wondering when they do the coolant with drain and refill or suck everything out using a shop air's vacuum?Actually I never heard anything like that happening before

It is the heater core. I was on my way to the dealer this morning when I noticed I wasn't getting any heat out to the vents even with the car fully warmed up and temp select knob all the way to hot. Stopped at a light and all of a sudden noticed smoke coming out of all the dash vents and defrost vent. I was like "holy ****"! I assume now this was just coolant burning off. I finally made it to the dealer. Car was running warmer than normal too. Instead of the temp needle staying just below halfway on the gauge, it us up to over halfway. Got to the service lane and even with the engine turned off for several minutes, smoke was still wafting from the vents (service tech saw smoke and took a wiff "yep, it's antifreeze").So they took it back to take a look and gave me the good news about an hour later - heater core. As everyone knows they have to pull the dash - "about a 10 hour job". Parts + tax + labor = $1,042. At least I'm getting a loaner car out of the deal.I asked how common it was for heater cores to go out. He told me this is the first one he's ever seen go bad on a Vibe. Guess someone had to be first....

Did the dealer performed the coolant flush?If they did the coolant flush it might be their fault for over vacuum your cooling system and damage your heater core.$1000 is 2.5 weeks of pay ..and I will not going down without a fight..

Quote, originally posted by DeClerq » As everyone knows they have to pull the dash - "about a 10 hour job". Parts + tax + labor = $1,042. Ouch!!!Didn't want to tackle the dash yourself? What a pain for such a simple component!

I wouldn't even know where to start in trying to get the dash out, let alone replacing the heater core once I got to it.It's at the same dealer that did the coolant change. Now that I think about it, the coolant was changed on Sept. 7 and I noticed the coolant smell only about a week ago. So is the one caused by the other? No way to know for sure. I'm not going to raise a big stink about it. I've dealt with these guys for all my services and with this particular service guy more than once, and I don't feel like I'm being ripped off or anything.

I doubt that it was the dealers fault - it was probably ready to blow and the coolant change procedure (pressure test?) was the straw that broke the heater core's back so to speak. I would have got a second estimate - perhaps at a independent shop place that specializes in heater core work. Part of the problem is the way they make cars - should design them so it isn't a days work just to remove and put back the dash.

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »I would have got a second estimate - perhaps at a independent shop place that specializes in heater core work. Normally that would have been the smart thing to do, but with the temp running high and smoke pouring out of the vents, I was afraid to drive it another 10 feet. I'm just glad they gave me a loaner because I had the car seats w/me and my wife would've had no way to come pick me up!

Got it back today. He said the heater core was separating at the seam (I guess there are two halves that are welded together?) and coolant was actively leaking out.

Believe it or not the car is back at the dealer getting the heater core replaced for the THIRD time. The first one they put in back in October only lasted a couple of weeks before we noticed the antifreeze odor and windows fogging up. They replace the core again (supposedly a bad pressure fitting). That one lasted until yesterday when the same symptoms appeared. So back it went. I asked what brand heater core are they using - GM or Toyota? According to him they get them from the same supplier. It has a GM part number, but if I went to the Toyota dealer, I'd get the same part, it would just have a Toyota part number. I don't know how accurate that is or not. I'm not sure how much he knows because he thought the RAV4 was comparable to the Vibe, I had to remind him it's the Matrix. Anyway, it's under warranty so I'm not paying for the cores. In the meantime they gave us a 1st gen LaCrosse as a loaner - ugh.

Quote, originally posted by DeClerq »Anyway, it's under warranty so I'm not paying for the cores.I was hoping your sig was referring to the GMPP by you saying "Protection Plan." Glad it didn't cost you anything. Deductible?Quote, originally posted by DeClerq »In the meantime they gave us a 1st gen LaCrosse as a loaner - ugh.GM finally got Buick back into the right place with the 2011s. Sorry, brother.

WOW! That really sucks. Hope they get it right now.

Quote, originally posted by jkm311 »I was hoping your sig was referring to the GMPP by you saying "Protection Plan." Glad it didn't cost you anything. Deductible?Actually the Protection Package was just an option that includes front side airbags and a theft deterrent alarm. Let me restate the "I'm not paying..." line: I had to pay for the fist one, but the dealer has a 12 month/12k miles warranty on parts and labor, so I didn't pay for the subsequent two cores.The previous times it was in getting fixed they gave me a G6 as a loaner - I'd take one of those any day over the LaCrosse.

3rd time replacing said component... hello lemon law!!! That really sucks!!!

I don't think the lemon law applies in this case since the car is already out of warranty (from what I've read).Anyway, got it back today. Maybe this one will last more than a month.