leaf fires in vents

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Jan 2, 2003 | 09:03 PM

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leaf fires in vents

just signed in as new user. this may have been addressed in the past. in the past 4 years i have had 2 smoke fires from leaves in the blower, coil area where the heating element is. how do they get in there and how do i prevent it? it's a 86 f150 when this happens my truck looks like an old cheech and chong movie with all the smoke coming out the windows!!!!!!! thanks

Jan 2, 2003 | 10:27 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

leaf fires in vents

They get in there through the grill in front of the windshield. They work their way in when the are green and flexible. Then they dry out later on and cause the trouble. The panel with the grill will come completely off if you take the wiper arms off. You could then mount a fine mesh screen under the opening if you wanted.

Jan 2, 2003 | 10:31 PM

Robert Red Ford

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Joined: Dec 2002

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From: Castlegar BC Canada

leaf fires in vents

If I had that problem I would install a metal screen below the grille. Never heard of a leaf fire before, must be a funny thing to see.

Jan 2, 2003 | 11:42 PM

82Red

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Joined: Nov 2002

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From: Bartlett,TN

leaf fires in vents

I have had this happen to me once before and about the only way to prevent the fires if you are under alot of trees is to clean out the heater coil area every so often to make sure there are no leaves in it.The mesh would probably work too. Never tried it.

Jan 3, 2003 | 12:33 AM

steve83

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From: Memphis, TN

leaf fires in vents

You can swap to an '87-91 wiper valance that has pinholes instead of slots (the '92-97 doesn't fit the hood :-( ), but a few leaves can still get in under the windshield trim. Pull the blower motor & the resistor plate - if you can't get them ALL out, pull the evaporator core by removing the plastic cover that faces the R exhaust manifold.

Jan 3, 2003 | 01:04 AM

Superdave

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From: Indiana

leaf fires in vents

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Jan-03 AT 02:15 AM (EST)]We also use 82 Red's method for leaf removal.

My son kept telling me it smelled like leaves were burning in our 82. It turned out they were, litterally. :-staun

Ours also looked like the reference about the Cheech and Chong movies.

Its funny now, but it wasn't then, it tightened our pucker string pretty good.

Jan 3, 2003 | 08:15 AM

brown 4x4

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From: Nebraska

leaf fires in vents

>You can swap to an '87-91 wiper valance that has pinholes
>instead of slots (the '92-97 doesn't fit the hood :-( ), but
>a few leaves can still get in under the windshield trim.
>Pull the blower motor & the resistor plate - if you can't
>get them ALL out, pull the evaporator core by removing the
>plastic cover that faces the R exhaust manifold.

Yep, had that done when I got the 86 repainted. Perfect fit, no more leaves.

I never had a problem with them burning, they'd just blow out of the defrost or the side kick panel vents every time I'd open them.

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1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 155" 4x4 M5OD 302
1986 F-150 4x4 NP435 300