93 Ford Explorer Smoke coming from dash???

[sailingunc]

Hi...I have a 93 Ford Explorer Limited with 180,000...had usual suspension and window probs, but basically good truck. All of a sudden yesterday I started it up and smelled smoke...then smoke started coming out of AC vents...very toxic smelling...not like coolant? Shut down heater and fan and seemed to go away...not sure what it could be...any ideas? Thanx Unc

 

[SMTGREG]

It could be a leak in the A/C evaporator. You would be smelling the freon and refrigerant oil.

 

[drmazda94]

I have a 94 mazda and i my truck started doing the same thing but only when is cold

 

[Flash Gordan]

Check one of the grounds behind the dash. I had a similar problem in my old toyota celica. Found out that a loose ground was trying to weld itself back on the firewall and was making smoke everywhere.

 

[Frank The Tank]

Does it fog up the window real bad? my heater core went in my 88..... that was definately poisonous.

put a white paper towel or something on the dash, turn it on high (your going to have to put something on it so it doesn't blow away, lol) and see if you can see any color on it at all.... this may help you figure out what it is.

My step dad had a water jacket leak on an engine and it wouldn't smoke till it got hot.... then it would suck into cab.

Does it smoke cold or hot?
I know you said it wasn't a coolant smell........ but it could be tricky if oil and other stuff is burning with it.

Also my dad had a cat get sucked through a fan belt and it land on his exhaust manifold one time in a 460 Ford truck.......... pop the hood, check for cats.

Frank

Frank

 

[4x4junkie]

Make sure there isn't a bunch of dead leaves in the evaporator housing. If the leaves get up against the blower motor resistor they could ignite.

 

[piotrsko]

small rodents like to build homes in the ducting also. smells like sh** or pee when the heater is on.

 

[Duggo]

Make sure there isn't a bunch of dead leaves in the evaporator housing. If the leaves get up against the blower motor resistor they could ignite.

I've had this happen. Black smoke with a sickening sweet smell.