99SMOKEY

I have a 99 GT and it has only done this twice. But anyway while i was driving the middle left air conditioner vent started shooting out smoke, but I would maybe describe as more of a vapor. The smoke/vapor was odorless, what could this be a result of and how could i fix it?

Thanks

cliffyk

As you have indicated it's not "smoke", it is water vapour and is usually a result of the evaporator coil freezing up because of a low refrigerant charge--not low enough to stop the heat transfer process completely, but low enough to make it behave oddly.

When the compressor shuts down and the evaporator defrosts a bit the first rush of air through is super cold, and as it exits the vents it causes moisture in the air to condense, creating the visible vapour trail. It is generally only seen in one or two vents, their being those that have the shortest run from the AC plenum to the cabin--in the longer ducts the air warms enough to not cause the phenomenon.

This can also happen on normally operating system if it is extremely hot, and humid, and the AC has been on for an extended period. I have not seen this with my '03 GT however my wife had a '96 RAV4 that did it all the time on HOT/humid days.

Check the refrigerant level as it may be low or headed that way.

99SMOKEY

Thank you, I noticed that the air conditioning was not too cool, so I will definitely charge it up.

sinister99GT

sound like freeon blowing out. it did it in my 68 skylark, i thought it was a fire at first but no smell , then no cold air. prob more than just a recharge if you saw it .

cliffyk

It's NOT "freon blowing out".

In the first there is no Freon in any car made since 1996--Freon was Dupont's trade name for it's line of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants, outlawed by the EPA in 1994. Since then the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) based gases have been used.

In the second, if it were a refrigerant leak it would be visible from all vents, not just those having the shortest path from the evaporator to the cabin--and it would smell as the HFC refrigerants have "smell" added to their own natural odour, to assist in leak detection.

0949er

It could be natural though. Depending on the temp of the air, the ac, humidity, etc, sometimes I remember my AC use to "smoke" where it was just the moisture in the air condensing from the cool AC air. This left moisture all over my vents and stuff. Just another possibility.

cliffyk

Absolutely--it happens when it's hot and humid with many systems, but when it does it's time to check the refrigerant fill anyway...

allmotor

I would defiantly do a re-charge.

0949er

that was back w/ my 99 GT tho.... who KNOWS what was wrong with that thing... lol. Upon selling the car, I found out that the actual HEAD itself had a huge crack in it that was welded back together. I will never buy from a shady stealership again.

cliffyk

Never, I repeat NEVER, believe anything that someone selling you something says--this includes statements completely unrelated to what you are buying--they really did not go to the same school as you, nor does their wife/mother/daughter/mother-in-law or anyone else they know have the same name as your wife/girlfriend/or significant other of any form...

This is why the first thing I do on buying a car (I alway buy used¹) is change ALL the fluids. Regardless of mileage or whatever the seller swore on stack of Bibles had been done...

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¹ - Buying a new car is the quickest way to lose thousands of dollars there is. As soon as you put your plates on it and drive it off the lot it is worth 25% less than your just paid for it.