Re: IML: Puzzling, smoky NYB problem

[Christopher H <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, everyone, for your ideas, help and advice.

I think the leaking heater core makes the most sense as a starting point,
and is easy enough to diagnose. It's white smoke, not the white water vapor
you sometimes get in a modern AC system, and it will be simple to do the
"taste test" (thanks, but I'll make it a sniff test, as I'm reluctant to
ingest coolant in any quantity).

I couldn't imagine a way for the vacuum to be related. (I'm sure some odd
convergence of a leaking vacuum line and a leaking brake servo could create
this, but it sounded far-fetched. I just needed a reality check.)

For the record, I have not been driving the car with the brake condition! I
knew it was a leaking master cylinder the moment the light came on, and I
crept home at a safe distance from other traffic (of course, being LA, every
other driver kept filling in this distance, but hey, your car, my crumple
zone...). 

Now off to check the heater core and find a new one plus a master cylinder
(and maybe a booster anyway, since they're both 27 years old regardless of
the low mileage).

Thanks again to everyone for your generosity!

Chris in LA
78 NYB Salon
67 Crown


On 11/27/05 11:12 AM, Christopher H at imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Hello, NYB and general car experts... Here's one for you.
> 
> My '78 NYB Salon (17,500 miles) has begun to exhibit a curious behavior. It
> emits some sort of smoky, slightly greasy stuff from the air conditioner
> vents. After a few minutes you have to remove the film from the windshield
> right above the defroster outlets, which I can do with a simple rag and some
> Windex.
> 
> It began about a year ago whenever I'd accelerate somewhat hard with the A/C
> on. For about a minute afterwards, you could see the smoky air from the dash
> vents, but then it would clear up. Now it occurs fairly consistently,
> anytime the car is running and any setting of the HVAC is turned on. It is
> not a large amount of smoke, and has very little detectable odor, but it's
> definitely there and should not be!
> 
> Here's what I think is another clue: I know I need to replace the brake
> master cylinder. If I idle with my foot on the brake pedal for more than
> 30-60 seconds, the "brake" warning lamp will come on, accompanied by a soft
> pedal. I can pump it up easily and there is no noticeable decline in braking
> performance while driving (meaning rapid use rather than sitting on the
> pedal, which definitely does lead to a loss of braking pressure).
> 
> Of course, this is what leads me to believe (well, it's pretty obvious) I
> have a leaking master cylinder, but the smoke leads me to think there is a
> leak in the power booster, too. But is there more to this, or are they
> unrelated? The brake fluid level in the reservoir remains nearly full, by
> the way.
> 
> So, is there a logical connection between the vacuum used for the brake
> booster and the vacuum used to move the doors in the HVAC system, and if so,
> is this what I'm seeing on my windshield? Is there some other way for the
> two to be related? Or does anyone think I need to replace more than the
> master cylinder and brake booster?
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Thanks in advance for your input!
> 
> Chris in LA
> 78 Salon
> 67 Crown
> 
> 
> 
> 
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