Smoke from Headliner using remote start

[dr7ski]

Maybe this group can help since my google searches have not. Something is burning in the cabin and I can't figure it out. Here is what happens:
1. Use remote start and let truck run for a couple minutes.
2. Hit ignition button.
3. Truck starts, fans kick on, and for 2-3 seconds smoke comes out from under the headliner in the upper left corner of the windshield above the drivers head. Has the look of cigarette smoke and a slight smell of plastic, but not too strong.
4. Smoke clears, no fire, truck drives fine.
It is a 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat Tremor. Can't get it into the dealer for a week and supposed to head up to the mountains this weekend. Worried that this is the beginning of something more serious. This has happened about 5 times over the past 3 days.
Thanks!

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[DukeCanBuildit]

Yikes, that just scares the bejeezus out of me. With air bags in the A pillars and side curtains, I’d be concerned enough to park it. I wouldn’t want one deploying while I was driving. I’d also be nervous about an interior fire while I was driving.

 

[Cabose-1]

Something is getting hot or having wires crossed

 

[airline tech]

Yes, investigate this, I suspect a short in the wire harness or modules in that area.
Wiring for the (Mic) and Wiring for the (Sunvisor & Home-Link) are there, I think the RTM (Radio Transceiver Module) is mounted more in the center
My off handed guess is going to be either the sunvisor wiring or the mic, determine which and pull the fuse for it - before it gets to be a full fire.

This may help in pinpoint of what circuit is - Shorting (Smoking)

 

[airline tech]

To help isolate this, Remote Start from Phone or FOB and precisely when or what specific thing are you doing when the smoke starts - is this right after hitting the switch (PB)
And does it do the same if not remote starting from the FOB
Just trying to isolate the RTM and when things are getting powered up - after starting vs related to the interior lighting, you definitely have something shorting out (what it is ?) we need to isolate and pinpoint it down and disable that circuit for safety and preservation of the truck itself.
Possibly a scan for codes may show something, a specific circuit issue hopefully will pinpoint the circuit that is causing this - serious issue, I am surprised it’s not blowing a fuse

 

[airline tech]

Best that I can do - in isolation from an office chair, would possibly be the Auto Dim Mirror powering at Ignition On and then shutting off power (Light Source Sensitive) you can possibly test this circuit by operating the mirror switch (adjustment) not the fold switch.
The plastic smell is the wiring (insulation) melting off the wire, so I am looking for anything that is a high-power draw that would be momentary (Ignition - Transition Power)

The Dome & Visor lighting would be a visual indication - Do they work? Properly (High Power)
Turn them off and on (any smoke) The Home-Link shares the power source with the LH Visor Light.

The RTM - is Contant power but wakes for Door Lock Operation via FOB Buttons and also is the receiving unit for the TPMS sensors (High Power) so if you press the FOB Buttons and use the Door Lock / Unlock that should test the wiring circuit for smoke.

The MIC - is low voltage - powered by the APIM, we can possibly eliminate this producing smoke

The IPMA - would be giving you error messages, Collision Avoidance Etc - you may try switching the truck from 2WD to 4WD to induce power on that shared circuit - it is feeding the switch module

So, for me the most probable source is in the Auto-Dimming Mirror circuit, it could be anything running up in the headliner (roof) area, but second possible source is the LH vanity mirror circuit and or Dome Lighting.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Best that I can do - in isolation from an office chair, would possibly be the Auto Dim Mirror powering at Ignition On and then shutting off power (Light Source Sensitive) you can possibly test this circuit by operating the mirror switch (adjustment) not the fold switch.
The plastic smell is the wiring (insulation) melting off the wire, so I am looking for anything that is a high-power draw that would be momentary (Ignition - Transition Power)

The Dome & Visor lighting would be a visual indication - Do they work? Properly (High Power)
Turn them off and on (any smoke) The Home-Link shares the power source with the LH Visor Light.

