Wondering if someone can help me pinpoint my problem I have a 2002 9-3 se hatchback I notice white smoke coming from my vent when ac or heat is off it goes away fast but pops up from time to time I noticed that the smoke happens when I leave the car parked with out use for a couple of days I use my saab mostly Monday to Friday for work and it's parked thru the weekend so needless to say the smoke will start on Monday it goes away but it has me puzzled and the smoke has a smell not like antifreeze more like a heat smell if that makes sense love my saab but it's a pain to figure things out at times thanks ahead of time for any help
elliot vigo
Yes. The heater core has coolant running though it constantly. Cabin heat is controlled by adjusting the vent/blend door.
Unfortunately, while the heater core itself is aluminum the 90 degree elbow unions that connect it to the coolant pipes from under the hood are made of plastic and they become brittle with age and can seep coolant. There is a tray mounted beneath the heater core where dripping coolant will collect but it is angled and I has a drain hole. If the core leaks coolant will not soak the carpeting and drains under the center of the car just behind the engine compartment.
It's involved but if you remove the shifter console and lower part of the dash, you'll be able to see the elbows. I bet they're leaking. The white smoke is the dripping coolant burning off the core once it heats up. However, I don't believe the elbows are available separately. When my '99 9-3 began to leak there I had a radiator shop fabricate two copper elbows to replace the plastic ones. Cost me $50 but worth it.
Unfortunately, while the heater core itself is aluminum the 90 degree elbow unions that connect it to the coolant pipes from under the hood are made of plastic and they become brittle with age and can seep coolant. There is a tray mounted beneath the heater core where dripping coolant will collect but it is angled and I has a drain hole. If the core leaks coolant will not soak the carpeting and drains under the center of the car just behind the engine compartment.
It's involved but if you remove the shifter console and lower part of the dash, you'll be able to see the elbows. I bet they're leaking. The white smoke is the dripping coolant burning off the core once it heats up. However, I don't believe the elbows are available separately. When my '99 9-3 began to leak there I had a radiator shop fabricate two copper elbows to replace the plastic ones. Cost me $50 but worth it.
Google, and you will "hate" me for the info/data overflow ... The core is about in the middle and is one of the easier ones to R and R , as I am told .
Dumb question,but is it smoke or a foggy steam? Steam is normal out of the vents at certain humidities.I'd want to do a pressure test and coolant loss check before I ripped the dash apart. I've rebult engines on down on most all makes of cars over the years,but I DESPISE pulling a dash apart!
I've recently changed the radiator and did a pressure test and it's held there's no sign of a leak that's can be seen it's more like a white smoke if theres one thing I've learned about saab is your gonna be pulling out alot more than you would like to to fix things lol I figured it could be 2 things the heater core or the turbo both a pain to get to lol
It will hold pressure if the leak is small. I suppose you can live with it unless/until it worsens but I bet it's the plastic elbows connecting the coolant tubes to the heater core. As said above, they don't appear to be available separately and usually aren't included with a new heater core, so double check before you buy a core thinking that you'll get the elbows with it.
Lower dash and shifter console removal are straightforward. Good luck with it.
Lower dash and shifter console removal are straightforward. Good luck with it.
Here's the question - the smoke...do you also have a sweet maple syrup like smell? Usually coolant when hot smells like that...if you have steam and the smell - then almost definite leak - no smell....well you still could have the leak 
Flash yes that smell is there just a few min ago I was looking at the center console to figure out how to remove it I pulled off the shifter cover and put my nose to it and you can Def smell it more a friend of mine told me about a sealer but I'm not to sure if I would use it I think it's call bars or barns liquid aluminum sealer has anyone had luck with product like this?
If it's the plastic elbows that are leaking they are fatigued and most likely cracked. Leak stopper can't/won't strengthen them.
To get the lower dash cover off, remove the shifter console and pull it back. The lower dash and shifter console are sort of hooked together. Then remove the torx screws on the sides in the footwells. You'll have to remove some switches and wiring and then pull off the panel. Once off, you'll see a plastic box with a hinged front panel; the heater core is inside it.
If there's any residue in the box or signs of dripping under the elbows, it's the elbows (or hopefully the o-rings) that are leaking. There are plastic couplers that surround the joint where the elbows and coolant tubes are connected. Don't unclip them. They are what hold the joint together.
If only one of your elbows is leaking I have an old one that seems solid. But, better still, fab a union out of copper/brass. It'll outlast the car.
If you lived in a warm climate you could always remove the heater core completely and run a short hose between the inlet and outlet coolant pipes. Of course, you'd have no heat.
To get the lower dash cover off, remove the shifter console and pull it back. The lower dash and shifter console are sort of hooked together. Then remove the torx screws on the sides in the footwells. You'll have to remove some switches and wiring and then pull off the panel. Once off, you'll see a plastic box with a hinged front panel; the heater core is inside it.
If there's any residue in the box or signs of dripping under the elbows, it's the elbows (or hopefully the o-rings) that are leaking. There are plastic couplers that surround the joint where the elbows and coolant tubes are connected. Don't unclip them. They are what hold the joint together.
If only one of your elbows is leaking I have an old one that seems solid. But, better still, fab a union out of copper/brass. It'll outlast the car.
If you lived in a warm climate you could always remove the heater core completely and run a short hose between the inlet and outlet coolant pipes. Of course, you'd have no heat.
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