busted heater core?

[sd02FX4]

This morning I noticed that the passenger floorboard in my truck was really warm, and when I investigated it, it did smell kinda sweet on the carpet, under the floor mat (not the floor mat itself, though... weird?). It was completely dry so I'm not sure if it was the heater core going bad, or something completely unrelated like a heat shield fell off above the exhaust, heating it up. Hasn't lost any coolant as far as I know. I'm hoping its that and the smell is just something got spilled by the previous owner down there... I do NOT look forward to ripping the dash apart to get back there...

 

[jhammel85]

I would guess that it would be the core. Perhaps its just not leaking enough to see just yet. Give it some more drive time with the heat on and see what happens. When mine went in an old Firebird of mine, It would leak and you could smell it. It'd leak onto the floor as well. It would also steam up the windshield...All of these are typical in a heater core leak.

Look around on here or online to see if anyone knows of an easier way to get to it then ripping out the dash. My Firebird was this way but I found access through the passenger side kick panel...It was a little tough but I got it without pulling the dash!

PS..Just an idea - how are the heatercore hoses under the hood? Any issues with those?

 

[sd02FX4]

The hoses all look good, no cracks or anything and they're tight.
My windshield and windows don't steam up and I can't notice the smell in the cab, I have to lift up the floormat and physically put my head on the floor to smell it.
I also can't feel any fluid on any parts up behind the glovebox/dashboard.

since its 80 degrees now and for the next few days here in san diego, I cant really blast the heat haha, but I will tomorrow morning when the low temp gets around the 50s, and i'll pay attention to it.
thanks

 

[v8318cid]

If that is a leak, it has to be slight for you not to notice any actual fluid. If there are floor mats in the truck, the fluid usually won't evaporate very quickly from underneath the mats. Heat could be from the catalyst underneath...?

 

[sd02FX4]

solved...

After blasting the heater in all settings, I have come to the conclusion that it in fact is the catalytic converter, the floor stays normal temp until I park, when it starts to heat up. While driving, it has airflow moving the heat away/cooling the converter off, but when I park it, the left over heat just goes straight up into the floorboard until it cools down. That's my theory at least..

Thanks jhammel85 for putting up those symptoms that let me rule the heater core out.
So stoked that I can save that awful job for another day!

 

[jhammel85]

lol, no problem man. Good luck if you ever do

Is the heat shield missing on top of the cat? Seems odd that it would heat up that much. Though, I'm sure its fine.