AC Xchanger melted down was smoldering

[groovtubin]

Don't run AC on my 87 BII SO i had taken belt off long ago Started smelling a what seemed like TRASH fire, few days ago.....assumed it was just the rural area i'm in, happens all the time, literally SAME smell, Well tonight w/HEAT n FAN on, smoke started coming thru vents, turned Heat n fan OFF n assumed everything b OK, well it WASNT SOON as i got off on my road the truck FILLED w/toxic smoke, rolled windows down, n FORTUNATELY was right in front of a buddies house, WE got bucket O water n doused the housing, a SILVER dollar size hole that had melted opened made it EASY to put out, there were tiny embers, it wasn't flames, Also took connector off the conn, n tomorrow at light will pull every fuse associated with AC..ANYONE here experienced this? I'm ASSUMMING that the HEATER n AC don't SHARE components? Tad o DRAMA tonight! Glad i'm home safe. ALIVE. And truck is STIL there, n THANK GOD.......

 

[fastpakr]

Wild guess - the blower resistor shorted out and caught leaves inside the housing on fire?

 

[RobbieD]

It sounds like you had a leaf and debris accumulation in the HVAC box, that got ignited by the blower resistor and burned.

 

[JoshT]

+1 for blower resistor. Had nothing to do with AC.

Unfortunatel it's an all too common problem with these older Ford trucks. The latest first gen I bought also had a blower resistor meltdown at some point in the past. That reminds me that I need to keep an eye out for a replacement plenum sometime when I'm at the pick-n-pull.

 

[groovtubin]

It sounds like you had a leaf and debris accumulation in the HVAC box, that got ignited by the blower resistor and burned.

NAILED IT!

 

[groovtubin]

It sounds like you had a leaf and debris accumulation in the HVAC box, that got ignited by the blower resistor and burned.

+1 for blower resistor. Had nothing to do with AC.

Unfortunatel it's an all too common problem with these older Ford trucks. The latest first gen I bought also had a blower resistor meltdown at some point in the past. That reminds me that I need to keep an eye out for a replacement plenum sometime when I'm at the pick-n-pull.

THANKS!

 

[groovtubin]

+1 for blower resistor. Had nothing to do with AC.

Unfortunatel it's an all too common problem with these older Ford trucks. The latest first gen I bought also had a blower resistor meltdown at some point in the past. That reminds me that I need to keep an eye out for a replacement plenum sometime when I'm at the pick-n-pull.

Wild guess - the blower resistor shorted out and caught leaves inside the housing on fire?

Nailed it Thanks!

 

[groovtubin]

+1 for blower resistor. Had nothing to do with AC.

Unfortunatel it's an all too common problem with these older Ford trucks. The latest first gen I bought also had a blower resistor meltdown at some point in the past. That reminds me that I need to keep an eye out for a replacement plenum sometime when I'm at the pick-n-pull.

need to clarify, the AC housing caught fire, not the blower motor housing, Is the BM resistor IN the AC housing? APPRECIATE help!

 

[JoshT]

Yes. I don't have a picture that shows the resistor. If you see the red in the bottom corner of this one, that is where the resistor is located. Looks like PO on my truck created a patch out of an old road sign.

 

[groovtubin]

Yes. I don't have a picture that shows the resistor. If you see the red in the bottom corner of this one, that is where the resistor is located. Looks like PO on my truck created a patch out of an old road sign.

View attachment 119841

OH man, vacuum out, n replace.... CARP lol Thank you! That was what got it!