Smoke through dash

[jim91]

Not sure if right place to post.

This is happening on damp /cold moist mornings especially at same point on my commute (so thinking when engine gets to a certain temp). Getting some smoke coming through dash near heater controls, when put blower on it goes away. It did this when I bought it around 8 years ago and then seemed to stop after I got rocker cover gasket and crankshaft seals done.

Anyone any ideas??

[Nate]

Any smell or colour to it? Chances are it is either electrical smoke, in which case I would advise not to drive until sorted, or leaking heater matrix which would make coolant drop.

Outside shot that it's water getting into the heater box somehow and boiling off once the heater is up to temp

[jim91]

No distinctive colour, like a whitish grey to lhs of dash. Coolant rarely needs topped up and it only seems to do when cold damp, was fine over the summer etc. If coolant it would be doing regularly regardless of weather I assume?

I washed it one wet day during summer before heading to a wedding and then got some water dripping down from under passenger side under dash shelf, similar area, maybe this is running into heater.

I'm assuming centre console needs removed to get at matrix etc, tricky job?

Wouldn't be any fumes from engine getting through would it??

Cheers for help dude

[ianaudia4]

Centre consol doesn't need removing to check the matrix, but it is an awkward job. Before doing that though check your drain holes in the scuttle area are clear and not blocked, if they are blocked it would cause water to enter the heater.

Doubtfull if engine fumes are coming through, unless you have a few bulkhead grommets missing!

[jim91]

Drainholes at far ends of scuttle or are there others?

[DannyH]

This used to happen to me it turned out to be a build up of gunge round where the water hose goes into the block.

When it got damp and the engine heated it it smoked and blew in under the dash.

[jim91]

This used to happen to me it turned out to be a build up of gunge round where the water hose goes into the block.

When it got damp and the engine heated it it smoked and blew in under the dash.

Cheers dude, did smoke vanish when heater on too?

[DannyH]

Disappeared pretty quickly once everything was hot.

Next time it happens pull over and have a look.

Being a dumb old bugger took me months of looking to figure it out.

[jim91]

Maybe try a new rocker gasket too as gunk maybe coming from there

[jim91]

Update on this: Rocco had been of the road for a fair while there and was with a mate getting sorted. Damp had got into fuse box so that needed replaced, all grommets etc in bulkhead to make sure no water getting in, drainholes cleared out in scuttle. New rocket gasket fitted and rocker well cleaned out. Also had new waterpmp and a coolant flush.

Still getting the smoke! When heater controls are at the far left (ie closed) don't get any smoke, but once moved over to the right the smoke starts to come out past while have been leaving them closed, but had to use blower to clear the screen and got smoke.

If was sure ust steam from water or damp wouldn't be too concerned but don't like the thought of breathing any ole crap in!!

Anymore thoughts dudes?

[james butler]

resister pack that controls fan speed on its way out?

[jim91]

It happens even when fan not switched on, if vents open. It did it when I got the car nearly 9years ago then something seemed to cure it but now it's at it again!!

[Nate]

What does it smell like?

[jim91]

Hard to say dude, and generally comes out lhs console and goes towards passenger seat. It's been nice and dry past few days and not had it out so be using tomorrow with vents open to see if does it.

[Nate]

Most likely options are electrical smoke, burnt oil off the exhaust or coolant. All are usually quite distinctive smells