Get out if the gym, start the car up, turn on the A/C and wait for my wife's text. As I am waiting, smoke starts to billow up from engine bay. Smelled electrical. Shut the car off and inspected. Restarted car and found smoke coming from PS pump/fan (see pic). Steering appeared to be normal. So i leave the car sit for a while, restart it, and nothing.

Anyone else have this happen? Any ideas if fan or pump are about to go?

Btw, it's a 2005 MCS with 140,000 miles. I believe it's the original pump.

 

And as soon as I hit post, the smoke comes back.

 

I would wager your fan is froze up with grit. You need the ducting to cover this as it will extend the life of the fan and prevent your car from bursting into flames.

 

unplug the fan ASAP
Next..order a new one, and replace it.

 

Thanks guys. Got the tow truck on the way.

 

You can simply reach behind the fan, and uplig it, then drive......
Or pull the fuse by the steering wheel....a5 amp one....shares with the optional back up sensor on a PRODUCTION DATE 2005+ car, or a car modified by the dealer to the newer wiring.
On older wiring (some 2005 model year cars built before 1/1/2005) there is a plug with 2 wires near the cooling fan plug by the rad....

 

Damn Zippy...wish you'd have replied sooner. Oh, we'll thank you for your help.

 

😧

 

The culprit....

 

You can get a new fan...and reuse the bracket for about $200, about +20, and you get the entire thing. Pretty simple fix...heck can drive the car up on a curb and slide ubder tge car, and do the plug and two bolts......
Good luck, And congrats on paying attention and catching this!! Hopefully the fuse was gonna blow in another few seconds if you missed it!!

 

Here's a question...since it's Friday, and I'll have to order the fan and it'll be few days....can I drive it without the fan if I absolutely needed to?

 

Should be fine imo.
Some folks drive MONTHS with a failed one...not knowing it.
i would get the new fan on pretty quick....but for a week i bet it should be ok.
since the ps pump is so $$, i would not chance it much longer!!

 

Forget the overpriced PS fan, get it here I picked it up for $74 after shipping.

http://www.a1electric.com/Merchant2/...Category_Code=

 

Ordered the fan from Partsgeek. $128.

 

And it's back in and working fine. Thanks for all your help guys.