Lexus SC430 :: Strange Smell Coming From Engine And Through Front Grill
Jan 7, 2013
I have a 2002 SC430 with 130K+ miles. I have recently noticed that after some spirited driving the front of my car smells strange. I can even smell it outside of the car in the front where the radiator is. The smell is coming from the engine and through the front grill.
If I set my climate control to pull air in from the outside then the smell will get pulled into the cabin.
I checked to see if the exhaust evap hose got disconnected but it has not (can also cause smell around the car). The check engine light is not on and the temperature gauge appears normal. I've noticed my windows seems to fog up easily too now (I run the heater all the time since it's winter here), perhaps some antifreeze is getting into the climate control system? I'm hoping it's not my heater core starting to go, since that's an expensive repair.
Perhaps this could be a sign that the radiator is leaking? I got the car used and believe I have the original radiator in there.
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I have a 2003 SC430 with 170,000 miles on the odo. It runs great, but the exhaust smell is killing me. I'm pretty sure it's normal for an 11 year old car, but I want to eliminate it.
Do you know what part or part(s) I might be able to replace to eliminate the foul smell?
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I have a burning smell coming from the grill? noticed it yesterday while driving. 110,000 miles + volvo s60. no engine lights, no smoke, temp. gauge is not high.
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Several times it would have been nice just to pull the plastic grills off and clean out the bugs. What are the details on how you can do this?
Using a tube to vacuum tube through the grill holes can result in bending the fins. Attached is an example hack at a coin op on a road trip. Need a better way.
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I have a 2005 SC that was passed down from my mom, so don't know that much about it.
Last week it overheated with steam coming out of the front area. . . . shop said my radiator had a crack, but that i probably overheated the engine and that they would need to rework it all . . . the car is still at their shop, but was wondering if i am better off just getting rid of this one or buying another one.
I asked them for a cost est. they said that they would have to open up the engine before they could tell me that, but want to charge me to do that.
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I've had my Prius v (lowercase v) for about 6 months now and just took it in for its 5000 mi service. There were no problems but shortly after I got it back I started noticing a really bad odor coming from somewhere in the car. Its not a moldy or mildew smell that's coming from the HVAC. I sniffed all the mats and it's not that either. From what I can tell, the smell seems to be coming from the plastics on the dashboard area, but it's really hard to tell for sure. I tried covering it up with febreeze, but the odor is too strong. It's not the smell of a rotting animal either.
Again, not from the seats, floormats, or AC system. Seems to be coming from the dashboard and/or center console area where all the buttons are. I have a baby and a carseat, but I don't feed the baby in the car, and after sniffing the carseat and rear seat area, I can confirm the smell isn't coming from there.
I'm about to take a multi-day cross-country road trip in my Prius v and would love to fix the source of the smell before I go. It's not that noticeable with the windows rolled down, but when you sit in the car for the first time in the morning, the smell is definitely noticeable, and it's not good.
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Started up the SC 430 (2002) and a clicking noise is coming from the engine. After engine is warmed up noise settles down. Have 71212 miles
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Got back from a three hundred mile trip and after washing the car I noticed that the chrome wrap on my 450h 2013 front grill is bubbling up? The last month temperatures have been around 10 degrees but no snow. Will take to dealer next time in Spokane. But would like to know how to prevent this in the future.
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Something really strange is happening as I opened the hood after stopping the car the other day and it seems like something is burning ( doesn't smell like oil ) and smoky is coming out from the left side of engine compartment?!? What can it be as I can't see any oil leaks or anything? can something be melting
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what are some methods to have the original chrome pieces such as the front grill and window trims painted into glossy black. I called my paint guy and he told me chrome pieces are not 'paintable' and that I shouldn't go that route.
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I have noticed an oil burning smell when i come to a stop. Its been getting worse. I just replaced my valve cover gaskets. With new spark plugs also. Any way after I completed the job, I let the car run for a few minutes and seemed like i could still smell the burning smell. May be its just because it all needs to burn off the heat shields, but I thought I saw some oil accumulating on the bottom side of the v.v.t solenoid on the front of the valve cover. Is that a separate cover? Doesn't seem to be a gasket there. Do these v.v.t covers leak a lot?
