Smell of smoke and warning light on

shadowcomplex

I don't know much about cars but I seem to be having a problem with my ford focus , basically the warning light was on and there was a smell of smoke on my way home from work tonight, when I arrived home and got out there was a lot of smoke coming from behind my car , any ideas

Nissan doctor

What warning light? Engine malfunction? Oil? Brakes? etc etc

Was the car driving ok? Noises? lack of power?


Your description could literally be anything.

Mar4ix

hmmm ..... id say headgasket , not really often heard ford headgaskets gone, but from your description, looks like. what about performance ? also she shall idle rough .

Nissan doctor

Mar4ix wrote: »

hmmm ..... id say headgasket , not really often heard ford headgaskets gone, but from your description, looks like. what about performance ? also she shall idle rough .

I really can't you could guess head gasket from that description.

Unless the OP has been oblivious to several other symptoms(Overheating, low coolant etc) then its very very unlikely to be a headgasket.

@OP, was the smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe?

Mar4ix

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I really can't you could guess head gasket from that description.

Unless the OP has been oblivious to several other symptoms(Overheating, low coolant etc) then its very very unlikely to be a headgasket.

@OP, was the smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe?

warning light on dash, and lots smoke from exhaust, headgasket failure - first thing what comes in my mind, but op didnt describe really much , what else could be on any car, warning light and lot of smoke ? leaking coolant on exhaust, and low coolant level on dash ? if that would be oil, car would go in fire id say, could be stuck rear brake pad, and went hot, and smoke could be steam , which evaporated from hub ... (happen long time ago with one of my car) , also might stuck plastic bag on exhaust , and warning light could be coincident.

Wheelnut

The OP didn't even say if the car is petrol or diesel.

If it's a diesel, smoke (from the exhaust) and a warning light would cause me to think about the DPF.

Row

Op..have you got the 1.6 tdci or the 1.8 tdci..?
if its the 1.6 tdci have you got the 90 bhp or the 110 bhp..?
If it has an engine light on then a diagnostic plugin is required to narrow down the problem.

shadowcomplex

It fine now, I think the engine was low in oil , its a petrol car

corktina

It's healed itself?

It's not a Focus, it's a Very Naughty Boy.

Tallon

shadowcomplex wrote: »

It fine now, I think the engine was low in oil , its a petrol car

So was it the Oil light that was on? I'm assuming you topped it up?

Might be worth getting it looked at all the same

Ronnie Beck

Tallon is being polite. If you just topped it up yourself you need to find out why your oil level dropped that low. You might have a leak.

jimmyw

shadowcomplex wrote: »

It fine now, I think the engine was low in oil , its a petrol car

If the oil level went down so low that the light (oil pressure ?) came on and you still drove it, smoke and all:eek:, then you better have it looked at as you could have done damage to the engine.Not a good thing to do.

???
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bsNGKlFQqzE/UCKimLHPbQI/AAAAAAAAApE/pk0y2he7cnQ/s1600/oil1.jpg

Nissan doctor

shadowcomplex wrote: »

It fine now, I think the engine was low in oil , its a petrol car

A car being low on oil won't cause smoke out the back unless you have damaged the engine but if this was the case then just topping up the oil wouldn't 'fix' it.

You still haven't said what light came on the dash.

shadowcomplex

Nissan doctor wrote: »

A car being low on oil won't cause smoke out the back unless you have damaged the engine but if this was the case then just topping up the oil wouldn't 'fix' it.

You still haven't said what light came on the dash.

it was the red warning light that came on

areyawell

Does the car have enough coolant and water?

Tallon

shadowcomplex wrote: »

it was the red warning light that came on

Oh the red warning light? why didn't you say that

That was just your handbrake

biko

shadowcomplex wrote: »

it was the red warning light that came on

What did the light look like? Many warnings lights on your dash are yellow and a few red. Each mean a different thing has gone wrong.

Did it look like one of these?

Wheelnut

shadowcomplex wrote: »

I don't know much about cars ...

shadowcomplex wrote: »

it was the red warning light that came on

The second statement seems to confirm the accuracy of the first.
How did you pass your driving test?

shadowcomplex

Wheelnut wrote: »

The second statement seems to confirm the accuracy of the first.
How did you pass your driving test?

when did i say i passed my test

shadowcomplex

biko wrote: »

What did the light look like? Many warnings lights on your dash are yellow and a few red. Each mean a different thing has gone wrong.

Did it look like one of these?

its number 12

chiefwiggum

shadowcomplex wrote: »

its number 12

driving with the handbrake on ??

SweetCaliber

chiefwiggum wrote: »

driving with the handbrake on ??

That would explain the smoke

Edit: Could also be low brake fluid.

jimmyw

http://www.hampshireautos.co.uk/images/engine-management-light.jpg

http://www.carservicetips.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/oil1.jpg


http://plazaautomotive.com/wp-content/uploads/Battery-Light.jpg

http://www.carservicetips.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/brake3.jpg



http://www.eario.com/Lights/Engine_temperature.jpg


Take yer pick OP, which one of the above is it?

Nissan doctor

shadowcomplex wrote: »

its number 12

That light means that either your brake fluid is low or your hand brake was on. If you were driving with your handbrake on then that could certainly cause smoke from the brakes.

You would surely, having passed a test or not, have noticed this light coming on when you apply the handbrake and going off when you release it.

Ronnie Beck

Nissan doctor wrote: »

That light means that either your brake fluid is low or your hand brake was on. If you were driving with your handbrake on then that could certainly cause smoke from the brakes.

I would say the handbrake was left on. Low brake fluid wouldn't cause smoke. It would also explain how the problem just went away. OP you never mentioned actually doing anything to the car... You could have burnt your brake fluid, worn your pads and probably damaged the discs or drums. It would be worth getting them looked over.

Mar4ix

he he ... lads, look on post Nr.5 . That was one of my guess... but more like technical failure, ... i couldnt imagine, op just forgot release handbrake ... reminds one rusian joke ... not sure it is russian originated, but i heard it in russian, and will try translate .

Son ask father: Dad, you said you are good driver ?
Father: yes son, i am driving many years without accidents.
Son: remember you said, you woudnt drive even meter with handbrake on ?
Father: yes, that's right.
Son: Mother is better driver than you Dad....
Father: Why you think so son?
Son: She drove with handbrake on all the way down from school to home ...

:pac:

Wheelnut

shadowcomplex wrote: »

when did i say i passed my test

Then you should have asked the qualified driver with you about the problem.

Alanstrainor

I think this thread has run it's course at this stage.