Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

1994grandam on Tue June 17, 2014 7:11 PM

Year: 1994
Make: Pontiac
Model: Grand Am
Engine Size: 2.3
Refrigerant Type: R134-A
Ambient Temp: 100
Country of Origin: United States

Hey guys, replaced the compressor and other goodies, but am getting engine fumes at red lights.

I think the plastic box the blower is in is britle, I put in Hardcast tape, used for HVAC, it's very stickey and strong.

There is one area I was not sure about, it may be supposed to be open.

It's rank at a red light and I turn the blower to low, it's not a exhaust leak, but just a hot engine (not overheating) smell like oil or grease burning off.

This sounds like hack work, but it's not a "classic" car but just a beater, I was thinking since taping all the brittle plastic blower box on firewall (the more you touch it, the more it breaks and falls off) did not help, what about some expanding foam, or rubber spray.

Like that junk on the infomercial with the guy who puts on on a screen door as the bottom of a paddle boat, I would buy a better brand than tv junk though.

I took a friend in it and she complained about the fumes, and asked me to turn off the A/C it's like 107 here now, so it's that bad, seems worse on the passenger side.

Going down the road it's not bad, as I suspect the air is flushing those smells under the car.

Again, I hate having to be a hack, but if it's getting fumes, it's also pulling in engine bay heat.

I'm scared of expanding foam expanding into the blower wheel, the rubber spray might be strong as well. It might even be coming in from somewhere else, 4th of July is soon, if I could buy some smoke balls, was thinking have the A/C on max and high, light and somehow hold a smoke ball next to the firewall and see if it comes in, neighbors might think I'm a kook though!

I'm pretty sure it's that brittle old blower housing plastic. What to do?



Edited: Tue June 17, 2014 at 7:13 PM by 1994grandam

pippo on Wed June 18, 2014 6:29 PM

Only way to tell is to remove the thing- blower case/unit/whatever. Sounds like a real mess, and stuff in a can wont fix it. That means capturing the R134a.

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beware of the arrival

1994grandam on Sat June 21, 2014 12:24 PM

I do not want to remove it, might as well junk the car, or just drive it as is, it's cooling great with the new compressor, and drier.

Was thinking I might be able to use some duct sealant "pooky" as used on commercial and residential HVAC ducts, however I'm not sure if it can handle the heat, but then again that stuff is up in hot attics.