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MPV Section - Forums for Multi Purpose Vehicles: => Ford Galaxy Forum - Mk1 / Mk2 inc. VW Sharan and SEAT Alhambra (1995-2006) => Topic started by: maysani on January 22, 2014, 04:46:17 PM

Title: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: maysani on January 22, 2014, 04:46:17 PM
Dense white smoke coming into the car
This is the second time it happened in the last two month and in particular when I am driving on the motorway.  It is coming from between the rear and the front passenger seats where the heat booster is. it smells like unburned diesel
What is the likely cause and how can it be remedied?
Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: insanitybeard on January 22, 2014, 05:17:25 PM
Sounds like a booster heater not combusting properly, what age of Galaxy do you have, and do you know what model of booster heater it has fitted?
Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: gregers on January 22, 2014, 08:12:01 PM
i had this on my old mk2,i ended up having a new unit fitted under sale of goods act.but thats another story.

hopefully chris will be able to add info for you.
Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: Chrispb on January 22, 2014, 08:22:49 PM
the booster heater air intake pipe fits into the chassis member fumes are finding there way into the car.
It would seem like the combustion fan is not blowing or the exhaust is blocked.
Have you run a scan on the heater (VCDS)
Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: maysani on January 22, 2014, 08:29:42 PM
Guys, many thanks for the reply,
The car is galaxy 1.9 TDI 2003, I reconditioned the booster heater last summer. I replaced the glow plug and the screen.
the model is the one with torx head screws
this is what  surprises me, it happened when the engine hot not cold which mean the booster heater is not running or is it   

I have not run a scan on the heater as I do not know where to start

Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: Chrispb on January 22, 2014, 09:09:17 PM
Have you heard the heater running recently?

You can disable the heater by removing fuse 12 if this stops the fumes then you no where to look.
Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: maysani on January 22, 2014, 09:29:15 PM
The heater is working, in fact it start few second after I start the car and for short journeys,  it stays on for few second after I switch of the engine
Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: Chrispb on January 22, 2014, 09:43:46 PM
A couple of questions

Was the car low on fuel when the smoking starts

If you start the car and just leave running does the heater start and run continually without stopping till the car is up to temperature, with no smoke
Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: maysani on January 22, 2014, 09:55:18 PM
Yes,  the car is low on the fuel, the gauge is half way between zero an Ã,¼ tank

Yes, the heater start and run continually without stopping till the car is up to temperature, with no smoke when I start the car.

Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: Chrispb on January 22, 2014, 10:13:47 PM
Keep a check on it once you have more fuel in the tank you may have starved it from fuel which would upset the running of the heater.
Title: Re: Dense white smoke coming into the car
Post by: SirDavidAlhambra on July 06, 2019, 04:48:34 PM
It sounds like it could be real dangerous, keep the windows down and make sure you or your passengers donââ,¬â,,¢t inhale any smoke