My fiance's car just got the dreaded oil smell in the cabin. Now I would like to start with swapping the PCV valve, but I can not find a source to buy it online. What other trouble scenarios could I be looking at? The car: 2001 V6 4mo Wagon, 110000 miles.
View 6 RepliesI just got my 2000 Passat back from the body shop. I rear-ended an SUV about a month ago and had my hood, front bumper, left headlight, A/C compressor, and radiator replaced.
HOWEVER, now when I let 'fresh air' into the cabin, I smell a strong exhaust smell. When I push the 'recycle air' button, the smell goes away. This leads me to think that somehow my exhaust pipe was cracked/damaged in the collision and is now spewing exhaust gas into the engine compartment - and thus when I allow fresh air (front the engine compartment) into the cabin...I am getting toxic exhaust blown in my face!
Where should I look for signs of an exhaust leak and is there an easy 'trick' to find the leak?
There is no noise that would indicate a hole in the muffler, just the exhaust smell. I'm wondering if the catalytic converter is going out? If it is the catalytic converter, will it strand me on the highway eventually?
View 2 Replies2003 Elantra GT (hatch): Over the past month I've been smelling fuel in the cabin. It's more of a light 'fume' kind of smell rather than a heavy fuel smell. Here are some observations:
- It smells most of the time but not always, and it varies in intensity.
- It doesn't seem to be affected by whether the car is moving or not.
- I can't isolate where it's coming from.
- You can also sometimes smell it outside the car.
- I don't see any puddles under the car.
- Not sure if this is related, but about once a month the car has real trouble starting. No apparent rhyme or reason to that, and no codes.
I've had it looked at and the shop said they didn't see anything. They did a smoke test. I don't have 100% confidence in their competency (but they're fantastically nice!). They thought it might have been residue from a previous repair they did - because their technicians aren't clean and might have gotten it in the car?!
I read a similar problem where people suggested a seal on the fuel rail dampener.
We have a 2003 Explorer Sportrac and the fuel cap light came on. Then ck engine light came on. took it to a dealer to check it out. Said it has a fuel pressur issue. could be the cap or something in the fuel tank. it needs a pressure check they said. cleared codes and put new factory fuel cap on. 2 weeks later it happened again.
XLT model 108,000 miles on it and we are the original owners...
How do you fix the musty smell from the cabin airbox when it is always on recirculate and must be wet inside? I have a 2011 Camry.
View 6 RepliesProblem we experienced today with our 06 Prius - 63k miles. Up to this point, the car has been completely trouble-free. Abruptly, there was an extremely strong, foul electric-like smell throughout the cabin. No sudden acceleration, not pulling any heavy loads, no out of the ordinary driving. The weather was in the low 60s today. No a/c or heat being used at the time. The smell persists or becomes even stronger after the car sits turned off for several hours. the battery vent was not blocked, but the smell does appear to be stronger at the vent. The smell is so strong that we can't tolerate sitting in the car.
View 9 RepliesVW can't figure out why there is a gas smell inside the cabin after start up. My Tiguan has been in the shop going on 4 times now. All seals have been checked and fuel pump replaced.
View 1 RepliesFrom time to time, i get some exhaust smoke smell in the car, when driving slow or standing in a queue.
90% of the time everything it's perfect, but at a sudden moment, the rpm is rising with 50 or so, the instant consumption rises from let's say 1.4l/h to 1.8-2.0l/h when in gear and standing, i get a small vibration and then the exhaust smell appears.
If i'm closing the recirculation, then no more smell.
After 15-20 min, everything get back as it use to be, 1.4l/h consumption, no vibrations no smells no nothing.
This i think happens when the dpf is cleaning and i cought with vcds of a friend when it happened and the exhaust temp was 350 celsius or something. Usually is 200 degrees celsius, so it is a dpf regeneration. Also the car is running smoother after this.
Still..the smoke smell... it's annoying and quite strong. There is no sign of smoke from the exhaust pipes, flexible pipe or whatever. There is no sign at all anywhere.
I have a small theory but i don't know from where to start. Usually the catalyst temp is 200 degrees. When it's 350, it expanding more, or at least the cracks are expanding and smoke+smell is from there...but there is no sign anywhere.
Driving along last night and suddenly slightly oily smell in cabin. Then notice oil pressure drops from normal 82 ish to about 25. Recovers to about 70 by time I get to Waitrose (about ten mins). Park up and do shopping. Move car and check for oil patch - none found. Drive home and pressure still lower than usual - but recovers to just under normal. No warning lights - open oil filler cap and seems to be some in there. No oil leak found.
