My Ex smells like it is on fire!

[irtySanchez]

This situation is starting to make me a bit scared.

When I turn the heat on in my Ex, I get a really heavy burning smell from the vents. I haven't had any smoke along with it. I have stopped the truck and got out to sniff around several times. The only place that the smell will come from is the vents.

Any ideas? I am starting to get a bit nervous. Car fires make me cringe....HELP!!!

 

[Jason_25]

Maybe a leaf in the vents stuck near the motor? Take the fan box out and see what's in there.

 

[diablo5969]

I'm having the same problem. It's really kinda scary.

Jason, I don't think it's a leaf or something like that, because it would've burned a long time ago. I've had this burning smell for a couple months now

 

[jimbo74]

mine does it whenever it is wet outside......

 

[beavis195]

Chase, cool name, that's my name too. Can you explain your smell to me. I've got a smell that is driving me crazy! I've tried shampooing 5 times and it still comes back.

 

[diablo5969]

Your name's Chase? Cool, you're like the second Chase I've ever met. Anyway, my smell isn't the kind of thing that shampooing can fix, it is not on the interior of the Ex. It is very specifically coming from the heating vents when the heater is on. But not all the times it is on, only sometimes. I think I am going to try to do some tests on this. But it smells like there is a fire somewhere in the heating system. I've never gotten smoke or abnormally high amounts of heat, so I can't figure out what it is.

 

[irtySanchez]

There was a TSB on the issue...anyone know exactly what it says?

This is pasted from alldata.com

99-20-6 OCT 99 Blower Motor On-Burning Odor/Smoke/Rustling Noise

 

[Jason_25]

That's the one about the leaves I beleive.

 

[EliteRaven]

heres something sinple to try. If you have a air compressor try opening your vents and blowing it in there. I have heard of this happening when critters built nests in the heater ducts and stuff. its alot easier to blow out the vents once a year then ya dont get all that nasty dust and crap in there anyways. or at least not as bad.

Len

 

[diablo5969]

Sounds like a good idea. Too bad I'm air compressorless Oh well. Hopefully I won't be getting any flames out the vents any time soon. Luckily Atlanta's starting to warm up again

 

[rameyer]

My 94 has a burning smell sometimes also. My smell is like an electrical buring smell, not leaves burning or getting hot. It alarmed me at first, but it has been happening off and on for so long now, with no noticeable effects, that I ignore it.

If someone has any clue of what might be happening, I would like to know.

 

[YW84U]

My 91xlt suffered an electrical fire in the ignition switch last year. I found out the same ignitions in other Ford products were subject to a recall, but not the exploder...
The insurance company replaced it with an identical model, as there was no 'improved version'. Maybe try 'smelling' around the switch or column to rule it out. After the fire, my vents smelled like burnt electrical for months.

 

[diablo5969]

What's the difference between an electrical fire and a leaf fire? I know there are different fire extinguishers for different types of fire, but I've never known what the differences are