Turn key ON....white smoke from vents

[phuz]

Right after I started the car this morning and was about to pull out of the garage, I got some white smoke billowing from the defroster vents (at least that is where it appeared to come from). I turned the car off, let the smoke clear, and turned the key back to the ON position and the smoke immediately started up. The blower motor was in the OFF position when this occurred. I didn't have time to mess with it since I was leaving for work, so I took my other car to work and decided to go home at lunch and check a few things out. I put an ammeter inline with the battery, although its only 10A unfused, so I disconnected the fuel pump and made sure all the big current draws (lights, blower, wipers, etc.) were all turned off. As soon as the key was turned to ON, I saw it go over 20 amps so I quickly turned it off. I even pulled the blower fuses and it still spiked over 20 amps so I am pretty sure the blower motor is OK. I was told it could be the fan speed resistor, which lies within the vent tubes, but since I disconnected the fuses, I don't know what else it could be. I plan on spending the evening tracing it out, but if anyone has a hint as to where I should begin, I would appreciate it!

[dccse3k]

what did it smell like? plastic melting?

[OutToWinPAHC]

Take the dash off and look for the cause bud.

[breadbox]

Blower resistor or cracked heater core maybe.

[nightsauce]

maybe someone played a joke on you and put powder in ya vents?

[phuz]

It was my own stupid fault. When wiring my oil pressure gauge, I used an un-fused ignition source and I am guessing my oil pressure gauge has gone bad or is being temperamental because the power/ground wires coming off the gauge had their entire insulation cooked off. I replaced them last night and took it out for a drive. The first 5 minutes were OK and then the wires cooked again. I am going to put the oil pressure gauge on its own fuse and try to figure out if its truly a bad gauge.