Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual.
An odor in your car may just be an annoyance, but it can also be a sign of car problems. Knowing what different smells indicate will allow you to maintain your car properly and stay safe on the road. The following is a guide on how to diagnose car smells.
Steps
Notice a smell that is similar to maple syrup.
- 1Walk around the outside of the car.
- If you notice the smell in this area, this indicates a radiator leak.
- 2Sit on the passenger side of the inside of the car.
- If you notice the smell in this area, this indicates a bad heater core.
- 3Troubleshoot the smell.
- Have the heater core or radiator repaired by an auto mechanic.
Notice the smell of gasoline.
- 1Park the vehicle outdoors in the heat or indoors.
- If you smell gasoline, there is a leak in your vent hose or fuel injection line.
- 2Troubleshoot the smell.
- Have an auto mechanic repair the leak.
Notice a smell that is similar to a burnt carpet.
- 1Smell the air after you have used the car's brakes extensively.
- If it smells like a burnt carpet, the brake pads are overheated.
- 2Troubleshoot the smell.
- Get the brake pads fixed as soon as possible. Driving with bad brakes poses a safety threat to you and other motorists.
Notice a smell that is similar to a locker room.
- 1Turn on the car's air conditioner.
- If the air that comes out smells like a locker room, this indicates mold and mildew growth inside the vehicle's air-conditioning evaporator.
- 2Troubleshoot the smell.
- Run the vents without the air-conditioner on. This will help dry out the system.
Notice a smell that is similar to sulfur.
- 1Look for oil stains under the car.
- If oil stains are present, this indicates a leak in the vehicle's transfer case or differential housing.
- 2Troubleshoot the smell.
- Take the car to an auto mechanic as soon as possible. This type of leak indicates a serious problem.
Notice a smell that is similar to rotten eggs.
- 1Turn the engine on.
- If you notice a smell that is similar to rotten eggs, this indicates that something is wrong with the catalytic converter.
- 2Troubleshoot the smell.
- Have the catalytic converter replaced. It may be covered under your warranty, so check with the dealer to find out more.
Notice the smell of hot oil.
- 1Check for oil stains under the car.
- This indicates that the vehicle's engine is leaking and burning oil.
- 2Troubleshoot the smell.
- Lift the hood of your car.
- Inspect the engine and oil pipelines. Look for spots of wet oil.
- If you find spots of wet oil, take the vehicle to an auto mechanic to be repaired.
Notice a smell that is similar to a burning newspaper.
- 1Check your car's transmission type.
- This smell should only occur in cars with a manual transmission.
- This smell indicates a worn clutch.
- 2Troubleshoot the smell.
- Purchase a clutch and install it yourself or have an auto mechanic do it.
- sources and citations;
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Diagnose Car Smells Extractor. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.