4 Causes of Smoke Coming Out of Your Car Vents
Noticing smoke coming out of your car’s vents while driving can be quite an alarming experience. After all, it’s only natural to get at least a little nervous at the sight of smoke billowing from anywhere within your vehicle’s interior.
Obviously, it’s not good a good sign, but just how serious is it? Read on to learn more about where the smoke is originating from, its seriousness, and how to fix it.
Reasons Smoke Is Coming Out of AC Vents
You may witness smoke coming out of your vehicle’s vents for one of several different reasons. Here the most common causes:
1) Evaporator Core Leak
An evaporator core leak can easily lead to the appearance of white smoke coming from a vehicle’s vents. Only, in this case, the smoke that is witnessed is actually steam emitted from the pressurized cooling system.
How It Enters
Steam from an evaporator core leak naturally circulates through the containment in which the evaporator core is located, as this air is circulated, it is naturally expelled from the vehicle’s vents.
Seriousness
Though what is witnessed in this case is actually steam and not smoke, a leaking evaporator core is no laughing matter and should be addressed as soon as possible. The seriousness of a leaking evaporator core is due to several factors:
1. The loss of refrigerant reduces the A/C system’s efficiency, leading to warm air blowing out of the vents.
2. If ignored, the moisture from the leak can cause corrosion and further damage within the HVAC system, resulting in more costly repairs.
3. Continuous exposure to leaking refrigerant can pose health risks, especially in enclosed spaces like a vehicle.
How to Fix
Though a number of stop-leak products (like Red Angel and A/C Pro Super Seal) are currently available on the market, the only true way to address an evaporator core leak is to replace the defective evaporator core itself.
2) Locked-Up Belt Driven Accessory
Occasionally, belt driven accessories such as alternators, power steering pumps, etc. can lock up as the result of a faulty bearing. When this occurs, a belt is being drugged across the fixed pulley until it breaks, producing noticeable smoke.
How It Enters
Smoke from the abovementioned event can quickly enter a vehicle’s fan if the HVAC system is set to fresh air intake. Smoke deposited can be to a varying degree, much of which is visually obvious.
Seriousness
A locked-up accessory drive pulley can prove rather serious, as the drive belt itself will quickly become compromised. In turn, vehicle driveability will immediately suffer.
How to Fix
The only way to remedy the above concern is to replace the affected belt-driven accessory, and likely the belt itself. In many cases, it is also a good idea to replace the serpentine belt’s idler at this time as well, if it appears worn.
3) Electrical Short
In certain cases, an electrical short from within the engine bay can also cause smoke to appear, some of which can be deposited through a vehicle’s interior vents. This smoke is created as small electrical contacts or wires are burnt.
How It Enters
Electrical smoke from under-hood shorts generally enters the cabin of a vehicle when HVAC controls are set to recirculate. This smoke is then deposited through a vehicle’s vents.
Seriousness
Electrical fires and the smoke they produce can prove to be a serious safety hazard. If you ever believe that your vehicle is experiencing the symptoms of an electrical fire, stop immediately, and assess the situation.
How to Fix
In most cases, a thorough physical examination of a vehicle’s electrical system is required to locate the short in question. This is not always the easiest of tasks. Nonetheless, a trained eye should ultimately be able to locate the source of such a short.
4) Abnormal A/C Operating Conditions
There are certain conditions under which a frosty fog can be emitted from a vehicle’s vents due to abnormal AC system operation. This occurs most frequently when low-side A/C pressures are below the anticipated threshold, or when system blockages arise.
How It Enters
Air is circulated across a vehicle’s partially frozen evaporator coil, causing frosty air to be expelled from the interior vents. This becomes even more noticeable when this air contacts warmer cabin air and immediately condenses.
Seriousness
The condition outlined above is not too serious, as it will not affect a vehicle’s driveability. However, it is worth noting that the vehicle’s A/C operation is likely to suffer. This can be particularly troubling in summer months.
How to Fix
A trained automotive A/C technician will be required to diagnose the issue at hand. This typically involves checking the pressures within this system as a whole.
Troubleshooting (Identifying the Cause)
The first step to troubleshooting the issue of smoke coming coming into your car’s cabin through its vents involves recording what was observed.
– Was the smoke in question odorous, or was it free of smell?
– Was it actually smoke that was observed, or possibly steam that is being seen circulating throughout the vehicle’s ductwork?
Once these questions are answered, a thorough visual inspection beneath the hood of the affected vehicle is warranted. While doing so, look closely for pinhole radiator hose leaks, blown-out exhaust gaskets, or anything else similar. Any such issues should be completely fixed before proceeding.
What To Do If You Notice Smoke While Driving
If you see smoke coming from your vehicle’s vents and are not 100% sure that there’s no risk involved, it is always best to take the safe route and pull over. Once pulled to the shoulder of the road or nearby parking lot, the issue at hand can be investigated more thoroughly, and the true risk involved can be assessed in detail.
If in doubt as to the source of this smoke, or if the smoke in question continues to build indicating a fire, do not hesitate to call the fire department. Most importantly, if you feel as if the vehicle is truly on fire, step back to a safe distance, while also urging others to remove themselves from the scene as well. Do not take any unnecessary risks.
Potential Dangers
The single biggest potential danger surrounding the appearance of smoke being discharged from a vehicle’s interior vents comes when you ignore this symptom, assuming that no true issue exists. When this occurs, you’re leaving yourself and your passengers at grave risk of injury or worse, should a true fire actually exist.
Unless you are able to say conclusively that nothing within the affected vehicle’s engine bay is burning or smoldering, you should treat the situation as a potential safety risk. Action must be taken to mitigate this risk at whatever cost, should the need arise. Doing so could potentially save lives.