Ok, so my mom is having a problem in her 98 GMC 1500 Conversion Van with 205K miles. This has stumped everyone in town.

There had been this smell that was making her sick about a year and half ago. She took it into the dealerfor something (i dont know what the exact reason was) and they replaced the heater core. Smell gone, sick gone, and other problem fixed.Then the trans finally went about 200K and she took it in to get that fixed. After she did that, the smell and the sick is back. I have never been able to smell it, but i get a head ache sometimes when I ride in it, not often. And she says her friends get sick too. We have had it a couple places and no one can figure it out. My dad and I are stumped.

Could it be the core again, maybe A/C, it wont stay charged but we would smell that, at least I think.

Any ideas welcome.

 

The heater core box will grow mold if the drain is not working. I would also make sure it doesn't have an exhaust leak, that will cause headaches and nausea.

 

What he said and maybe try to seal off the vents the best you can just for a little while. That might help narrow it down.

 

wow, thats hardcore! id prob say mold, cause my dad had an exhaust leak and he said you could def smell it...those are my 2 cents, for what they're worth

 

anti-freeze will be a sweet smell..a/c odor will be like a pissy diaper..exhaust more like a rotten egg

 

I am pretty sure that it is not an exhaust leak but i will check just to be safe. She has had the intake manifold gasket done twice due to anti-freeze leak and I have one on my truck right now so I am pretty sure thats not it because that was the first theing my dad checked for.

Is there a way to check the core? How would a block the vents off?

 

I'm not sure if it has one, but what about the cabin air filter?

 

Yeah I dont know but she said she had the dealer check the heater core when she had it in and its not that. I think she is just going to sell it at this point, its seen its better days and has served its purpose. Time to gert something a little newer with a whole lot less miles.

Thanks everyone for all the help.