Get email notification of topic replies. Log in or register (free). Amazon Link Buy anything with this and it helps MVS!
smoke coming through vents?
- kippster41493
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 11:44 am
- Year and Model: 1994 850
- Location: Beloit, WI
smoke coming through vents?
94 850 2.3 When vehicle is getting up to temp. I will smell a burning smell (can't quite tell if coolant or oil) but a little smoke will come through the vents. I'll have the heat on because its winter obviously, the smell isn't constant in fact its only there for a couple of minutes. The smoke will last about 30 seconds or so, I have the windows rolled down at this point mainly because I'll have my 1year old daughter with me in the car. Any ideas where to start?
1994 850 2.3 Turbo
1998 V70 GLT 2.5 Turbo
- project now
1995 BMW 530i
1998 Eclipse GSR - 3.5" off the ground and headers

1998 V70 GLT 2.5 Turbo

1995 BMW 530i

1998 Eclipse GSR - 3.5" off the ground and headers
- rspi
- Posts: 7288
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:40 am
- Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
- Location: Albuquerque, NM
- Has thanked: 24 times
- Been thanked: 51 times
Re: smoke coming through vents?
Is the seal in place along the firewall to seal off the engine compartment from the vent intakes?
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg
'98 S70 GLT, Lil' Red 25/32 mpg
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos
'98 S70 GLT, Lil' Red 25/32 mpg
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos
- kippster41493
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 11:44 am
- Year and Model: 1994 850
- Location: Beloit, WI
Re: smoke coming through vents?
I'm not entirely sure where that seal would be? Is it just a rubber gasket along with the top of the firewall? If it is that why would it would be for such a short time? (sorry for the questions, I've never had this happen on any vehicle before)
1994 850 2.3 Turbo
1998 V70 GLT 2.5 Turbo
- project now
1995 BMW 530i
1998 Eclipse GSR - 3.5" off the ground and headers

1998 V70 GLT 2.5 Turbo

1995 BMW 530i

1998 Eclipse GSR - 3.5" off the ground and headers
- dyn blin
- Posts: 177
- Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 2:03 pm
- Year and Model: 1997 850 Wgn
- Location: Sonoma Co, CA
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: smoke coming through vents?
A few thoughts from similar experience
If it's smoke-
Oil on the top the engine under the spark plug cover- if the oil cap gasket is cracking, or the PCV system has a hose loose next to the oil filler neck, it could be burning a spill and causing the odor.
If the PCV system is in need to maintenance, one of the hoses could be cracked or dislodged from the PTC element at the bottom of the turbo intake tube, which could push the gasses where they could come into the cabin through the fresh air cabin filter on the passenger side near the windshield. The PTC element at the bottom of turbo intake tube has a small orifice that may easily get clogged and push back gasses, too
The question on the rubber firewall seal is a good place to look too, but that would simply be a symptom of another problem.
If it's coolant/steam/light-colored smoke coming out the vent:
A failing overflow container cap might cause the smell, but I would imagine the problem would not be intermittent as you describe.
A failing heater core would generally be accompanied by a mess on the passenger side foot well,
If it's smoke-
Oil on the top the engine under the spark plug cover- if the oil cap gasket is cracking, or the PCV system has a hose loose next to the oil filler neck, it could be burning a spill and causing the odor.
If the PCV system is in need to maintenance, one of the hoses could be cracked or dislodged from the PTC element at the bottom of the turbo intake tube, which could push the gasses where they could come into the cabin through the fresh air cabin filter on the passenger side near the windshield. The PTC element at the bottom of turbo intake tube has a small orifice that may easily get clogged and push back gasses, too
The question on the rubber firewall seal is a good place to look too, but that would simply be a symptom of another problem.
If it's coolant/steam/light-colored smoke coming out the vent:
A failing overflow container cap might cause the smell, but I would imagine the problem would not be intermittent as you describe.
A failing heater core would generally be accompanied by a mess on the passenger side foot well,
'97 850 GLT Wagon- Driving to see 300k in the rearview
-
- Posts: 6486
- Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:46 pm
- Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 301 times
Re: smoke coming through vents?
A failing seal on the heater core will make the driver's side damp not the passenger side.
Just to be sure it isn't the heater motor, switch it off prior to starting and see if you get the same issue. Once you are moving try switching it on and see if the issue happens again.
Neil.
Just to be sure it isn't the heater motor, switch it off prior to starting and see if you get the same issue. Once you are moving try switching it on and see if the issue happens again.
Neil.
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - New project and test bed - Sold
2006 XC70
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - New project and test bed - Sold
- kippster41493
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 11:44 am
- Year and Model: 1994 850
- Location: Beloit, WI
Re: smoke coming through vents?
I'll try to see if it's the motor later when I'm off work. For leaks I do have some oil sitting on top of the cam cover because the PCV hose did need to be replaced, I didn't check the flame trap it self but I'm thinking that needs to be done soon, it's just been too cold and I don't have a shop or empty garage, it has another Volvo torn apart in it ..... Regardless I've checked to see if it was leaking down to the heat shield on for the turbo and it dry back there. If I drive for a bit and no smell/ smoke, is that the motor that needs to be replaced or could that just be because the vents are closed that it's just not coming from the engine bay anymore?
1994 850 2.3 Turbo
1998 V70 GLT 2.5 Turbo
- project now
1995 BMW 530i
1998 Eclipse GSR - 3.5" off the ground and headers

