Smoke from front of 79 911

[mangelwulf]

I was waiting in line for my turn at the autocross, having completed 2 runs out of 4, when I saw smoke along the lower front window edge. I pulled out of line, checked the temp of the oil (mid level), checked the front brake calipers (cool to touch), checked the oil cooler (hot but not smoking), checked the brake fluid (no heat, right level) and looked around the trunk.

I could not find anything that was too hot or smoking. I got back in line, made my two runs and made it home with no more smoke.

Any ideas what it might have been?

[Zeke]

Lotsa wires under there. You may have fried a non essential wire.I'd take the cover off and smell around. If nothing, then it must have been the guy in front of you.

[tcar]

By front window do you mean the windshield? or the drivers side or passenger side front windows?

Inside the car or outside?

[Brorag]

probably a hole in the radiator hose..............................

[mca]

Mine looks like it is smoking in the front when in fact it is oil from my valve covers dripping on the headers ... and the wind is blowing it forward.

Any oil leaks?

[vash]

come on...tell me you sniffed around. did you smell anything?

[Mysterytrain]

Those paper heater hoses will burn you might want to check them out.

[autobonrun]

Was it an oil smell or more like electrical insulation?

If oil, I'm with MCA and think you may have a leak on your exchangers. I have that problem with my 79SC. My leak is from both timing chain covers and I think I have another from the pressure switch. Smoke comes through the vent on hard acceleration, braking, or turns.

Fixing these leaks is on my to do list for this summer.

[mangelwulf]

I sniffed around, it did not smell like oil to me. It smelled like ozone, like someone had been welding. I checked the battery and it seemed okay.

I just had the car serviced (new clutch, new flywheel, new CV joints and boots) and there were no oil leaks, although the return tubes are original and should be replaced. The smoke was right at the front windsheild. I'll check the heater hoses and the wires in the front.

[Mysterytrain]

The black paper heater hoses actually have aluminum foil inside them. When they get old or manhandled they can split and expose the paper to the extreme heat. They can release some smoke thru the vents and/or a glowing ember. The ember is very exciting at speed!

[tcar]

Was the smoke inside the car or outside the w-shield?

[mangelwulf]

outside the w-shield from what I could tell. All the gauges are working, I think - although the oil level one is running off a bit. I have not seen a repeat of this behavior. I am not seeing anything that could have caused this. The heater hoses are in good shape.


I'm starting to think this was the guy in front of me's exhaust.

[mangelwulf]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and replies. There are some good suggestions here. I'll keep looking into it as I go along.

[JP911]

I had a gauge bulb come loose and ground itself to the outside of the gauge, leading to heavy amounts of smoke similar to what you describe. Have a look around in the trunk near the firewall for loose wires.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by vash

come on...tell me you sniffed around. did you smell anything?

cliffy has a knows.