Coolant smell on new Ridge

Check under the floor mats and see if its wet.

There very well could be a leak in the heat exchanger for the heating system. You said it was cold so I assume you had the heat on.

Another less plausible situation, depending on the accuracy of your nose, is you hit the windshield wiper squirters and you're smelling that fluid but it's more of an alcohol smell. This happens everytime I squirt the windshield as the HVAC draws air in from vents right below the front windshield.

I, too, have this weird smell when it got cold here about three days ago. The first time I just turned the "temp dial" to the hottest setting, but did not have the system "on" at all. It smelled right away coming from the vents nearest the doors. But I think my smell is that damn "new-car-scent" that the dealership sprays all over the truck and in the vents. It REALLY smells when heat hits it, just like most air fresheners, especially if you place them in a vent.

So, I doubt it is really the coolant you are smelling. Mine stinks, but it is NOT coolant.

Confused now?
George

as doctor j said.........check under floor mats for coolant. in all trucks ive owned, the coolant would be on the passenger side if leaking from heater core. however, your windows could also fog up as well due to coolant vapors. but coolant in floor board is definately what you want to check for.

I noticed an unusual smell when I first used the heat also-I think it was the first time the heat was on and it was the paint smell from the heat exchanger...if it is still there into the winter, then I will worry.

I've pulled back on the rubber mats and felt both driver/passenger side carpeting surfaces for wet oily coolant and nothing was there. The smell is similar to celery and smells just like coolant. Funny thing, my windows don't fog up and if I stick my face into a dash vent, I don't smell it. Perhaps it is in fact new car smell in a concentrated form. Maybe I'll try lifting the edges of the carpet above the footwell in the event that some escaping coolant is seeping between the carpet and steel flooring. Then again, the coolant level has not budged a bit. Strange....

As posted in an earlier thread, there is one sure fire way to get rid of that new car smell... http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1476&page=2&pp=10&highlight=new+car+smell

I got the same deal....a little smell when the heat is on, but no signs of a leak. I still think it is the new coating on the heater core emitting a smell. Did you try to turn the heat up and run it for some time?? Maybe it will burn off

I did have some fog on the inside of the windows but I attributed that to the 4 inches of rain we have been having for about 2 weeks...and high humidity.

My RL smelled like that when I first turned the heat on. Now 7 months later I turned the heat on again and it did it again for the first few minutes. It no longer does now. I think its just sprays, polishes ,etc.. etc ..from factory. It smelled just like antifreeze.
Word on the street is, all the RL"s will do this frequently except the red ones.Honda cared more about the red ones so they were more careful with them.

rtboy1961 said:

My RL smelled like that when I first turned the heat on. Now 7 months later I turned the heat on again and it did it again for the first few minutes. It no longer does now. I think its just sprays, polishes ,etc.. etc ..from factory. It smelled just like antifreeze.
Word on the street is, all the RL"s will do this frequently except the red ones.Honda cared more about the red ones so they were more careful with them.

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OH MAN...............i hear a ladyridge comin' 'round the bend!!!!