HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

**Tracy C.** · March 7, 2010, 06:31 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Any evidence of mice in your garage?

tc

**Patrick T.** · March 7, 2010, 06:41 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Originally posted by Tracy Crisler (40411)

Any evidence of mice in your garage? tc

Tracy, no mice that I know of. If there were mice, I would have seen one by now. I keep the car doors closed and the windows up but I guess it's still possible. What I can't figure out is why it smoked that one time and now it doesn't smoke. (for now)

I think I'm going to at least pull the glove box and get a better look back in there, near the radio speaker. I don't trust the car now. PT

**Joe C.** · March 7, 2010, 06:46 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Originally posted by Patrick Tighe (33001)

It just doesn't get any better than this! My '67 has been sitting in the garage since last November. I have a battery minder on that keeps the battery charged. Every week or so I check the power windows, fan, heater, lighter, radio etc. I haven't started it since November and back then the car ran fine.

Now today, I took off the drivers door panel to readjust it. Then I wanted to check the power window to make sure it cleared ok. So I turn the key to the accessory position and run the window up and down a few times. Then I smelled smoke like burning plastic and it was coming up thru the defroster vent, man did it stink. I immediately turned the key to off. I looked under the dash with a flashlight but couldn't see any burned wires but that was what it smelled like.

So a little while later, I sit in the car and turn the key to accessory. This time no smoke, all the instruments and gauge cluster work, everything seems to work, although I can't start it up yet. I haven't touched any wiring under the dash since last summer. None of the fuses are blown but something happened under the dash.

I looked this up in the archives but no luck. The car has just sat in the garage and now all of sudden...this happens??? This has me very concerned to say the least. Has this happened to anyone or can anyone suggest what might have happened? I just don't understand how something like this could have happened out of the blue by just sitting in the garage. I appreciate any and all comments, I am really PO'ed about this. Thanks, PT

Let's see if I understand you correctly.

Every week since Nov, you turn the key to ACC and check all functions with no problems. You never attempt to crank the starter. Right?

This last time, you do the same after removing the driver's door panel and see smoke from under the dash while operating the power window 3 cycles. Right?

Now here is where I lose you. Do you or do you not attempt to operate the starter?

Check and clean all terminals on the bulkhead connector for the engine harness to main harness junction at fuse panel.

**Michael M.** · March 7, 2010, 06:48 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

I'm going to ask the obvious question. But its about the safety of you and your family. You did leave the battery disconnected untill you find out for sure what it is?

**Patrick T.** · March 7, 2010, 07:09 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Joe, I have not operated the starter since I'm replacing the all the hoses under the hood and there is no coolant in the engine

Michael, I have the battery disconnected.

**Tyler T.** · March 7, 2010, 08:04 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Check to see if a wire is not being pinched by the clutch. I have had a brake wire get pinched when the clutch was let out.

Tyler

**Ronald L.** · March 7, 2010, 08:29 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

There is a thermo couple in the heater case. With or without mice that could have fried. Mice love heater cases running or not. That and frame rails. they build nests in the rails and heater cases...

**Patrick T.** · March 7, 2010, 08:30 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Originally posted by Tyler Townsley (4814)

Check to see if a wire is not being pinched by the clutch. I have had a brake wire get pinched when the clutch was let out. Tyler

Tyler, will do. I can see where this is going. There are no shortcuts to this. I'll have to check every single wire under the dash. With my luck, I'll have to buy and install a new dash harness. Well, there goes my Spring and Summer down the drain. What a bummer.

**Stephen L.** · March 7, 2010, 09:06 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Patrick, There is a resistor bank located inside the heater box that reduces the voltage to the blower motor when in the low speeds. This is accessible thru the box behind the glovebox. looks for 3 wires connecting to the box. Remove the resistors which are on a phenolic piece.

You probably had a critter build a nest inside the box in this area and it smoldered when you turned on the heater blower. You'll probably need to take the box apart to remove the nest.....

Good luck

**Dick W.** · March 7, 2010, 09:11 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

When "Kermit" went thru the back wall in July, it tore the bond between the LF fender and the cowl. There must have been 5# of dog food in there. We have mice pads scattered all over the garage and did not think about having mice, but it seems they decided to put their winter stock pile there

**Patrick T.** · March 7, 2010, 09:28 PM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Thanks for all the replies guys. I guess I'll just have to start tearing it apart. I put a new heater thermo couple in a year ago. I just reached up in there and didn't feel anything funny. I'll disconnect that coupler with the three wires tomorrow and see what that does. PT

**Rob M.** · March 8, 2010, 04:07 AM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Did you check the harnasses of the power window (since that is what you were operating when the smoking started)???

regards,
Rob.

**Richard M.** · March 8, 2010, 05:12 AM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

I also think it's something that was across the heater blower resistor, or a defective one. Was the heater blower switch left on when you stored the car in November? Maybe you had it on for that last ride before you put it away and forgot the switch was on. Yes I'd remove it and see what's in there.

Years ago in late fall my wife left work and got in our '84 Bronco. She turned the key on to ignition and smoke came pouring out into the interior. Fire dept arrived. Disconnected the battery but couldn't find anything wrong. Got it towed home. Thant night in the garage I kept smelling something inside, familiar from when I was a kid in the fall. Looking around under the dash all was ok. Then I got it.......that smell......burning leaves!

Took the blower resistor off the heater box in the engine bay. A leaf got caught across the resistor wires, burned up then disintegrated. The box was full of leaves, pine needles, etc. Cleaned it out and was fine. Put a screen in the air intake and never had another problem.

Rich

**Patrick T.** · March 8, 2010, 11:44 AM

Re: HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

Originally posted by Rob Musquetier (41157)

Did you check the harnasses of the power window (since that is what you were operating when the smoking started)???

regards,
Rob.

Rob, yeah that's where I think I'll have to start. I'm not looking forward to this!

HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

HELP!! Smoke coming out of the defroster vent...

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