Smoke coming from vents.

[Shotrod69]

‘93 2.3 ranger.
When I started my truck this morning(noon) smoke billowed out of the vents and smelled like a wood fire. Leaving work now, no smoke was noticed, but it still smells like wood smoke.

any suggestions on what this could be?

 

[RonD]

Leaves in the Blower fan box, and some were on the Resistor Block on startup so burned

Pull off the blower motor in engine bay, 3 screws/bolts, unplug its 2 wire connector and rubber elbow
Look and Reach inside and see what stuff is in there, clean it out

Next to the blower motor, toward drivers side, is the resistor block, fan speed control, 2 screws/bolts, unplug it
Remove it and have a look, blow it off, if it looks OK reinstall it, if it looks burnt get a new one
Resistor block runs VERY HOT, which is why its put inside the blower box so the fan can cool it down if its on, if fan is not on then resistor block doesn't get hot

And your fan was on or "smoke" wouldn't have blown in

Rubber elbow is an air vent for the electric motor so it doesn't use engine bay air that could have exhaust or other unpleasant "odors" that could possibly end up in the cab vents

 

[franklin2]

Typical blower motor resistor assembly. Those springs are the resistors, they get red hot.

 

[DILLARD000]

The joys of fall and leaves getting into everything.

 

[Jazzer]

I’ve had to clean out my blower housing twice now due to the same problem, caused by the slots in front of the windshield being large enough to admit debris (leaves, maple seeds, etc).

I clean out the housing with a shop vac and flexible, jury rigged extension hoses.

Ford later changed the air intake slots to dimpled holes to help prevent that problem.

During leaf season I put magnetic vent covers over the slots to block debris.

-Jazzer