smoke filled cab when using heater?!!!
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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smoke filled cab when using heater?!!!
I have an 82' F-250 extended cab with 302 automatic. When the truck warms up and I turn on the heat my cab fills with smoke. It smells more like exhaust fumes than anything burning. What could be causing this. The truck does not have the catylytic converter, or the factory air filter cover,or valve cover vent. I also need to replace the heater core how can I determine if mine is the hi output heater core or the standard one.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 39
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From: North West Oklahoma
as far as the "smoke" im not sure where to tell you to go.. but for the high output just pop the hood and look on the hvac unit on the firewall.. that is where mine is stamped high output.. but I THINK if it had a/c from the factory than they are the standard...
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 115
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From: Toledo Ohio
Ayy buddy sorry I cant be no help ,but I had a ground wire fall out of my amp and the amp was just getting power. There was so much smoke It was re dic!
I have a quick question tho...says your heat say only work on the high setting?
I have a quick question tho...says your heat say only work on the high setting?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
Spydycarnge,
Welcome to the forum!
Does the cab actually fill with smoke or just an odor? If smokey, is it white? Is an oily residue left on the inside if your windows? Adding to Ottneys250's question... does your blower operate on all speeds?
Welcome to the forum!
Does the cab actually fill with smoke or just an odor? If smokey, is it white? Is an oily residue left on the inside if your windows? Adding to Ottneys250's question... does your blower operate on all speeds?
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 28
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From: Lompoc, CA
if it is white smoke and smells anything like antifreeze it's your heater core...if it smells like exhaust like sniffing your tailpipe you have an exhaust leak and that is major BAD!
if it's an antifreeze smell your ok (you won't die) it just smells pretty bad...if it's and exhaust leak/smell you either need to not drive the truck or drive with as many open windows as you can...i'm not saying you'll die but it's not very good for your health. Exhaust gas/fumes are poisonous.
if it's an antifreeze smell your ok (you won't die) it just smells pretty bad...if it's and exhaust leak/smell you either need to not drive the truck or drive with as many open windows as you can...i'm not saying you'll die but it's not very good for your health. Exhaust gas/fumes are poisonous.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
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From: Northern California
It's most likely your heater core leaking and turning to steam.
However, these heaters are notorious for catching on fire due to debris entering the air passages of the heater.
Remove the blower motor, and the Blower motor resistor and clean all the leaves out of the heater box. Also would be a wise idea to remove the kick panels and remove the vents on each side under the dash, or the inspection plates with A/C and clean all the leaves and debris collected at the bottom of the vent-ways.
Leaves and flamable debris enter the fresh air intakes in the cowl, and inter the heater and vent-ways that way. They can collect against the heater core, and the blower motor resistor creating a fire hazard, and plug up the vent passages so the heater wont blow air properly.
hope this helps
However, these heaters are notorious for catching on fire due to debris entering the air passages of the heater.
Remove the blower motor, and the Blower motor resistor and clean all the leaves out of the heater box. Also would be a wise idea to remove the kick panels and remove the vents on each side under the dash, or the inspection plates with A/C and clean all the leaves and debris collected at the bottom of the vent-ways.
Leaves and flamable debris enter the fresh air intakes in the cowl, and inter the heater and vent-ways that way. They can collect against the heater core, and the blower motor resistor creating a fire hazard, and plug up the vent passages so the heater wont blow air properly.
hope this helps
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New User
Joined: Oct 2009
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Holy shiat! I think I have the same issue. My heater core is leaking (steams up when I turn the heater on) and leaves in my air vents, I can hear them wooshing around lol. I guess I need to do this soon. Any tips on replacing the heater core on an '86 F150 302 EFI? 
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
I think the other guys are on the money checking the heater core for a leak. But one other thing you might want to check is the blower switch. I've had it happen a couple of times that when you run the blower on high a lot the connection to the switch in dash gets very hot and it smokes the plastic connector. Its the top wire....the orange one I believe.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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smoke filled cab when using heater
It is a very straight forward job. Just take off the cover so you can visually see the heater core from inside the cab and just from that and seeing coolant on you floor will just about seal the deal on if it is the heater core or not. In my manual it says to disconnect the heater vent cable, but i found that to be not neccesary.
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