Yesterday with engine warmed-up, while idling at 750 rpm, my heater would not deliver heated air. When I revved to 1700-2000 rpm, good hot air returned quickly. Later in the day, idling heat was hot and normal.

I noticed white smoke coming from front left (driver's side) of engine near the radiator, and a smell similar to burning rubber.

There was liquid (possibly coolant) on the rear (engine-facing-side) of the left electric cooling fan.

On the front left is also my transmission oil cooler, (which according to the manual, is mounted between the front of the radiator and the backside of the A/C condenser).

Fluid levels
Radiator, Coolant reservoir, Brake, Power steering, Transmission fluids, and engine oil levels all look OK. Red transmission fluid on the trans-fluid stick smells normal.

This morning with engine cold, coolant recovery is normal, Radiator level looks about 3-3.5" below the top of the radiator filler neck; I think it was higher yesterday AM.

Without driving, I idled engine until gauge showed normal temperature and got intermittent heat based on revs. With heater blower fan OFF, I heard some gurgling inside from behind the dash, not sure if its normal but I think not; maybe bubbles in heater hose?

I think there was coolant leaking on left side of Radiator onto the engine-side of the fan which in turn blew it onto the trans hoses (confusing newbees like me). Correct me if I am wrong - but that seems more likely, than Trans oil spraying onto the Fan and soaking the oil-trans hoses. My understanding is when the trans-oil hoses leak, the leak is usually a drip as there is not enough pressure in Trans to cause a leak to spray onto other engine parts. Both fans still start and stop.

Whichever fluid is leaking, enough got onto the lower oil-trans-hoses and caused 3-4 small puddles on the ground (about a teaspoon total) misleading me to suspect trans-oil. My coolant is Red so it was difficult to tell them apart.

Thanks in advance!

 

Sounds to me like you got a few different leaks. Transmission cooler lines for one, as well as a leaky radiator. All those things you describe are not normal in any way. You can clean everything with soap and water and then look, but if you're losing coolant, your rad is in need of repair.

 

Just so you know, there is enough pressure in the trans lines o "spray" fluid.
Second, your rad should be full and right up to the bottom of the rad cap. There should be no air space at all. This is the source of the gurgling and lack of interior heat.

 

Replacing leaking radiator fixed the problem and heater is functioning normally.

It took a day for the air to bleed itself out of the cooling system.

Thanks to everyone for your participation!

 

We appreciate you coming back to post the fix.