1998 V70 GLT 2.5 Turbo

1995 BMW 530i

1998 Eclipse GSR - 3.5" off the ground and headers
- kippster41493
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 11:44 am
- Year and Model: 1994 850
- Location: Beloit, WI
Re: smoke coming through vents?
update on this. Didn't have the vents open, didn't even have the fans on. Smoke still came inside the vehicle, noticed it may have even been coming from the back seat area. I know there is an exhaust leak that I'm getting fixed soon (someone cut out the cat and put an over sized pipe and used crush clamps didn't work) Could it be exhaust seeping into the car? Or could it just be from the floor vents in the back because I know even though the fans set to off its never fully off on these vehicles? Same issue, burning smell and smoke for about 30 seconds or so ....
1994 850 2.3 Turbo
1998 V70 GLT 2.5 Turbo
- project now
1995 BMW 530i
1998 Eclipse GSR - 3.5" off the ground and headers

1998 V70 GLT 2.5 Turbo

1995 BMW 530i

1998 Eclipse GSR - 3.5" off the ground and headers
-
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:44 am
- Year and Model: S70-T5, 1998
- Location: California, USA
Re: smoke coming through vents?
Smoking Vents! The year was 1975 my good friend Richard picked me up for a night on the town in his old mans pride Buick Skylark. We were on our way to pick up the girls and I was diligently rolling doobies on the glove box door. I sparked one up, took a hit then placed it on the dash while I bent over to lick the zigzag of another. Suddenly Richard hits the brakes hard, my head is now stuck in the glove box and the lit doobie on the dash goes down the windshield vent! Oh SHI....! Richard is pissed his dad is going to kill him. I pull my head out of the glove box bleeding and reach over and turn the fan on high cause I don't care how pissed Richard is I am hurting here! It takes awhile but then the smoke starts and it keeps coming and coming and now you can barley see out of the damn car. Richard is screaming like a loon until we both just start laughing. This went on for about an hour before all the smoke cleared. The car reeked, we tried 3 cans of air freshener and sticking a couple of pine sent air freshener trees in the vents to no avail. The old man had our asses for breakfast, lunch and dinner and Richard wasn't allowed to drive the Buick again!
-
- Posts: 299
- Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2015 1:01 pm
- Year and Model: 06 V50 T5
- Location: MI
- Has thanked: 5 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: smoke coming through vents?
+1SpeedyPete wrote:Smoking Vents! The year was 1975 my good friend Richard picked me up for a night on the town in his old mans pride Buick Skylark. We were on our way to pick up the girls and I was diligently rolling doobies on the glove box door. I sparked one up, took a hit then placed it on the dash while I bent over to lick the zigzag of another. Suddenly Richard hits the brakes hard, my head is now stuck in the glove box and the lit doobie on the dash goes down the windshield vent! Oh SHI....! Richard is pissed his dad is going to kill him. I pull my head out of the glove box bleeding and reach over and turn the fan on high cause I don't care how pissed Richard is I am hurting here! It takes awhile but then the smoke starts and it keeps coming and coming and now you can barley see out of the damn car. Richard is screaming like a loon until we both just start laughing. This went on for about an hour before all the smoke cleared. The car reeked, we tried 3 cans of air freshener and sticking a couple of pine sent air freshener trees in the vents to no avail. The old man had our asses for breakfast, lunch and dinner and Richard wasn't allowed to drive the Buick again!
2006 V50 T5
2001 V70 X/C AWD
1998 V70 AWD [RIP at 249,255M]
1990 240 [SOLD at 220xxxM]
2001 V70 X/C AWD
1998 V70 AWD [RIP at 249,255M]
1990 240 [SOLD at 220xxxM]
-
- Posts: 299
- Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2015 1:01 pm
- Year and Model: 06 V50 T5
- Location: MI
- Has thanked: 5 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: smoke coming through vents?
Based on the amount of smoke you're describing, have you been able to see the source of such a significant amount? Tried poking around under the hood to see any potential sources? The cold might help you to visually verify some exhaust leaks.
Does the smoke smell sweet at all? You mention you can't tell if it's coolant or oil.
Does the smoke smell sweet at all? You mention you can't tell if it's coolant or oil.
2006 V50 T5
2001 V70 X/C AWD
1998 V70 AWD [RIP at 249,255M]
1990 240 [SOLD at 220xxxM]
2001 V70 X/C AWD
1998 V70 AWD [RIP at 249,255M]
1990 240 [SOLD at 220xxxM]
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post