The RTM - is Contant power but wakes for Door Lock Operation via FOB Buttons and also is the receiving unit for the TPMS sensors (High Power) so if you press the FOB Buttons and use the Door Lock / Unlock that should test the wiring circuit for smoke.

The MIC - is low voltage - powered by the APIM, we can possibly eliminate this producing smoke

The IPMA - would be giving you error messages, Collision Avoidance Etc - you may try switching the truck from 2WD to 4WD to induce power on that shared circuit - it is feeding the switch module

So, for me the most probable source is in the Auto-Dimming Mirror circuit, it could be anything running up in the headliner (roof) area, but second possible source is the LH vanity mirror circuit and or Dome Lighting.

You’re the guy at Mission Control who figured out how the crew of Apollo 13 could build a CO2 scrubber out of duct tape and a toilet paper roll, aren’t you?

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

Maybe this group can help since my google searches have not. Something is burning in the cabin and I can't figure it out. Here is what happens:
1. Use remote start and let truck run for a couple minutes.
2. Hit ignition button.
3. Truck starts, fans kick on, and for 2-3 seconds smoke comes out from under the headliner in the upper left corner of the windshield above the drivers head. Has the look of cigarette smoke and a slight smell of plastic, but not too strong.
4. Smoke clears, no fire, truck drives fine.
It is a 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat Tremor. Can't get it into the dealer for a week and supposed to head up to the mountains this weekend. Worried that this is the beginning of something more serious. This has happened about 5 times over the past 3 days.
Thanks!

Think with an issue like that the dealer should move you to the front of the line.

 

[LB'sTremor]

have you made ANY modifications to the electrical? any electronics added wires tapped etc?

LB

 

[airline tech]

Deeper Dive into this, would explain why temporary smoke (smell) and not blowing fuse.

I am focused on the location (Upper LH Corner) and what is precisely in that area.

Splices - A bad dirty splice could give you the same symptom

S900- Splice point for the OH lighting circuit, so some of the lighting may be flickering or inop (Power)

S905 - Is spliced Ground for the Rain Sensor, so a possible test would be to have the truck running and wipers set to auto / rain sense and spray some water on the windshield in from of the sensor. It's in the area behind the mirror
The splice S905 is splice with the IPMA Ground wire

S906 - As noted in the diagram is the (Auto-Dim Miror) Ground - For the mirror's w/o sync, so this is for the lower trim models with the rear-view camera imbedded with the mirror.

So, lower the headliner down some and inspect the harness (general area) and look for signs of a burned or melted spot and or green corrosion (may need to open harness) to see it.
You will feel an area that has a shrink wrap (firmer feel) that will be the splice point.

Note: From a previous dive into splice locations, they are not depicted exact location, but are close
So, I am backing off from a short and going with a dirty connection at the splice location as a higher probability for this issue.

 

[dtech]

Yikes, that just scares the bejeezus out of me. With air bags in the A pillars and side curtains, I’d be concerned enough to park it. I wouldn’t want one deploying while I was driving. I’d also be nervous about an interior fire while I was driving.

Duke speaking of smoke - can you stop sending it across the border ?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

@dtech
Are we doing that again? ?‍ Must be from those big fires out west. Jasper has been hit hard and Banff is now at risk.

Banff! Can you imagine?

Prime Minister Poutine has officially requested that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida send as many tour buses as he can - this time, filled with Japanese Firefighters.

 

[IdahoRanger]

Duke speaking of smoke - can you stop sending it across the border ?

It's CA and OR smoke with a little from ID.

Horrible air here in ID.

 

[NotBudule2]

Probably nothing serious, I wouldn't worry about a little smoke here and there...

 

[Chris M]

It's CA and OR smoke with a little from ID.

Horrible air here in ID.

Not all of it. Canada has some wildfires going on this week as well.
Just goes to show not ALL air pollution is our fault.

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