My name is Andrew Van Busklirk and I drive arouind a 1997 Chevy Camaro SS 30th anniversary edition. I absolutly love this car but last night I had a little bit of a problem. I havn't taken it to the shop yet because I am in the military and make just enough to get by, and I was wondering if you could give me an idea to what this problem could be. This entire past weekend I have been getting a semi-sweet smell, almost like coolant or windsheild washer, fluid out of my ventalation system on the inside of the car. I havn't been able to find a steady pattern to when the smell appears but it is not a constant nusianse and it uisually is rather faint. last night 16 MAR 2008) I was cruising along at 80 mph on fairly flat to down grade road and my tempurature gauge started to climb. It was not a really fast climb in tempurature but it was a marked increase. It stop increasing around 210 degrees which is well within operatiing standards for the car, but a little on the high side. It stayed there for about another 10 minutes of the same kind of driving and the tempurature started to increase extreamly fast and within a matter of seconds my car was operating (according to the gauge) well over 280 degrees (which is way beyond the end of the red line on the gauge). I tried turning my heat ventilation system on to get some of that hot air out and there was no warm air coming out of the system at all, It felt like air conditioning, however there was no smell. I pulled over to the side of the road and as soon as I turned my car off, fairly light smoke filled my car but there wan't any scent like I had before. I opened my hood to help cool the engine off, and some light smoke came out from under the hood. I also noticed a fluid coming out from under my car and it was dripping from the passenger side, near the front of the car. I let the engine cool off for a little and tried starting my car, and even though the engine was cool, as soon as I turned it on it started it to heat up just as fast as right before I pulled over. Is there anyway you guys can try and tell me what is going on in my car? I NEED HELP!

With the symptom of a sweet smell from the air ducts, I would wager the heater core has acquired a hole/leak.

You should get a Haynes manual to gain knowledge about the car to see if you would like to tackle the job of swapping out the h/core or let a shop do it and further diagnose the damage, if any, done to the engine.

Welcome to the Club and Thank you for your time in the service.

With the symptom of a sweet smell from the air ducts, I would wager the heater core has acquired a hole/leak.

Not only that, but it sounds like ALL the coolant has leaked out!
Open the cap on the radiator or overflow tank and fill her back up.
There is a procedure for "burping" those cars, a small brass screw on the thermostat housing, unscrew it till it starts to bubble and wait until coolant comes out.

Most large bases have an auto shop, or at least they did when I was in. You might go there in search of help, space, and tools.

You'll be needing a new heater core. Watch the coolant level close until it is fixed. Overheating does BAD permanent things to those motors.

I appreciate al the feedback for that, I will look into the heater core, but I know that my coolant is good, Also I found that my reserve tank for the coolant has got a huge hole in it so I need to replace that, and there is a hobby shop on base and it is very well equiped so I might just do this myself, do you know how much a heater core runs?

Hey quick question guys, could a faulty tempurature gague be doing the problem of over heating cause I have been blowing through coolant like it is cool, so I am thinking maybe it is a tempurature thing.

You cna get an idea of parts pricing by going to www.rockauto.com and maybe to z-one at Autozone for instructions or buy a Haynes manual for the car and read up when at taps & lights out.

Check tailpipe for lots of moisture coming out, meaning blown head gasket or worse case, warped cylinder head or cracked cylinder head/block. Check oil level for an increase in oil level and color. If water/coolant is mixed with oil, it will look like milk. Another clue is to remove spark plugs and check for the cleanest one on the electrodes, leaky cylinder.

Replacing heater core in late model car is not easy, but a challenge and patience is needed. Replacing head gaskets is a challenge also, but a life's lesson. If you do decide to change anything, might consider changing hoses, belts, thermostat, coolant, oil & filter, air filter, fuel filter, and maybe the fan relay for peace of mind.

If you change head gaskets, change all the above plus injector set, spark plugs, and water pump, nad of course, the reservior. You've already tore it down for this repair, replace those items serviceable while you're there. Save time for later. I know its money, but at least change oil & filter and coolant witrh thermostat and belts, hoses as a minimum. Overheating puts these items closer to their death.

Clean the radiator also, inside and out. Again visit RockAuto for pricing ideas.

You're "blowing thru coolant" because you have one or more holes in your cooling system.
Don't blame the messenger, the gauge is fine.

And more than likely the Auto hobby shop on base has the Haynes or Chiltons manuals for you as well.

Yeah, I was going to just replace everything but I think I may have to wait around for a minute cause I need money! Anyway I have a day off on Friday so my and a buddy who is also a mechanic are just going to go to the hobby shop and take care of the small **** I can afford to do like a radiator fluch, temp gauge, and check all my hoses and replace if nessasary, appreciate all your help and I will keep you guys posted and in all reality probably ask more questions as I go along.