Hi, my name is Devin. I am an auto repair expert with the Car Genius team here at RepairPal.
I'm sorry to hear about the steam and defogging issues with your Town Car. The symptoms strongly suggest that the heater core may be leaking. When a heater core fails, it often releases steam or coolant vapor into the cabin, leading to fogged windows that won't clear. The smell you're noticing is likely coolant, which has a distinct sweet or chemical odor.
The steam near the hood could also indicate a coolant leak in the engine bay, possibly related to the heater core hoses or connections. Inspect these areas for wetness or dripping coolant.
This is an urgent issue since a coolant leak can cause overheating, and inhaling coolant fumes isn't safe. It's best to stop driving the car and have it inspected by a professional. Replacing the heater core can be labor-intensive because it's often located behind the dashboard, but addressing it will restore proper defogging and cabin heating.
If you need more advice, have any other questions about your vehicle, or would like to get connected to a RepairPal Certified shop near you, we have you covered. Give us a call at 877-913-1554, and we will happily help you out!
