I just hit a pot hole and all of a sudden smoke is coming out of my car's air vents. What should I do?

Question

I drive a 94 Toyota Tercel. A basic project car... and something to drive to work and school. (Saves mileage on my VW Rabbit).
Anyway, I just drove over a pot hole late at night not even noticing it... so I started smelling smoke. I then parked at my driveway and turned off my car and pulled my key out of ignition. I then heard some crackling static noise from my only working speaker. Then BAM! Smoke started coming out of my two air vents above my radio. Is this an engine problem or just an overheating problem with the radio? My radio isn't stock and who ever put it in the Tercel did a poor job... it doesn't even work... it worked two days ago but not anymore. There's no way I can turn off this stupid radio and all it does is illuminate and gives off as bait for car jackers. I'm thinkin' of just yanking it out... but I would want a professional to do it since I might pull the wrong wires... blah. Is it the radio? Or did I wreck something when I went over that darn pot hole?

Answer 1

You hit the pot hole so hard that you shorted out some wireing under the dash simply locate your fuse box and see wich fuse is blown and that should tell where the problem it does sound like some radio wires might have gotten crossed if it is an after market radio than that is where the problem is

Answer 2

If you have smoke, then the radio was wired without a fuse. remove it immediately. Simply cut the wires one at a time, and wrap in electrical tape. That smoke is the insulation on the shorted wires burning as the wire gets red hot. It is VERY likely that your car will catch fire next time you start it, if not before.

Also, since it happened after the keys were removed, this means that it wasn't wired through the ignition or the fuse panel. Look for an extra wire attached directly to the battery - usually it'll look like it doesn't belong there (wire wrapped around the clamp, doesn't go into the harness, that sort of thing.) Disconnect this immediately, before you lose the car!

Answer 3

I'd go make sure my car wasn't on fire. you need to have that checked out or you could have an electrical fire on your hands.