hey guys, i just had my timing belt, serpentine belt replaced just a few days ago. now on the drive home, i started to smell something burning and realized smoke was coming through the vents. popped the hood and also noticed smoke coming out of by the red circle area in the pic below. im not sure if it is the heater core, or if it was something that the mechanic could have done wrong when replacing the belts.

i searched the forum and found one thread and said it might be the heater core. can anyone confirm this and how much it will cost to replace? im in canada so its going to be a little more expensive i guess.. weather is pretty chilly up here, and i also dont remember how hot the air was coming out through the vents cuz the drive wasnt too long...3 min drive from the train station to my house..

THANKS!

 

What did it smell like possibly burnt oil? i know on my 12v the crankcase breathing tubes are right where you are describing and it could be broken causing oil to poor onto the engine and possible smoke a little? how much longer did you drive it after you realized it was smoking

 

at first i thought it was burning rubber...and the car was running only for a couple of minutes until i realized smoke was coming through the vents.

 

Coolant has a distinct smell. Oil too. And rubber as well. I would think that the belts which were recently replaced may have smelled a little because they are new. But smoke isn't good. Maybe they weren't installed correctly? Check the belt's tension. Let your car warm up, check the heat. How's the coolant level? Carpets wet? Coolant on the ground?
I am leaning toward belt related.
Also ... for someone like you who seems interested in cars ... why don't you buy the Bentley Publishing manual for your a4? they are like 75- US from Amazon.com. Good to have on hand for reference even if you take your car to the shop. Keep us posted.

 

Any news? What was the problem? Did you get it fixed?

 

i noticed my coolant level below minimum. i did see traces of oil under where the smokes were coming from AND from my oil filter. i will just take it back to the mechanic that recently did the t-belt and have him look at it.

i do get heat from the vents though, but it doesnt get hot hence the low coolant level probably. im hoping its not the heater core, maybe the mechanic may have not tighten a hose or something correctly.

sometimes i feel that this car is a nightmare, or it could just be mechanics f-ing with me.

 

Really sounds like oil from the valve covers. Mine were leaking about a week ago swapped new ones in and it still smokes and stinks because of the remnant oil. But yah take it back to the mechanic its obviously something he did wrong. If it wasn't doing it before and it is now.

 

ok it wasnt the heater core.

it is oil leaking from the Cam seal AND my oil cooler is leaking too. I've asked the mechanic to just do a whole tune up with it too. AHGH everythings happening all at once ! >