2012 Screw, 4x4, 5.0

I was driving home in the rain last night, about 3hrs on mostly interstate. When I got back home and sitting in driveway while dropping people off, I noticed steam coming out of the grill area. When I raised the hood, the fans came on and could not find source of steam. I also noticed it a second time, but before I could get out of truck, the fans came on and steam went away. All gauges seemed to be in normal range.

Issue #2, my wife took the truck this morning. She soon came home and said a light smoke had came out of the vents while the heat was on. I did notice a faint smell of smoke. I started truck and turned on heat and could not get it to replicate symptoms.

Issue #3? As I was looking under the hood, I noticed a hole in the top/end of the dog-leg on the air intake tube that goes from the filter to the throttle body. It is big enough that i can stick the end of my pinky finger in it. I would believe that this hole should not be there. I mean what good is a filter if there is a hole that can suck in unfiltered air.

Opinions are welcome. I may be over thinking things, but I am going to go by my local dealer and see what they have to say.

 

You are correct, go to the dealer.

 

Was there a color or smell with the "steam"? If so, that would indicate a leak somewhere..... Otherwise steam happens sometimes if you hit a puddle and it splashes up into engine bay....

 

Go to the dealer. I had this happen to my flex 2 years ago. It turned out to be a seal that had to be replaced. I cant remember where exactly and of course the dealer couldnt get the car to do it again but i ended up googling it and tell them what to replace. After that it worked fine.

 

In the flex you could smell a hint of coolant when it happened an the smoke was clear. Only happened after longs drives and then stopping and idling.

 

I notice "steam" from the grill area after a car wash as well. I, like you, was worried and tried tracing the source but found nothing out of the ordinary, just figured it was from the water in the engine bay / radiator area. I put my hand in the steam and it was very hot so it was steam, not smoke. I never had smoke from my vents, although my last truck (02 ram 1500) did occasionally smoke from the vents but like the steam on the grill of my ford it had no smell so I ignored.

Go for a ride for a while stop at car wash, get out and check from steam, go thru car wash, check again, I'll bet you have it. It was probably from the rain. The smoke from the vents tho, I'd like to know the answer to that one. I would go to the dealer and get it checked out.

 

Well, I went to my local dealer today. As I expected the steam is most likely attributed to the long drive in the rain.

The smoke issue, I can not get to replicate. The possibility dealer gave is that heat had not been on for a while and a light film of dust was blown through system. (Wife did have the fan switch on high, so it could have blown some dust. Do not remember ever having it on high before.) Which dealer said the dust could have a little burnt smell to it. Plausible I guess, only time will tell if it happens again.

Now to the part about the hole in the air intake. He told me that nothing he can do, because it appears that something may have melted it. I kinda agree that it looked melted. But it is not of my doing. I have only had the hood open a few times to change and check oil. This either happened from when part was molded or if the dealer had done anything before I took possession of truck. The only thing that could have done that would be a drop light, and I do not use a drop light to change oil.

 

That's bull**** about the intake. Go to another dealer!

 

I have an appointment at the dealer I purchased truck from. I just did not want to drive the 1 1/2 hrs, why I went to the local dealer. Talked to service manager on the phone,and sounded like we may be able to do something about it. I just hope he has a better answer than "just put a cold air intake on it." That is what I was told today.

 

Well I went to the actual dealer I purchased the truck from. I knew there was a reason I purchased from them. I made an appointment, showed up, handed them my keys and waited in the lounge. They came back about 30 minutes later and handed me my keys, said they replaced part, and I was ready to go. Great service from Mark Martin Ford in Batesville, Ar.