Questions tagged [smell]
Use for questions where smell is a defining feature – e.g., in cases where a distinctive smell helps to diagnose a problem, or where you want to ask about a smell as the primary issue.
96
questions
2
votes
2
answers
80
views
Exhaust gas composition from London buses
I asked this on Reddit earlier this week, but nobody had much technical insight.
Can anyone shed light on why exhaust gas from a typical London bus smells entirely different from a coach or truck's ...
- 143
2
votes
0
answers
42
views
1999 Toyota Camry -- Unexplained fuel smell on startup
I drive a 1999 Toyota Camry, around 150K miles. The car is driven infrequently -- perhaps two or three times a week. I'm in the Southeastern US, where recently we've experienced mild but chilly ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
43
views
Fuel/gasoline smell under car. Normal or problem?
Is there any normal process or function which could result in some fuel / gasoline smell under the vehicle? Or does this necessarily indicate an issue?
On a 2009 Toyota Venza, I got some whiffs of ...
- 253
4
votes
1
answer
955
views
Driving fast on gear 4 and smelling burnt smell after
I was driving about 60 to 70mph on freeway on gear 4. Started smelling a burnt smell and ended up getting a flat tire. Was able to use spare tire, and was able to drive home no problem, but now I ...
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
6k
views
Why would a car have a burning smell, but only when going uphill?
My girlfriend has a 2008 Mazda 3 which has developed a strange burning smell. It only does this when going up steep hills (8% grade or so) for more than a mile or two. The smell seems to be the ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
62
views
Cleaning Mold From Fabrics, including Seats and Headliner
I own a Vauxhall Corsa Twinport (04) which previously leaked water through the bulkhead into the car, which results in pools of water in all footwell, plus significant damp across all fabrics. I fixed ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
76
views
Whats causin this scary burnin smell in my van?
I'm smellin somthin don't smell good. Smells like burnt... somthin I don't know what. Smell like a big withdrawal comin from my bank account in the near future.
But it only happens when:
I'm a ...
- 51
-1
votes
1
answer
72
views
If I go in and remove car evaporator, does that mean I will no longer be getting any smell problems?
Despite using ac cleaners car smell keeps coming back. Even if you use something like kool-it you can still expect it to return.
The only way to remove the problem is get to the source and clean\...
- 2,736
2
votes
0
answers
595
views
Car wont go past 20mph before stalling out- 2003 lexus es300
timeline of issue:
-battery light comes on
-AutoZone employee says to replace the alternator
-car won't start at night, so I get a friend to jump start it
-while driving home the car starts to die....
- 21
-1
votes
1
answer
44
views
Will damp smell go if you don’t wash carpet? [duplicate]
Note I have already found the source and fixed it hence no more condensation, I am just wondering if the smell in the carpet will go without washing.
Car carpet smells damp but not musky yet. I ...
- 2,736
3
votes
1
answer
164
views
Best way to clean car carpet?
If you have a damp and musky carpet what is the best way to clean it? I imagine it’s too big to be put in a washing machine.
I guess you could put it in a bath tub and agitate but I hope there’s ...
- 2,736
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
If hvac on recirculate should any exhaust smells be coming through vents?
Civic vti 1999.
I have a small leak in my manifold and mechanic told me if you’re worried about smells just set in on recirculate. I have done and I’m assuming this means no outside air should come ...
- 2,736
0
votes
0
answers
47
views
how will I know if seat cushion has absorbed to the poinr that it needs replacing or not?
If car leaks caused water to go through the fabric and into the cushion of a seat, then you try to squish it out of the sponge and the surface feels dry, but the inside may/may not have water in it, ...
- 2,736
0
votes
3
answers
353
views
Added too much oil and smoke coming from under hood
Last Friday I had put some oil in my 2003 ford escape. I had put in half a quart, but couldn't see anything registering on the dipstick. So I had added a little bit more. Now every time I drive, I can ...
-1
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to/is it safe to close/seal car vents?
This is a different question. The other is specifically asking about the use of vinegar to clean a hvac system. This question is not about vinegar, it is about how to seal vents and if sealing is a ...
- 2,736
0
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can you use white vinegar to remove ac smells?
I'm trying to remove smells which come when I put the ac on. I've seen videos where they used chemicals such as lycol. Im not a fan of strong chemicals. Would something like white vinegar be safe ...
