Smoke inside the car!

[nasz]

Was driving along to work this morning, when all of a sudden I get some smoke coming up from the passengers footwell. I'd already been driving for 20 minutes and was on the Motorway, to the car had warmed up alright. I checked the oil and water yesterday - all fine. Was also serviced a few weeks back.

Anyway, since I was only a few miles from work I continued (the smoke lessened a bit). Got to work, checked under the bonnet, no signs of smoke, but could smell it.

Any ideas anyone? Should I be worried!!

[jonnyb]

All the electrics are in the pax footwell, just behind the pull out panel. They are fairly well jamed in there so it could be anything! I would get someone to have a look at it, if a fire starts in there then your in a lot of troubble as there is plenty to burn.

[gemini]

what sort of smike - exhaust gasses?
There is an air intake vent in the passenger side

My Chimaera had a leaking exhaust manifold gasket - that did it!
Then the exhaust itself could be leaking
Then it could be electrical

Confirm type of smoke

[nasz]

ah! Smelt oily to me!

Checked fuses, electrics - all seem okay down in the depths of the passenger footwell.

[gemini]

money on exhaust?
an oil leaks when you park her up?

[hut49]

If you checked the oil yesterday I bet you forgot to put the cap back on and it's wedged down the side of the exhaust and the orange plastic melted as the exhaust got hot. Been there done that

[nasz]

Will check at lunchtime - hope it's not the top, its a nice shiny leven one!

[petros]

had the same thing on my last car, turned out to be a split rocker cover gasket leaking a small amount of oil onto the manifold. peter

[Nuggs]

nasz said:

Will check at lunchtime - hope it's not the top, its a nice shiny leven one!

Unlikely to melt then

Seeing as there's no burned/melted electricals in the footwell, I'm with gemini and petros on this one - something leaking onto the exhaust and burning.

Have a check for leaks (had the car been standing for a while before you used it, so that a fair amount fluid could have coated the outside of the zorsts?).

One other thought is whether the bit of foam that sits between the front of the car and the rad came unstuck and destroyed itself on your manifolds (not unheard of).

Before you drive it, I would deffo check that your fluid levels are okay.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[nasz]

thanks all - found the culprit! Seems a rubber glove was left inside the bonnet - most of it is melted onto the manifold - hence the smoke and smell!

Only had it serviced recently, so I guess it's been in there since then!

[gemini]

Ah ha - the old rubber glove trick!
Oh its the mafifold gasket sir - it took us 6 hrs - thatll be £300

[parrot of doom]

Rubber glove my arse. Condom more like.

[Nuggs]

nasz said:

Seems a rubber glove was left inside the bonnet

Quality, although I do have one serious question...

Why isn't this covered in the Bible?

[snorky]

you'd like someone to do WHAT to your arse POD ???

[nztrev]

parrot of doom said:

Up my arse with a condom more like.

[snorky]

well at least he's a SAFETY FIRST kinda guy