as the title says my car has some smoke coming out of the vents. it's not a lot, but it definitely is there.. I recently changed the head gasket so all the coolant had to be drained and for the first few miles i just filled it with regular tap water to see if there are any leaks. after being satisfied that there were none i changed to permanent fluid. now after some time i can see plumes of soft white smoke coming from the dash vents.. could it be the heater matrix had some tap water in it still and it didn't agree with the new anti-coolant??

also a couple more Qs if you please..

I definitely have to change the wishbone bush that dictates lateral movement of the front wheels (the front metal tube one that strongflex make) but i saw an ad for two whole wishbones on the fleabay and it would deffo be cost effective if i had to change the other bush and thingie that goes in the knuckle.. how do i determine if replacement is needed?

another Q I had is re. the white window guide thing that goes in the window rubber to keep it from falling forward into the door.. mine is broken and i have to use both hands to close the window, one on the switch and the other to push the actual glass back in its recess so it won't fall.. any idea where i can order a couple of these? or is there an easy fix for this problem?

Thanks in advance! oh i wanted to add that altough i just joined today I have been visiting this site regularly to help me with my DIY jobbies as all the work that is done on the car is executed by myself and my father (if possible nobody else touches my baby!) and we regularly turn to this site for various bits of info over the months, and for that, I thank you all.

Is it smoke or steam? Are you loosing coolant? Did you disturb the heater matrix hoses when at the head? You could have damaged the pipework.

How much for a complete wishbone? How much for the bushing? If you get a new one the ball joint will be new as well, no press needed to replace bushing etc. If one bushing is gone others may b not be far behind. Work out time and labour etc.
You need to strip the door and see exactly why the window is acting up,Then you will know exactly what you need.

do windows take longer to demist?
does the smoke smell like rotten fish n eggs?

both signs of leaking matrix

so.. bit of an update..

Regarding the smoking vents it is surely because i have a leak in the Heater matrix because when the smoke comes out it leaves a residue on the vents which is a bit slippery/oily to the touch and when I stick my hand underneath the ashtray part there are faint traces of moisture and sometimes droplets of coolant soo.. yeah.. heater matrix is fubar.. Could it be possible to eliminate the heater matrix totally? i.e. disconnecting intake and outlet of said matrix and connecting them together, in the process bypassing the system altogether?

the window piece i need is the little bit that goes through the glass at the topmost part, two inches in length and wide enough that the window is kept from coming out of its rubber channel..

the wishbone stuff is getting worse by the minute.. loud knocking whenever i accelerate or immediately when i brake and then let off.. added bonus is not being able to control the car properly, especially through wide left hand turns.. not fun at all..

Thanks for the input guys..

have a lick, if its sweet tasting its antifreeze

Yes you can bypass the matrix in the manner you describe. However, if you plan to use the car through the winter, you may regret having no heating.

So it's steam or rather a mist of moisture, different to smoke! Why not replace the matrix? They are cheap but a nice bit of work to fit it. If the wishbone is that bad STOP USING THE CAR. As you are aware of the fault you could find yourself convicted of dangerous driving because of the nature of the defect. In fact it is very inconsiderate of you to continue to use a car with such a serious and dangerous defect. Go to a breakers to get the bit for the window.

No, by smoke i meant LITERALLY smoke, as in i thought i dropped a lit cigarette somewhere and the carpet caught on fire.. that kind of smoke.. anyways all good now..

the wishbone symptoms seriously diminished when i filled up the tires with air.. it went from hardly driveable to lightly annoying whilst turning so i think i'm good till the ordered wishbones come from UK (i live in Malta so it won't be later than Friday/Saturday)

i also found the plastic thingies that keep the glass pane in its place from fleabay, so ordered those as well..

looks like a weekend spent working on the car is in the works for me

you alive?