smoke out of A/C vents (??)

fongo · 06-13-2007, 12:28 PM

Hi everyone.
I'm seeing smoke/mist coming out of the A/C vents when I turn the A/C on or keep the vents open while driving and I'm quite worried!
It does have an anti-freeze king of smell. Any possible sign of coolant sipping into the A/C vent line? (never heard of this).
Please help. Thanks a billion!
fongo

fongo · 06-14-2007, 01:57 PM

Anyone has any comments??
Problem is getting worse. I have anti-freeze leaking out from lower-floor vents on BOTH passanger & driver side.
I read somewhere that it could be the heater core (???)
whaghh!

bailey_57 · 06-14-2007, 04:36 PM

sounds like a heater core issue. are you losing coolant? is the car overheating? is water leaking out of the firewall drain hole on the passenger side behind the AC evaporator? do you have a puddle of coolant soaked into your rug on the passenger side? Your problem sounds like a bad heater core to me.

don't worry, the good news is you only have to remove the console and the dash(if your really good i think you can get the dash out without removing the console) my last core only cost 25 bucks from A&A. good luck. and make sure you check the heater core hoses and replace those along with the clamps.

fongo · 06-14-2007, 05:20 PM

Thanks bailey_57!
That's exactly what's happening. In the Chilton's manual, it says that if your car is A/C equipped you remove the evaporator assembly to get to the heater core. Does that mean you dont have to remove the panel & console (oh man, what a pain!!)

Do you know approx how much it costs to have a shop drain out the refrigerant from the A/C etc and replace the heater core??
Thanks for your help!!
fongo

bailey_57 · 06-16-2007, 01:40 AM

i have a guy that does stuff real cheap for me and he charged me 380 dollars to replace it. the second time i did it myself, and saved a ton of money but i'll never do it again! it SUX. good luck, i don't know that you have to remove the evaporator, my ac was already unfilled from leaking orings, so my heater box wasn't pressurized.

fongo · 06-16-2007, 08:46 AM

Thanks!
The local Ford dealer wants $850 + tax.
Oh well..you gotta do whatcha gotta do...

bailey_57 · 06-18-2007, 09:27 PM

oh my god $850

. Thats terrible! These dealers are crazy. How many hours were you quoted? I paid 38 per hour and it was a ten hour job. Good luck.

USMC302 · 06-25-2007, 03:41 PM

I was able to change the heater core without pulling th dash out, I unbolted it and was able to ull it out far enough on the passengerside to squeeze it out and the new one in. Took around 4 or 5 hours...Good luck.

06-13-2007, 12:28 PM	#1
fongo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 139	smoke out of A/C vents (??) Hi everyone. I'm seeing smoke/mist coming out of the A/C vents when I turn the A/C on or keep the vents open while driving and I'm quite worried! It does have an anti-freeze king of smell. Any possible sign of coolant sipping into the A/C vent line? (never heard of this). Please help. Thanks a billion! fongo __________________ 1993 GT, MAC Fenderwell Cold Air Induction; Accel dist.,Splitfire plugs, BBK: 1 5/8 unequal length shorties, hi flow H-pipe w/ cats; Flowmasters 2 chamber American Thunder catback system, Motorsports 3-core radiator, 180º thermostat, BBK adj. clutch quad...the rest is bone stock!..but more mods to come!!

06-14-2007, 01:57 PM	#2
fongo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 139	Re: smoke out of A/C vents (??) Anyone has any comments?? Problem is getting worse. I have anti-freeze leaking out from lower-floor vents on BOTH passanger & driver side. I read somewhere that it could be the heater core (???) whaghh! __________________ 1993 GT, MAC Fenderwell Cold Air Induction; Accel dist.,Splitfire plugs, BBK: 1 5/8 unequal length shorties, hi flow H-pipe w/ cats; Flowmasters 2 chamber American Thunder catback system, Motorsports 3-core radiator, 180º thermostat, BBK adj. clutch quad...the rest is bone stock!..but more mods to come!!

