smoke from vents

[JS2004]

Hi chaps,

 

Ive just has the supra out and ended up pulling over as I was greeted with smoke (greyish, not particularly thick, chemical(ish) smell) [sHOCK][/sHOCK] when I turned the heater on

 

Pulled up and popped the bonnet - no smoke or anything out of the ordinary under there.

 

Got back in, engine on, turned heating controls on (30 temp) and steady stream of smoke from the vents.

 

Turned the heating down to 20 and the smoke seems to reduce a bit.

 

One thing I have noticed lately is when I turn the ignition on I hear what sounds like running water / liquid from the front left of the dash towards the passenger side wind screen. I didnt think much of this until now.

 

Got it home now, but was testing outside. I put it in park and touched the throttle - with no heating on, and no smoke was present. When I turn heating on with no revs there is only a small amount of smoke (hardly visible)

 

However when I turn heating on, and rev the engine the water sound seems to get louder almost as if liquid is being forced through a pipe (it sounds like a radiator in the home that is filling) and at this point I get a rather decent amount of smoke from the vents.

 

Anyone got an idea of what it is and how to fix it? Im guessing its heater matrix but I have none of the damp passenger footwell etc..

 

Cheers guys

 

*edit

Additional info -

 

No Warning lights

Air con was regassed 4 month ago

It hasnt been used much last month (maybe 30 miles at the most)

Edited November 14, 2010 by JS2004 (see edit history)

[Nic]

From the description it sounds like the heater matrix has gone, exactly the same symptoms I had.

[JS2004]

I was suspecting the same - It has also stopped heating too now, at 30 the temp of the air coming out of the vents was not warm at all, especially considering its a cold day.

 

Any idea what the liquid sound is?

 

would it be safe to drive without fixing the heater matrix as long as I dont use it or is it pretty much a *do not drive* type of thing now? The car drove perfectly fine its just that the smoke was a bit annoying.

 

Ive seen plenty of threads here about replacing heater matrix - its not going to cost me much I dont think, just a lot of time and messing around dragging the dash apart!

[Nic]

The sound you can hear is air in the system.

 

I wouldn't drive it as it is, you could temporarily block the pipes that go to the HM, basically removing it from the cooling system and then be able to drive the car - without any heating. Can't remember the best way to do this, Wez can probably advise as I remember him doing this on his track car.

[JS2004]

Cheers Nic,

 

Im looking at this post http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?231798-Heater-blowing-cold-air!-Help-(search-google-didn-t-help)/page3&highlight=heater+matrix at the moment.

 

Going to go have a look under the bonnet.

 

Thing that im confused about is why there is smoke as I would have thought symptoms would just be no heat from the matrix when its buggered.

 

Next step may be searching for a supra-friendly garage in Yorkshire.

[Nic]

It'll be steam from the leaking coolant, the cooling system is pressurised when up to temperature if there's a hole in the matrix it will lose pressure and you'll get boiling steam escaping.

[JS2004]

Right so im going to be loosing coolant through that then.

 

Ive just been back to it. Lifted up passenger carpet, its not wet, but I can see a liquid leaking and there is a small pool of it gathering in the well of the floor. This liquid is oily, light brown in colour but couldnt figure out what it smelt of.

 

Heater is actually blowing hot and cold air and all controls appear to be working.

 

Ill do what you suggested and have a go at blocking the matrix off and removing it from the coolant system. I am thinking I should do this when the car is cold also. Long term view will be to replace the matrix and reconnect it back up.

 

Its not a good scenario but I suppose it could be a lot worse!

 

Cheers Nic

[JS2004]

Quick update here.

 

Thanks to both Nic and Wez - I am going to obtain the right bits required to block off the heater matrix and remove it from the coolant circuit completely until I get around to replacing the matrix next year.

 

Ive sent Paul W a message to ask if he has the right bits in stock and hopefully can take it from there and enjoy smoke-free driving once again.

 

Thanks chaps