Engine Compartment Steam/Smoke after moderate range trips
 

Hey Everybody, I've been having an intermittent problem since i purchase the car last march.

Car starts and drives perfectly fine; but after any extended period of driving; say, 15-20 minutes continuously, if i were to stop at a light or intersection for about a minute or two, a horrendous stench of exhaust creeps into the cabin, and i notice that from the driver side of the engine, and the center windshield area (picture sitting in the driver seat, looking over the hood, and seeing it the far left and center of the hood) that there is smoke (OR steam, but from the smell, i'm betting smoke) pouring out of the engine bay.

Now; I've had ONE CEL pop up about a month after i bought the car, but it went away after driving toward the autozone for a read; It never came back. I had some coolant issues before (Live in PHX az) and just recently flushed my radiator.

I'm smack out of ideas. I can't really describe it any other way than this, but it's been a pretty consistant problem and i'm starting to worry that it could be something serious.

Where should I get started? Cat? Coils? Intake?

Sounds like I would look for an exhaust leak first...does the car have any non-stock exhaust?

Check the gasket between the Manifold and the CAT/midpipe...and the exhaust manifold

Then I would check for a coolant leak....either the heater/hoses..between the housings...water pump...or the like

Does the coolant level drop in the reservoir??

Check for a plastic bag on the exhaust system.

Also ask Dominion if he hid the dead fish in your car.

The only modification i've made is getting rid of the standard airbox with a cone filter and related housing.

:lol: on the plastic bag, that's a good idea and one i hadn't thought of.

Coolant level is normal; no precipitous drops or anything like that.

As far as the manifold and the cat/midpipe, i'm not 100% sure where those would be; Would a haynes manual point them out? (haven't bought mine yet)

Thanks for the replies guys.