Bad smell from heater

kevlar2

This is for a 2003 mitsubishi diamante. I have a really bad burning smell coming from my vents in my car it starts as soon as I start the car. Its not burning oil! I have been told it smells like burning electrical or burning antifreeze. So I was planning on changing out my heater core?? has anyone had this problem before?? This is my first car and i need it to commute to work please help!!!

stever

What kind of Mitsu? Year?

kevlar2

2003 mitsubishi diamante

stever

I think I'd want to narrow the problem down before replacing parts, much less the heater core. That's usually a big job, lots of labor on most cars.

Doesn't sound like it's mold or mildew that you are smelling though.

kevlar2

I was first going to see if the hoses are leaking or if it's clogged cause there is a little bit of white smoke coming from the engine bay right next to the fire wall on the passenger side. I also have a tiny pin while in the radiator I'm it possible for that to cause a smell that would come in through the air vents??

kevlar2

Tiny pin hole*

Mr_Shiftright

You might want to pressurize the cooling system with a pressure pump and see what turns up in terms of leaks. It doesn't take much of a leak to stink up a car.

kevlar2

So I bypassed the heatercore with a connector and ran the air full blast for 20 minutes and the smells gone it also stopped running as hot as it was runs at half now not 3/4. Thanks for all the advice!

Mr_Shiftright

So what's your plan now?