Smoke in Cabin

I recently started my car and smelled a weird chemical/ zoo smell, and then noticed my car filling with white smoke. I pulled over and checked my oil, coolant, and anything wrong under the hood and it looked fine. I started my car again and this time there was tons of smoke coming from under the seats and the dashboard. I turned off my AC completely and the smoke still kept coming intermittently. There was also a hissing noise that would come and go but would get really loud after I turned off the engine and it would slowly get softer. I drove it home with the smoke still coming and going.

Any idea on the issue? I'm assuming something to do with the AC. And whatever it is do you know if it's easy to fix?

 

sounds like an electrical short/fire to me. lots of electrical connections under the seat and behind the dash too.

But i know virtually nothing about electrical so take that with a grain of salt.

Best bet would be to take it in to get diagnosed, unless you can find the issue and take pics. us armchair experts won't be able to properly diagnose.

 

This issue is on your 2019 correct?

 

Something could have fallen or is touching the exhaust manifold. Check even for a varment in there too. Cats love to crawl into engines.

 

Sounds like either your evaporator sprung a leak or something shorted out, until you find the problem I'd unhook the battery incase it is electrical.

 

2016

 

Best case, the AC sprung a leak inside the cabin. I'm assuming that this is what you are talking about. In which case, have it towed to an AC specialist. Don't drive with leaking refrigerant in the cabin. You really dont want to be hotboxing that stuff.




However, seeing as our noses are not calibrated the same and one can describe melted plastic in unusual ways... If you don't know what an electrical short smells like, I would follow the next steps:

...I would not park the car in the garage, or anywhere near the house. I would stop driving it immediately. I would also pop the hood and remove the battery. Take a cursory glance to find melted plastic or burnt wires. If you have the skills, pull the dash panels and the seats, and inspect carefully. If you can't find anything, have it towed to the shop.

Its either/or. I cant tell which without sniffing.

 

Look for mice evidence

 

Hissing sound makes me suspect a evaporator leak