I was driving to work today and a lot of smoke came into the cabin from the vents, on more than one occasion. It quickly dissipated, and had no smell, so I assumed it was condensation from the A/C. The temp setting was 70 F, while the temp outside was 69-71 F.

Has this happened to anyone else? The odd thing about it is that the A/C was on for over 10 minutes before the smoke/condensation came in.

 

Yes i have had this happen. It has happened on 3 or 4 occasions....the first time it was very short and a small amount same with the 2nd time, the other two times it was more prolonged. I dont know what it is, it didnt cause any iritaion or anything of that nature, no smell either. And it was usually after i had the cars fan on a low temp, but not the AC per say on. Its almost like a light fog.

 

It's happened a few times for me also, i woudlent worry about it.

 

This happened to me twice on my Dodge Interpid. Each time represented a new compressor needing to be replaced

 

My '90 Civic did this all the time, seemed to depend on the weather. I thought i was going to die the first time it happened. Afterwards it just became one of the kewl things about the car.

In my TSX though, something like this would = a call to the Service Dept.

 

I had it happen in my Integra. Didn't seem to be a problem. I think it just has to do with how warm it is in the car and how cool the air coming in is.

 

Happens with both my Accords all the time. Never been a problem.

 

it hasnt happened to me (yet), but Id like to know what makes it happen.

 

i've gotten fog/smoke at least a dozen times because of the weather here. so far no probs

 

I think it is a problem with the condenser... basically it over condenses and the water from the condensation starts to blow out the airvents.

I had something like this happen on my 89 accord, but once it started it wouldn't stop. had to replace the condenser.

 

Usually it does it when i turn the fan off and then i turn it back on, and then off again and it usually stops. I doesnt happen that often, just not the best thing to see in your car when your driving.

 

I think what he's talking about is a brief burst of it. I've only had it happen in my Accords during summer months, when the car is hot and the automatic A/C kicks the compressor on. I always assumed it was the ice cold air mixing with the hot air. Like opening a freezer in a hot house? In reverse, by turning on the heat (assuming that the auto climate keeps the compressor or condenser on) would be like exhaling in the freezing cold?

Again, I always contributed it to the mixing of hot and cold air. I could be wrong, though, never thought about it. It is never excessive for me, and lasts only moments.

 

I used to just turn the fan on high and blow it all out.

Must be another Honda thing...

 

There were several bursts of it. But unlike the posts above, the temperature inside the car was almost the same as outside (low 70s).

I had this happen to me only once before, in my '99 Jetta. A lot of smoke came out that time and I thought the car was on fire. But it was odor-less and dissipated fairly quickly. I also turned the A/C off that time, to stop the smoke from entering the car.

This time, I left the A/C on and watched in amusement as each cloud of smoke came in.

 

I've had this happen on nearly every Honda I've ever owned (that's seven of them, fyi). It is just condensation and is not generally indicative of anything wrong with the A/C.