ELP! Smoke coming from Air Vents SW20

[Rasker]

Alrighty, pulled into the drive way at work, spotties were on and so were the head lights, the stereo was turned down low, aircon going, turned into my parking spot, went to reverse.

First thing that happened was the Voltage needled dropped really fast to below mid way and was trying to recover, the alarm (set to go off on low voltage) was going on and off, then in the shock and awe of what was happening white smoke started to come through the air vents with a very bad burning smell to it.

Temp Gauge remained the same, I had just driven 10KM in 30 minutes (Auckland Traffic).

Anyone got a clue what's happened here? I've checked the battery it looks good, belt on the alternator and compressor looks good, radiator isn't THAT hot, can't see anything burning for that matter can't smell the same smell anywhere in the Engine bay.

Please if anyone can give me an idea of what's going on it would be great Kind of don't want to drive it home now.

[Dell'Orto]

Something is possibly shorting out behind your dash, have you wired in a stereo or something else?

[Rasker]

Yeah that's what I thought too, the JVC head unit is the only thing been wired in, had a good look behind there after my original post, and couldn't see or smell anything like the smoke. There is of course the alarm in there, which is wired into the siren that was going off, but it's no where near the air vents.

The smoke did come out of all 4 dash vents, which guessing here would indicate that means it's some where in the system?

[TrouserFxGt]

the fan?

[sergei]

there high possiblity that you had a dodgy setup for your headdeck, it shorted and melted wires in loom which route under air vetnts, basically you are looking at removing the whole dash and rewireing the piece of the loom (possibly it is melted from fuse box till your stereo)..

I actually fixed very similar problem about half a year ago (my mates car - he "hooked" the headdeck), as above dash had to come out and lots of cuting one by one an resoldering with new piece....

[Al]

A/C problem?

You could possibly be short of gas and its turned rather cold causing the vapour, will give off a strange smell too.

Since its coming from the vents it has to be a air problem.

[dragonx]

sounds more like a dodgy alarm install 2 me

1 of the wires might have rubbed through over time, i dont think the factory wiring would smoke unless some one has played with it.

the radio is fused, and i would assume i smoking event would have blown it.

i am of course assuming wiring has smoked rather than a component.

[crispy'86]

`Burning smell, smoke. voltage drop etc. Recipe for an electrical related problem. Shorting wires for your head unit may be shorted to the body of the car. Check for all loose wires from battery espacially

[Rasker]

Head unit is fine all wiring is in good order, I suspect the alarm.... but more thinking the aircon could be the faulty part, spent over a grand getting it fixed so wouldn't be surprised if something else is wrong with it.

Cheers folks, it has done it since, and I can't seem to find any shorts behind the dash, so it's got to be the aircon or alarm good way to spend easter weekend with the car in parts