Technical Extreme amount of smoke coming from vents...

[Momanatorz]

Punto mk1

Started recently. first i was really scared as it only happens when the engine is warm and on the hot settings! blows a MASSIVE puff of smoke and smokes continuously when the fan is on... proper foggy in the car! lol.
now i come to think it's the heater matrix leaking as it's leaving a nasty taste in my mouth but doesn't smell dangerous or anything. smells like nasty rusty water in the feet area

just looked on the forum for how hard it is to replace the matrix and thought i'd sod it... just tie the heater matrix inlet and outlet pipes together for now! till next winter lol.
how do i go about this? should i get some copper connector? i been using non-distiled water with coolant, is it that important to use distilled water with coolant?

 

[DaveMcT]

Sounds like the heater matrix has failed and the "smoke" is steam.
Don't use the car until its fixed or you risk blowing the head gasket due to lack of cooling "water".

 

[Momanatorz]

Sounds like the heater matrix has failed and the "smoke" is steam.
Don't use the car until its fixed or you risk blowing the head gasket due to lack of cooling "water".

the coolant level problem is under control. i've been checking it regulary since i did the head gasket job and it has been dropping!
yeah it is like a suana but not as sweaty as one... LOL
any ideas for connecting the pipes together as to remove the heater matrix from the cooling system?

 

[geezbeez]

If you set the heat control to cold that should isolate the heater matrix. You can even replace the heater circuit with a bit of pipe to remove it from the circuit. That said - Doesnt sound like the matrix. Sounds like engine fumes or something burning. Buy a Carbon Monoxide alarm if your going to continue driving it. Aparaently they are very sensitive. Might come in useful around the house too.

 

[Momanatorz]

If you set the heat control to cold that should isolate the heater matrix. You can even replace the heater circuit with a bit of pipe to remove it from the circuit. That said - Doesnt sound like the matrix. Sounds like engine fumes or something burning. Buy a Carbon Monoxide alarm if your going to continue driving it. Aparaently they are very sensitive. Might come in useful around the house too.

It cannot be the engine at all, wouldn't the engine bay be smoking aswell? this is ALOT of smoke coming from the vents.. when hot. where could it come from the engine?
putting it to cold won't stop it from leaking it just changes the source of air feed, with a flappy paddle i think! lol

 

[DaveMcT]

Its coolant that's leaking so find the leak and all will be ok.

The matrix might be ok but its obvious you still have a leak somewhere.

 

[Momanatorz]

Its not smoke its coolant!!! find the leak and all will be ok.

well you know what i mean lol... coolant smoke
think i'll try wickes for a pipe connector thingy bit

 

[Momanatorz]

Its coolant that's leaking so find the leak and all will be ok.

The matrix might be ok but its obvious you still have a leak somewhere.

elsewhere? where else can there be a leak? do you mean the foot area smell? prob coming from the rusty matrix...

 

[bredsticz]

Well considering all the warning on the bottle for the anti-freeze and not to get it into contact with your skin why would you even stay in the car when you were breathing it in at high temps. Serious health hazard

 

[DaveMcT]

There's lots of difference between coolant and smoke.

For plumbing parts you will need pipe, tee, air vent solder and flux. Cheap to do if you have the tools. You could also consider Hep2o fittings from a merchants. They are push fit and will work at more than 100 degs C - well within car engine temps.

 

[Momanatorz]

Well considering all the warning on the bottle for the anti-freeze and not to get it into contact with your skin why would you even stay in the car when you were breathing it in at high temps. Serious health hazard

well I didn't forcibly breath it in... only left it on during diagnostics was all...

 

[bredsticz]

Ahh right lol sounded like you were driving around like that!

 

[Momanatorz]

There's lots of difference between coolant and smoke.

For plumbing parts you will need pipe, tee, air vent solder and flux. Cheap to do if you have the tools. You could also consider Hep2o fittings from a merchants. They are push fit and will work at more than 100 degs C - well within car engine temps.

yes there is alot of difference when not speakin in context... as this thread is about a coolant leak i thought you knew i was talking about smoke coming from hot coolant in a cold place.

think i'll just get a small copper pipe and some jubilee clips? no? :yum:

 

[Momanatorz]

Ahh right lol sounded like you were driving around like that!

no way that's nuts lol. it would look like i just smoked alot of weed to everyone from outside
(i don't smoke )

 

[DaveMcT]

If you are not familiar with plumbing don't bother with the copper pipe. Just go to a breakers and get a replacement heater hose. The matrix might be new but was it damaged when it was fitted.

 

[Momanatorz]

If you are not familiar with plumbing don't bother with the copper pipe. Just go to a breakers and get a replacement heater hose. The matrix might be new but was it damaged when it was fitted.

what might happen with the copper pipe? will the coolant get too hot for it?

 

[DaveMcT]

See post #15

 

[Momanatorz]

See post #15

it's not a new heater matrix...
yeah of course gotta check if it's the right size or it'll be useless init!
gotta be a bit smaller than the pipes though or proper snug

 

[geezbeez]

Im not familliar with a punto heater matrix but I have repaired a heater matrix. The hot cold selector usually opens a vent and on cars Ive sean opens valve to the matrix.
Even if control is only for a flap air flow it should still reduce flow of air from matrix.
With a leaking matrix even if get steam this should condense pretty quick would not smoke up car.
Thought. Theres usually a big resister near the fan. for the different fan speeds, these can get very hot on lot fan speeds, thats why resister is usually in the fan enclosure, could be getting hot and setting fire to something. Maybe if you had some leaves stuck around the fan? I dont know but sounds like something getting hot and burning, not steam.

 

[Momanatorz]

Im not familliar with a punto heater matrix but I have repaired a heater matrix. The hot cold selector usually opens a vent and on cars Ive sean opens valve to the matrix.
Even if control is only for a flap air flow it should still reduce flow of air from matrix.
With a leaking matrix even if get steam this should condense pretty quick would not smoke up car.
Thought. Theres usually a big resister near the fan. for the different fan speeds, these can get very hot on lot fan speeds, thats why resister is usually in the fan enclosure, could be getting hot and setting fire to something. Maybe if you had some leaves stuck around the fan? I dont know but sounds like something getting hot and burning, not steam.

weird thing is it just started recently... it doesn't smell of anything. there is that bad rusty smell near the feet area though...
it smokes while the fan is on aswell but on hot setting, just slowly like cigarette smoke out of the vents. mainly through the center ones i think.. nearer to the matrix but still not 100% sureeeeee