Fellow Brick Boarders,

It's enough that Los Angeles doesn't have the cleanest air. Unfortunately, now I can say the same for the interior of my Volvo 240.

I had smoke coming from the vents once in this car but a flame trap kit took care of that.

This time:

The plastic shift cover cracked and fell off exposing everything in the shifter housing. And ever since I've noticed a smoke that rises like incense when my car is at a stop (certainly doesn't smell like incense!). This happens after freeway driving or driving at higher speeds for 20-30 minutes or I guess you could say when the car is hot. Sometimes the smoke is very noticeable and sometimes it is very faint.

I read somewhere on the Brick Board that it could be an electrical issue. But I don't think it is. On cold mornings I can feel a cool draft coming from the shifter area. My theory is that the reason I get smoke coming from there when I stop the car at a red light signal is because of a combination of (1) leaky transmission fluid and/or oil fluid burning under the car and (2) a shifter housing that is somehow not sealed/air tight. Hence smoke coming up from somewhere in the shifter housing.

My mechanic mentioned that there's a hard to find boot for this problem. But can't the housing itself be tightened/sealed? The shifter stick does need 2 new bushings but that doesn't have anything to do with this issue, right?

A solution to this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Any ideas?

G