- 2,736
1
vote
1
answer
78
views
What is this substance and does it cause a musky/dusty smell in car?
My car has a smell in it which I dont like. I dont know if it should be described as a musky smell because some may describe as a fragrance and others as dusty.
Anyway I cant pinpoint what it is ...
- 2,736
1
vote
1
answer
9k
views
Is a burning rubber smell normal on a new car?
I am in the process of buying a new Ford Focus (7 miles on the clock). The first time I turned on the dash lit up with oil pressure warnings and the garage had to replace the Oil Pressure Switch (I ...
- 113
0
votes
0
answers
51
views
2000 Suburban brake "Imbalance" issue
My son-in-law has a 2000 Suburban. We replaced all 4 rotors and pads as well as the left rear caliper. The caliper was replaced because upon completion of the initial brake job during the test drive ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
872
views
Awful smell when reversing AND fully cranking the wheel
I drive a used 2004 Subaru Forester (owned for 2.5 years now). The clutch went out last summer so that's been replaced. I've experienced the aforementioned issue only a few times when both the ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
275
views
Burning Rubber Smell
I have a 2015 Chevy Trax. Recently I have noticed that when the car is idling it smells like burning rubber and will only happen after about 10 mins of driving. Living in northern Ontario I warm my ...
-1
votes
3
answers
107
views
How to remove decomposed food smell from car interior fibers?
Car was parked up fro 3 months or so and it seems there was food decomposing in it during this period. I could see the food not sure what it was but it was all decomposed like with green bits in it ...
- 2,736
1
vote
2
answers
940
views
Nasty smell in Subaru Outback
The car is a 2006 Subaru Outback with 82,000 miles. At low speeds we sometimes get a strong smell like natural gas in the cabin. Took it to the dealer twice, but it behaved -- no smell.
The car has ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Plastic smell of new flex exhaust pipe
I've just got installed new flex exhaust pipe. After driving for few minutes, when the engine started to get to operating temperature I started to notice a plastic odor inside of a car. I started to ...
- 123
0
votes
3
answers
509
views
Brake pad wears faster than other three
I've changed all my calipers, all my rotors, and all my pads in an attempt to fix this problem, but it has not gone away.
My rear passenger brake pad wears fast, to the point where it begins to grind,...
- 1
3
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Why is it that my car smells like it's overheating but my temperature gauge says that it's not?
I have a 2006 Nissan Maxima with a hundred and sixty-eight thousand miles on it. The water pump works fine but for some reason everytime I get out of my car it smells like it's overheating and yet my ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
91
views
Are oxide machines effective for permanently removing smoke odor from vehicle interiors?
I'm looking to buy a used car (2017 Prius Prime - leather interior) and the dealership informed me that there was a faint odor of smoke in the vehicle. They left an oxide machine in the vehicle over ...
- 175
2
votes
0
answers
37
views
98 Mustang Randomly loses power w/ gas smell
So when I'm driving around, and specifically when it's humid as I've noticed, my car will randomly lose power and when at a constant speed, start lurching back and forth. Every time this happens, all ...
3
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Fuel smells inside the car when at idle
I have a 2002 Honda civic 1.7L. The car started to make a deeper sound and at idles with heat on, it smells fuel inside the car. Not sure if related, I recently went camping, I parked the car on a ...
- 133
2
votes
1
answer
209
views
How to remove an odor left by mice leaving dry dog food in my vent system. 2008 Honda Civic
I had a bag of dry dog food in the garage and a mouse or rat took an awful lot of it into the vent system, to store it I suppose. The smell is bad. I have removed/replaced the cabin filter twice. I ...
- 23
2
votes
2
answers
67
views
Water logged car smell
Car was caught in a flood and water got in up to the glove compartment. We got it running again after replacing a bunch of parts. But that smell. I had another guy shampoo it, but a friend of mine ...
- 121
1
vote
0
answers
96
views
2011 Subaru Impreza (Automatic) Slipping when shifting uphill
My car has been having a hard time shifting when I accelerate a lot, mainly when I am driving uphill. It seems like it is slipping. There is also a burning smell from time to time I notice when I have ...
1
vote
2
answers
24k
views
What is causing burning smell and over reving sound?
I previously asked this question Can flooring accelarator damage car in any way? and it seemed people were saying it will wear parts out, but over time i.e. not in a week or month.
I have been ...