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I've had the JoeZ axle back installed for about two months now. I noticed that the engine light came on initially when installing but it went away on its own. I got into an accident and after the repairs were done on my car the light was gone.
It soon came back on but i expected it was because my oil change was due
Got the oil change done and the light was off. Couple days ago the light came back on.
I called the Lexus Dealer and they told me that it might be due to the Gas cap not tight enough. Gave it a few twist but light still remained on.
For the past month, I also recently noticed a mildew smell coming from the vents when i start the car but goes away. Does the mildew smell + Check engine light mean that something is wrong with the exhaust?
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I have a sc430 and I had to change the Ecu, I've had it mapped so the keys all match and now it wants to start but it just doesn't seem to want to kick in , it turns over then just shuts down, there is a smell of petrol so I'm assuming its getting trough , I just wondered if there is any other reason for it not to start ...
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I have a sulfur smell in my 05 since new, it now has 23k and is a little better now. The dealer said to switch gas stations. I haven't noticed this. I notice it going up hill with the top down sometimes but mainly after parking it in the garage. The dealer said it would not hurt the car. I worried that it is running too rich and damaging the coverter, plus it is annoying. I love the car but it sure isn't perfect.
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So i have had my r now for a lil under 2 weeks, just noticed a strange noise, seems to be coming from the front drivers side, its a low whine/hum, almost like a pump or small motor is running and is very similar to when you use your wiper fluid. the noise is only present when the engine is cold and typically only does it two to three times while stopped. Just seeing if this is a normal thing, never heard anything like this on my previous vw.
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I've got a strange sound coming from the front axle. I want to rule out/in that it may be my auto lock hubs. Can I slide the hubs out and drive around? I dont see any problem I won't be offroad, just some miles to test it.
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So I drive a 98 Honda, 118k miles, and for last month I've got a really strange noise coming from my front passenger side wheel. It happens when I apply the brakes, usually at a slow speed, slowing down from something like 30mph to a stop. When slowing down, if I have just a bit of pressure on the brake, the noise seems to go along with the speed of the wheels. It also happens when I accelerate from a stop.
I can only describe it as a kind of creaking noise, almost like it is coming from the spring. Sometimes it sounds a little tinny, sometimes not so much. I don't think its actually in the suspension, because it doesn't make noise if I go over speed bumps or press down on the fender. Brake pads have a good amount of pad left on them.
My hunch is that it might have something to do with the fact that I hardly ever drive anymore, somewhere around 10-20 miles a week, back and forth to the subway essentially (fair amount of time driving down banked turns in a parking garage if that adds any info). My dad knows a decent amount about cars, but he isn't sure what is going on, though he thinks it nothing dangerous. Strange wheel noises always make me wary though.
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There is a strange rubbing sort of noise coming from the front end. I hear it when I take my foot off the accelerator and/or when I turn the steering wheel to the left. To me it sounds like it's coming from the passenger side of the front end, but I could be wrong. The most recent work done to the vehicle was the brakes, about a month or two ago.
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My father in law has an 04 EX with the 5.4. It has a weird sound coming from the front passenger side. He listened to the jiffy lube kid who told him it was the brakes. I pulled one side completely apart tonight and the brakes are fine. We took it for a drive so I could hear the noise. It is coming from the passenger side up front. It is intermittent.
Doesn't matter if we hit a bump or pot hole. It sounds like a cat being run over. It will either last for a few seconds or just really quick. I crawled underneath and could not find anything loose. The first time I heard it I thought it was a shock. But the second time it was way too long to be a shock. And they are only a year old.
Secondly, it has a cat, and two mufflers..... Is this normal?
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The truck always made a few strange noises after shutdown, but this is new and annoying.
Here's the scenario: Truck is warm and no CEL. A few seconds after shutdown, I hear all the normal(?) noises and then a noise that sounds like a vacume pump running starts and continues for about 20 to 30 seconds. Cycling the key, but not starting the motor will cause the noise to happen again and again on each key on/off cycle.
The noise seems to be coming from the top front of the motor. Could this be fuel pressure bleeding off? Is there a check valve that is maybe not doing it's job??
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Have a 1998 F-150....heard a strange noise coming from the front passenger side of the truck. Parked and turned the wheel and heard something fall off. It appears to be a shield of some sort.
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