2002 Hyundai Santa Fe Strange smoke

HELGAH

MEMBER
2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
15,600 MILES

When I use my a/c on any setting of fan, it's fine as long as the temp. Control is on maximum. If I try to adjust the temperature (not such cold air), I get immediate smoke coming through my vents. If I turn the dial back to maximum cold, the smoke stops and the a/c works just fine. What do you think?

Sunday, October 12th, 2008 AT 6:44 PM

10 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

what colour is this smoke? And dose it have an odor, do you think it is more like fog, ie water vapor? Let me know your thoughts.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Sunday, October 12th, 2008 AT 6:59 PM

HELGAH

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6 POSTS

Thanks for your reply! The smoke is dark and stinky. I don't think it's vapor. My friend is now telling me that it has to do with the heater. What do you think?

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Monday, October 13th, 2008 AT 6:49 AM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

I would be getting the blower fan inspected as I feel it may be burning out, there is not very much else in the system that can do that.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Monday, October 13th, 2008 AT 4:06 PM

HELGAH

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6 POSTS

Thanks for your suggestion, but I'm not clear about how it could be the blower fan. After considering that possibility, I wondered how it could be the fan if the a/c is blowing just fine as long as it's on the maximum cold temperature. Everything works fine until I try to adjust the temperature. Could it still be the fan?

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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 AT 6:46 AM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

good point, I will give it some more thought and have a look at the system and get back to you soon.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 AT 5:10 PM

HELGAH

MEMBER
6 POSTS

OK. Further information here. After consulting with an auto mechanics instructor, I sat in the parking lot and turned on the a/c again and, yes, smoke. But now that I have smelled it again, I DO think it is antifreeze. So someone said maybe it's the heater coil. So I looked online, and I don't see a heater coil listed for the Santa Fe. Am I looking in the wrong place? Or is it a different part?

I really appreciate all your attention on this, and thanks again for your expertise!

Marcy

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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 AT 8:50 PM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

You will be looking for a heater core, you can get the cooling system pressure tested with the heater on and this should show up a leak in the system,

Mark (mhpautos)

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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 AT 9:13 PM

HELGAH

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6 POSTS

Thanks! I have a second opinion that concurs with yours. That's the good news. The bad news is: BIG expense. I am hoping to get help from the community college auto mechanics dept.

Thanks for all your time.

Marcy

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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 AT 7:54 AM

HELGAH

MEMBER
6 POSTS

A followup with additional information now that a mechanic has seen my Hyundai:

Yes, it was the heater core. But, BUMMER, the heater core leaked onto the computer! I was starting to get jerking, like the transmission was not engaging properly. DOH! So luckily I didn't drive it until the computer was demolished. They are saving the computer (cleaning and drying it), and changing the heater core at the dealer service dept. I decided to bite the bullet and let them do all, since then it would be done right or they would have to fix it again.

Thanks for your input.

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Sunday, October 19th, 2008 AT 5:10 PM

MHPAUTOS