View 6 RepliesWell I started smelling Gas fumes in the cabin of my 11 GLS. The smell was intermittent for about a month now. Then last weekend it started getting bad. I found it only smelled when pulling fresh air through the HVAC, so it had to be under the hood. Pulled the engine cover to find the foam backing was soaked with gas. Started the car and could see the Hard fuel line dripping.
I saw from other post on the forum that this tube has one time use fitting on both ends and that a special tool is needed to torque the fittings. Dropped it off at the dealer yesterday and they are replacing the line today.
I tell you all this because the Dealer said that their records show my car had the short block replaced at 24000 miles. When replaced they probably didn't torque the line correctly causing it to leak.
The question I have is, Should I be more or less worried about the bottom end of this engine now that I know it has been replaced? The car has 44000 miles on it now.
Gas / Exhaust fume smell ... in the cabin? I've been noticing I smell like I've been in an old school muscle car running straight pipes every time I take the car out. More of an exhaust fume smell but sometimes the fresh gas smell is very strong.
View 12 RepliesRecently have developed a strong gas smell in my 2002 Olds Bravada. I have checked around getting no where fast I have been told the culprit maybe the fuel pressure regulator but with the engine running and I am under the hood. There is no odor there is no odor outside the vehicle at all only inside...
View 16 RepliesI've had this happen a couple of times before on my '10 GTI - I'm on the freeway and I decide to throw the DSG into S mode and punch it, seconds after I bring it back down to D and normal engine speeds I can smell an odor that reminds me of the cat going bad - sort of like sulfur or something burning (not rubber, though). This is with my windows rolled up and A/C re-circulation turned on. What I should be checking?
View 14 RepliesI recently purchased a 01 Passat 1.8T and noticed a strong 'used oil' smell coming in through the vents, especially at stoplights; the vehicle continued to smell badly when parked and turned off.
After looking around the PCV system, I found a small check valve near the airbox that was dry-rotted and non-functioning. As I continued to search, I found a large PCV hose directly under the intake manifold closer to the firewall. This appears to be ~3/4" hose that appears to be missing a connector. It appears as though there was supposed to be some sort of male/male insert and some clamps that are supposed to connect these tubes.
Any diagram or a DIY replacement walk-through for the PCV sytem on the 1.8T? Now that I've found the pcv break, I'd really like to get it changed out.
VW Passat Wagon - When I drive, every once in a while, I get a smell like burning rubber that last for about 2 minutes and goes away....what's the symptom? Is my exhaust system starting to go?
View 1 RepliesI just got some work done on my Camry (CEL P0440 and P0446). The lights have been taken care of after the Charcoal Canister and hoses above the gas tank were replaced. Since then, I've noticed that I'm getting a gas smell in the cabin when the AC is turned on and when I turn the AC off and roll the windows down. No CEL is on, and I was able to pass emissions.
View 9 RepliesWhen starting the RX, I smell something I would describe as "burning insulation". It happens only first 10-20 seconds after the air comes out from the vents, and then the smell disappears. The smell is stronger after prolonged parking. It is the strongest in the morning and less noticeable after I start the RX 2-3 more times ( I usually make 6-8 short trips during the day). The smell was very strong when I started the RX first time after it was parked for one week (while we went on vacation).
There are no warning lights, and the vehicle runs just fine. I pulled out the carbon cabin filter (changed about 3 mo ago) - it did not smell and was very clean still. I am hesitant to go to the dealer-afraid they will rip apart the dash, which they probably will not be able to put back together without having rattles and noises after.
The smell comes from the inside - there is no smell under the hood after I start the RX.
After I start the car, warm up a bit then drive, there are exhaust fumes that get into the cabin as you can smell them.
It's happening more often now. I have spoken to my Phaeton tech who said that the car has a sensor that goes off and shuts down external air if it notices exhaust uses getting in.
I have been hearing a little bit of road noise on the driver side so I'm thinking some fumes are coming in from the door seal (although it looks fine).
Sometimes it's bad enough that you have to open the windows or you will feel sick. It passes within 5 minutes or so and the car is fine after that. It only happens right after ignition for a few minutes.
As soon as I turn heater on I smells coolant, I checked all over inside cabin there is no coolant liquid inside, I'm wondering if the heater itself is leaking or there is another problem.
View 3 RepliesI have a 2010 with 5k miles - bought <4 mos.
Last week, I started noticing a petroleum smell in the cabin. I've also had trouble with the inside windshield. When I tried it wipe it, it just smeared. Finally, I used some cleanser and it's clear. It took several applications to work.
I read in the Gen II forums about a loose oil filter cap. I checked mine today. I was able to turn it about 1/2 inch. Now, I'm getting headaches after I drive for more than 15 minutes or so. I've tried switching the circulation but I can't tell which way is better.