smell antifreeze when hood is opened

Keiller

Veteran Member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2004Jetta GL Spice Red
I like to open the hood of my 2004 Jetta TDI (27,000 miles) when I park it since the weather is so hot. I usually get a distinct antifreeze odor. The antifreeze level stays constant in the overflow container and I've never added any. I assume antifreeze is seeping very slowly form somewhere. Any ideas? Thanks.
 

TDIRyan

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2005
Location
Memphis, TN
TDI
02 Jetta TDI Black
is it only when the engine is warmed up or just any time you open the hood?

any puddles under the car?
 

Keiller

Veteran Member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2004Jetta GL Spice Red
I only notice the odor when the engine is hot, and I've never seen antifreeze on the pavement under the car.
 

PDJetta

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Location
Northern Virginia
TDI
'04 Jetta GLS TDI Pumpe Duce Platinum Grey w/ Leather
EGR cooler leak? You may want to remove the EGR valve and take a look inside the intake manifold and EGR pipe where the valve bolts in. There a re a rash of these failures in the '04s.

--Nate
 

TDIRyan

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2005
Location
Memphis, TN
TDI
02 Jetta TDI Black
As stated, it's probably the EGR cooler leaking antifreeze onto the exhaust manifold. There's a TSB (recall) out on this now, so just have the dealer warranty it.
 
Top