PitbullRescuer
New member
So I've had a little smoke/steam clog out of the A/C vents the last few days. My guess was Freon but not sure how or why that would be. Now the A/C is cool but not cold. Ideas?
Smoke coming from AC vents?
- Thread starter PitbullRescuer
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PitbullRescuer
New member
Good call. Thanks Singtoe. I was thinking along the same lines but I don't know enough about how the A/C system works to be sure. I'll recharge it tomorrow and hope for the best.
How did the NC meet go? I wanted to take you up on the offer to co,e see your truck but the wifey isn't as impressed with it as I am. She wasn't down for a 3 hour ride. But next time I head south I'll get in touch with you.
How did the NC meet go? I wanted to take you up on the offer to co,e see your truck but the wifey isn't as impressed with it as I am. She wasn't down for a 3 hour ride. But next time I head south I'll get in touch with you.
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
Crazy chain smoking mice. They get in the ducts and smoke it up
Brian757
New member
If you get freon in your eyes, can't you go blind?
Although I know they don't use freon for automobiles or at all because of the ozone layer
Imagine that type of flaw, vents pouring freon into a victims eyes, damn what a way to go blind. And the mice in the vents?! Nicee...
imp:
I like Singtoes answer. Although, if you are low in freon 134A, then you might have a leak. Usually you don't just go low on freon..
Although I know they don't use freon for automobiles or at all because of the ozone layer
Imagine that type of flaw, vents pouring freon into a victims eyes, damn what a way to go blind. And the mice in the vents?! Nicee...
imp:I like Singtoes answer. Although, if you are low in freon 134A, then you might have a leak. Usually you don't just go low on freon..
BlackCat914
New member
Smoke or steam coming through the vents is a dead giveaway that the heater core is leaking. Regardless of weather the heat or a/c is on, there is coolant flowing through the heatercore.
Nitewulf
New member
Sorry dude, but my a/c blows colder than a nuns butt in an igloo, and I get the 'fridge effect' or 'snow' often from my vents. Using a thermoscan I have verified that if it is on fresh air and humidity high, my a/c will take 95+ degree air and turn it into 38 degree bliss. The snow effect is more prevelent when my drain tube for the core box gets partially clogged, usually from trail mud.
BlackCat914
New member
Since I'm new to Toyota's, I could be wrong. My years of working for GM have told me that if there is steam coming from the vents, there is generally an issue with a heater core leaking.
But then again, I was in a 2011 SS Camaro yesterday here trying to diagnose a squeak, and it was 93 Degrees out. The a/c in that car sucked. It's funny that my 15 year old Toyota's a/c blows at least twice as cold.
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badattitude
Member
Baja Runner
Member
Is the heater core even in the system when the AC is on? As in, is there air flowing through the heater core? Wouldn't it be bypassed?
Also how would this be caused if you were low on R-134a? If you were low, your heat exchanger would just be slightly warmer, I don't see it causing fog/steam/smoke.
Are you sure that its not condensation/fog? I've seen that happen only when its really hot and humid.
PS And don't call it Freon! ;D
Also how would this be caused if you were low on R-134a? If you were low, your heat exchanger would just be slightly warmer, I don't see it causing fog/steam/smoke.
Are you sure that its not condensation/fog? I've seen that happen only when its really hot and humid.
PS And don't call it Freon! ;D
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Singtoe
New member
#1 I'm am sure that if the heater core was leaking, Pitbull would be like " Damn, I smell antifreeze, My heater core must be leaking".
#2 Let say that his heater was leaking and Pitbull had no sense of smell. Why would that prevent his AC system from working?
#3 The steam, fog or smoke is not Freon but an affect caused by the system being low on Freon.
Fwiw, this is my opinion, I just play a mechanic on the internet and I could totally be wrong.
:flamethrwoer2:
#2 Let say that his heater was leaking and Pitbull had no sense of smell. Why would that prevent his AC system from working?
#3 The steam, fog or smoke is not Freon but an affect caused by the system being low on Freon.
Fwiw, this is my opinion, I just play a mechanic on the internet and I could totally be wrong.
:flamethrwoer2:
BlackCat914
New member
techno
New member
Smoke is a product of combustion, so if you have smoke coming from your vents then you have a big problem. Also smoke doesn't disappear in a few seconds, it will linger around and smell like burning.
My wifes Honda does this fog effect. I can actually make it happen by turning the ac on and off on really humid days. With the ac off for about 30 seconds, high humidity air gathers in the system and when the ac comes on it is cooled quickly enough to condense a good portion of the moisture in the air and produce fog, in exactly the same way that clouds form in the atmosphere.
My wifes Honda does this fog effect. I can actually make it happen by turning the ac on and off on really humid days. With the ac off for about 30 seconds, high humidity air gathers in the system and when the ac comes on it is cooled quickly enough to condense a good portion of the moisture in the air and produce fog, in exactly the same way that clouds form in the atmosphere.
BlackCat914
New member
No matter what setting your HVAC system is on, there is still coolant flowing through the heater core, which is installed in the same HVAC box. Blend doors just open and close passages to direct airflow to different settings, but steam or fog from a leaking core will sneak past a blend door and come out no matter what setting you have it on.
BlackCat914
New member
you are incorrect. A car's a/c system has a dryer, or "reciver", and one of it's main purposes is to stop exactly the issue you describe.
PitbullRescuer
New member
Maybe the fog effect would've been the better way to word what's happening. There is no coolant smell at all. The temp gauge is fine and I actually checked all the fluids last night while I was replacing my Throttle Position Sensor, coolant level was fine.
I do appreciate all the input but I'm about 99% sure it's not a heater core issue. And it has been super hot & humid here the last few days. The truck also sat for 8 days while I was in OBX, we had record heat while I was away. So perhaps it is just moisture built up in the system as a result of the weather.
The fog is odorless too. Hoping for the best.
I do appreciate all the input but I'm about 99% sure it's not a heater core issue. And it has been super hot & humid here the last few days. The truck also sat for 8 days while I was in OBX, we had record heat while I was away. So perhaps it is just moisture built up in the system as a result of the weather.
The fog is odorless too. Hoping for the best.
BlackCat914
New member
agloukhoff
New member
You're probably fine. Tyrone blew some fog on one of the hot&humid days as well but it clears up fast and has no odor to it.
It is humidity caused and is only an issue if it just keeps happening as then you start having a risk of mold and mildew growing in your system making ac smell awful.
It is humidity caused and is only an issue if it just keeps happening as then you start having a risk of mold and mildew growing in your system making ac smell awful.
badattitude
Member
Is the heater core even in the system when the AC is on?
As in, is there air flowing through the heater core? Wouldn't it be bypassed?
I belive as soon as any warm air is added to the AC, the heater core is involved. As soon as the temp dial is anywhere except full cold, the system pulls heat so the AC is not so cold.
However, I don't think heater core is his problem anymore, I don't hear about heater core issues with these trucks. And the lack of coolant smell is a stong inticator that it is not the heater core.
As in, is there air flowing through the heater core? Wouldn't it be bypassed?
I belive as soon as any warm air is added to the AC, the heater core is involved. As soon as the temp dial is anywhere except full cold, the system pulls heat so the AC is not so cold.
However, I don't think heater core is his problem anymore, I don't hear about heater core issues with these trucks. And the lack of coolant smell is a stong inticator that it is not the heater core.
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techno
New member
Yes, however the a\c systems has it's limits. There is only a certain amount of moisture that the system is capable of removing, and the initial amount that it has to work with can often exceed that limit. The fog effect only lasts for about 3-4 seconds while it gets rid of the build up. Even brand new systems can do this, including residential and commercial systems.