- 2,736
2
votes
1
answer
28k
views
Motorcycle: burning smell from engine area
Soon after the bike is started up, a burning smell starts coming from somewhere in the engine area. No smoke. It is not a smell of a burned wires, plastic, or rubber, but a distinctive smell of an ...
- 229
1
vote
2
answers
136
views
Mercedes 2003 unpredictably shudders and acts like it's going to stall at a stop light, then hesitant to accelerate
My 2003 Mercedes has acted like it's going to stall at stop lights occasionally for the last few months-shudders at stop signs, then recovers. Today I rev'd it in neutral out of fear it would stall. ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
burning rubber smell from car
So, last night saw temperatures dip well below freezing and I parked in shaded place (this will become relevant). This morning I drove about half a mile to school and noticed a very strong burning ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Smell after engine change?
I recently changed my car engine and when I have the windows down I notice a rubbery smell which comes into the car.
Any idea what this might be and what I should do about it?
- 2,736
1
vote
1
answer
253
views
What could leak from my 2002 F150 V8 engine that smells like rotting garbage?
I mean, really smells like rotting garbage. Looks like oil, but don't think it is because the crankcase would have been empty long before now and because of the smell.
It's a lifted 4x4. Has a ...
0
votes
1
answer
33k
views
Weird "hair" comming out of my muffler [duplicate]
I recently noticed a burned smell when driving a little bit faster. Today, I found this stuff comming out of my muffler:
I cannot imagine that this material should be in the muffler. However, before ...
- 105
0
votes
1
answer
942
views
Foul smell when taking air from outside (not AC)
I am getting a foul smell when I'm taking air from outside. Note that when I turn on AC and recycle the air inside, the smell is gone.
But re-appears when I turn the AC off and start to take the air ...
- 135
3
votes
2
answers
25k
views
**strong burnt rubber odor** coming from the passenger side REAR tire area
I can smell a strong burnt rubber odour coming from the passenger side REAR tire area. I sprayed that tire and that area with some water and a lot of steam/smoke arose. I then sprayed the other ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
686
views
Civic smells of burnt plastic and smokes a little twice a day
I have a 99 Honda Civic, automatic transmission.
About two weeks ago, for about 10 seconds it started to smell like burnt plastic and a little smoke started going from under the hood. It stopped and ...
- 11
5
votes
2
answers
20k
views
Hands still smell like gasoline after multiple washings, it is safe to handle food?
I have been reparing my weed wacker, so I have the gasoline/oil mixture on my hands. I have washed them twice with hand soap, once with orange soap scrub, once with dish soap, once with hand ...
- 151
5
votes
2
answers
36k
views
White smoke and burning smell from engine area, can you spot the oil leak?
I own an Audi A4 2008.
When I drive the car for more than 15 minutes I get white smoke coming from under the hood and a burning smell getting into my air conditioning system. When I open the hood, I ...
- 73
3
votes
1
answer
190
views
Exhaust smells coming from ventilation system
The inside of my Suzuki Alto smells like exhaust/gas/oil. The smells seem to be coming through the ventilation system when the fan is blowing.
What could cause these conditions?
- 41
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Honda Civic Hybrid: IMA Battery and egg-like smell
My 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid won't start.
When I try to turn on the engine, the lights in the dashboard flash but nothing happens. I've jumped the car several times and have finally accepted that the ...
- 41
3
votes
2
answers
153k
views
Burning smell and smoke from rear tire
I was driving when I began smelling a burning, possibly rubber, smell and when I pulled over there was smoke coming from my passenger side rear tire well. Nothing appears to be wrong with the tire or ...
- 39
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Burning Smell and smoke
I know almost nothing about cars, I have an 05 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2
The other day I had to brake hard, like the hardest I've ever braked, but it wasn't full foot down. As I stopped, I noticed a large ...
- 141
13
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Recreate new car smell
I bought a second hand Toyota Sienna 4 months ago. Even though it is a 2009 with 100,000km on it, the interior had that "new car" smell to it, and held it for several weeks.
Four months later, the ...
- 300
4
votes
1
answer
360
views
06 Solstice (Yay) Fuel smell after hard acceleration
Vehicle: the ever-present 2006 Solstice with aftermarket turbo.
When I lift after hard acceleration, I can smell what I think is gas for a few seconds. It dissipates quickly, but is disturbing.
A ...
- 3,129