06-14-2007, 04:36 PM	#3
bailey_57 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Berwick,Pa Posts: 127	Re: smoke out of A/C vents (??) sounds like a heater core issue. are you losing coolant? is the car overheating? is water leaking out of the firewall drain hole on the passenger side behind the AC evaporator? do you have a puddle of coolant soaked into your rug on the passenger side? Your problem sounds like a bad heater core to me. don't worry, the good news is you only have to remove the console and the dash(if your really good i think you can get the dash out without removing the console) my last core only cost 25 bucks from A&A. good luck. and make sure you check the heater core hoses and replace those along with the clamps. __________________ '89 GT hatch back performer rpm intake, performer rpm cylinder heads, fms e-303 cam, kirban adj fp regulator, holley 65mm tb, harland sharp 1.6 roller rockers, alum driveshaft, 3.73 gears (283 rwhp, 303 rwtq new numbers with new heads)

06-14-2007, 05:20 PM	#4
fongo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 139	Re: smoke out of A/C vents (??) Thanks bailey_57! That's exactly what's happening. In the Chilton's manual, it says that if your car is A/C equipped you remove the evaporator assembly to get to the heater core. Does that mean you dont have to remove the panel & console (oh man, what a pain!!) Do you know approx how much it costs to have a shop drain out the refrigerant from the A/C etc and replace the heater core?? Thanks for your help!! fongo __________________ 1993 GT, MAC Fenderwell Cold Air Induction; Accel dist.,Splitfire plugs, BBK: 1 5/8 unequal length shorties, hi flow H-pipe w/ cats; Flowmasters 2 chamber American Thunder catback system, Motorsports 3-core radiator, 180º thermostat, BBK adj. clutch quad...the rest is bone stock!..but more mods to come!!

06-16-2007, 01:40 AM	#5
bailey_57 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Berwick,Pa Posts: 127	Re: smoke out of A/C vents (??) i have a guy that does stuff real cheap for me and he charged me 380 dollars to replace it. the second time i did it myself, and saved a ton of money but i'll never do it again! it SUX. good luck, i don't know that you have to remove the evaporator, my ac was already unfilled from leaking orings, so my heater box wasn't pressurized. __________________ '89 GT hatch back performer rpm intake, performer rpm cylinder heads, fms e-303 cam, kirban adj fp regulator, holley 65mm tb, harland sharp 1.6 roller rockers, alum driveshaft, 3.73 gears (283 rwhp, 303 rwtq new numbers with new heads)

06-16-2007, 08:46 AM	#6
fongo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 139	Re: smoke out of A/C vents (??) Thanks! The local Ford dealer wants $850 + tax. Oh well..you gotta do whatcha gotta do... __________________ 1993 GT, MAC Fenderwell Cold Air Induction; Accel dist.,Splitfire plugs, BBK: 1 5/8 unequal length shorties, hi flow H-pipe w/ cats; Flowmasters 2 chamber American Thunder catback system, Motorsports 3-core radiator, 180º thermostat, BBK adj. clutch quad...the rest is bone stock!..but more mods to come!!

06-18-2007, 09:27 PM	#7
bailey_57 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Berwick,Pa Posts: 127	Re: smoke out of A/C vents (??) oh my god $850 . Thats terrible! These dealers are crazy. How many hours were you quoted? I paid 38 per hour and it was a ten hour job. Good luck. __________________ '89 GT hatch back performer rpm intake, performer rpm cylinder heads, fms e-303 cam, kirban adj fp regulator, holley 65mm tb, harland sharp 1.6 roller rockers, alum driveshaft, 3.73 gears (283 rwhp, 303 rwtq new numbers with new heads)

06-25-2007, 03:41 PM	#8
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	Re: smoke out of A/C vents (??) I was able to change the heater core without pulling th dash out, I unbolted it and was able to ull it out far enough on the passengerside to squeeze it out and the new one in. Took around 4 or 5 hours...Good luck. __________________

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