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

[Patrick T.]

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

Will do Rick, I can reach behind there and disconnect the switch first and see what happens. PT

[Clem Z.]

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

they are great at finding places to store food. a friend called and said the carb on his car was acting up and would i come a look at it. when i removed the air cleaner lid the area between the filter element and the outside if the filter body was full of dog food and choking off the air to the engine he also had a 50# bag of dog food in his garage.

[Wayne P.]

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

Patrick I had smoke come from my accessory position . It travelled under the dash as well. I think over a period of time some oil must have gotten on the contacts. I thought a fire was going to start . Good luck let us know what you find.

[Patrick T.]

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

they are great at finding places to store food. a friend called and said the carb on his car was acting up and would i come a look at it. when i removed the air cleaner lid the area between the filter element and the outside if the filter body was full of dog food and choking off the air to the engine he also had a 50# bag of dog food in his garage.

When I bought my '57 basket case, there was no motor or transmission but I did get the original Harrison radiator. So one day, I held up the radiator and heard a noise in there. Shook the radiator and tilted it upside down and there must have been a pound of small, granular dog or cat food that poured on the floor.

I think the radiator and a dog food dish must have been the garage and the mice made a nice nest in there since there was no cap. When the dog or cat wasn't around, the mouse would steal food out of the bowl and stashed it down in the opening. That way they had plenty of food and were safe from predators. PT

[Patrick T.]

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

Ok, today I pulled out the glove box, the radio side covers and disconnected the heater box resistor and removed the door panel and the vent window. I could find no evidence of any mouse activity. I got a good look behind the radio and there was no evidence of burned wires.

I also checked the power window wiring inside the door. Everything seems to be OK. The resistor could have burned up and that seems to be the only conclusion I can come to at this point.

I turned on the key to ACC and checked everything...there was no smoke, everything worked, the blower motor had high and low speeds, the power windows worked and no fuses blown. I am truly baffled by this. I guess I'll have to start it up and then see if anything happens.

Usually when you see smoke coming out of the defroster vent, that is not good but I'll be damned if I can see anything wrong. I'll see if I can remove that resistor tomorrow to see if it's burned up. I think I can get it out without removing the heater box. PT