Smoke Coming out of Dash! please help!

[Herbert Harvey]

Anyone ever have trouble with smoke coming out of the center dash console? This happened to me a few months back, I took out the stereo to try and chase down the culprit to no avail. Didn't see any burnt wires or anything.. Today I took my Esprit on a morning drive, it was cold out so I tried the heater, That awful smoke came out of the hole were the stereo use to be, I turned off the heater right away and the smoke seemed to stop. I purchased my Esprit from a Doctor who blew the Turbo and parked it. Sat for a couple years, I have been going thru the car very carefully done a lot of work and the car runs beautifully. Is it possible all the dust and what not is on the heater core and causing this smoke? it smells very plastic in nature and need i say toxic? 

 

if ANYONE has ever had an experience like this please give me a clue?

 

Thank you for reading my post!

[ramjet]

Welcome to TLF Chris.

You should duck over to the Introductions area and say hi in there as well.

As to your issue, I'm afraid that I can't help. Someone else may have some ideas as to what to look for. If you are getting a plastic type smell, I would suggest wiring as well.

[Choppa]

If its happening when you turn the blower on I'd suggest to start off with having a look at the blower motor assembly for something getting  too warm

[Herbert Harvey]

Ramjet and Choppa,

Thanks for the responses, I took off the blower cover and think I might have found the culprit . First it was filthy inside there. Take a look at the picture! I also didn't quite understand where the air vent was by reading the service notes. Upon cleaning out the area around the blower and the blower itself I am seeing the air gets sucked in thru a clear tube thats basically at the  front underneath the car. I am thinking that its possible that i was seeing the smoke when I was sitting in traffic only. I have a issue with one of my belts that i should be having repaired next week. I just had all my belts changed by my Local Lotus Mechanic, Shortly after getting the car back I got a very distinctive screeching sound intermittently and this is followed by a burnt rubber smell. Also since I got my Esprit back I have a new coolant leak in the center of the car between the bulkhead and were the belts live. I am thinking one or both of these things might be causing the smoke coming in thru the cabin air vent. I also read somewhere that you aren't supposed to have the A/C or heater on at idle as you can get exhaust fumes. So this is my theory so far and I will see what happens after getting the belts straightened out and the coolant leak buttoned up.

P.S. Ramjet I tried to check out the introductions page and had some kind of trouble with it, don't remember exactly what the issue was but i will look into it again. Thanks again for the reply's 

[johnpwalsh]

First off, screeching noise. Probably a poorly adjusted belt. Water between bulkhead and engine, probably a leek in waterpump. This a must get done job and probably due to the fact the car had been sitting. It's going to cost you a bit, but get it done sharpish or the costs will only escalate.

[Herbert Harvey]

Johnpwalsh,

I completely agree, I didn't explain very well.. I just got finished paying nearly $5,000. to have the water pump rebuilt, new blue gates belt installed, all other belts, new thermostat, had all the brake lines replaced with braided and stainless. rebuilt master brake cylinder, rebuilt slave, new German made alternator..new tires.. probably forgetting something . oh  I replaced the exhaust manifold myself and the rest of the exhaust system, She didn't leak before I paid mechanic to do all of the work he completed. He has agreed that the leak is definitely in the area He was working on.  My mechanic also explained He will diagnose at no cost and repair. Seems to be a reputable honest mechanic.. Hopeful its something that came loose or what have you. He is picking up car Monday to take to His shop and figure out whats going on with the leak and the screeching belt.

Thanks for your input! really appreciate all of the suggestions from you and everyone else

[esp88]

I had once similar problem caused one of the el. Connectors terminal was burnt behind the stereo and bypassed the terminal to fix the problem. It depend on what kind of smok/ smell you got.

 

[Glyn Harper]

When I updated my interior to the latest ‘98 spec, I swapped the front loom as well.

When I took the original loom out there was a wire that had all its insulation melted along its whole length! I can’t remember which one I’m afraid, but it does show there is something behind the dash that can do this. Think it was a thick ish one as well. 

[Jacques]

Maybe someone drew way too many amps on that wire for some silly stereo application.

Congrats on your car Chris and please report back what was the issue, once it's rectified by the mechanic.

Kind regards,

jacques

[ramjet]

Try here Herbert.  

[drdoom]

Welcome, Chris.

The screeching belt does not bode particularly well for the soundness of your mechanic, but let's hope he's a good guy. As to the airflow through the HVAC system it's basically IN via the vents at the base of the windscreen, then down into the black ABS plenum in the forward luggage area before flowing through the squirrel cage blower into the heart of the system. Any clear plastic hoses running down into the car underside areas are for the purpose of draining away water, either from A/C condensate or from rain or wash water separated in the ABS plenum.

Cheers

Steve