Jeep - Liberty :: Strong Exhaust Smell Coming In Through The Vents
Jan 11, 2012
For the last few months, I've had an annoying problem with my 2003 Liberty. If I'm driving the car with the blower on (i.e. when it's cold out), whenever I stop the car and am idling, I get a very strong exhaust smell coming in through the vents. If I turn the fan off, the smell goes away. At first I figured it was due to being behind other vehicles, but now I've noticed that it does it all the time, even when there's nobody else around.
I brought the jeep into a shop a couple of weeks ago to deal with a separate CEL issue (evap leak - fixed by replacing gas cap) and I asked the mechanic to look for an exhaust leak. He said he didn't see any readily apparent problems with the exhaust line.
I'd like to deal with this because it's not very pleasant to inhale exhaust fumes through the vents. I intend to take it back in - but is there anything I can tell him (i.e. like, a particular part of the exhaust system to inspect more carefully) that will solve the problem?
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I drive a 2003 jeep liberty with about 98,000 miles.
Over the course of this winter, I've noticed a very strong smoky / burning smell whenever I've had the heater and blower on in my car. It's easier to notice it when the car is sitting still (say at a stop sign), or driving slowly. If I shut the car off and walk around it, I notice the same smell outside of the vehicle, around the front end.
My initial guess was an exhaust leak. I've had two independent shops look over the exhaust system carefully (with a probe) and they've found no leaks anywhere. They also checked all of my fluids (including oil), and said that everything was at the proper level. I also had them spray some cleaner into my vent fan's duct work, just to see if that would do the trick (they didn't charge me for it since they weren't 100% sure, and it didn't work).
The other day, I stopped the car and noticed a small amount of gray smoke coming out from under the hood. I had just bounced over a pothole when I noticed the smoke. I opened up the hood (with the engine running), and saw a small amount of smoke coming out from the left side of the engine, from beneath the coolant reservoir. The smoke was dark gray in color (looked almost like wood smoke). I asked the mechanic at the gas station where I'd pulled over to take a whiff - he said it smelled like burning oil. Within about 30 seconds, the smoke was gone, but the smell lingered.
He told me that there could be a small amount of oil leaking down onto the exhaust manifold and burning up, but that was just a guess.
So here's what I want to know. This smell is terrible. I have to figure it out, because whenever I turn the blower on, the smell is practically choking me. In the interim, I've been checking the oil level every time I drive (once the engine is hot), just to avoid a potential disaster. The oil level has been consistent over the last couple of days, though I haven't been driving very much.
I'll bring it back to the shop, but what should I ask them to examine? Could it be a bad valve cover gasket? Loose oil filter? Something else? Is this a problem that many Liberties have?
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I just had a blown motor swapped with a used engine with around 50,000 on it in my 2002 Toyota Camry LE 4 cyl.
After driving the car enough to warm up I turned the vent on and in comes a fairly strong exhaust type smell.
I have driven the car for a little over an hour since the motor swap.
The car is driving fine with plenty of power and no sputtering or rough idling.
I just called my mechanic and he seems to think it is due to the oil that is present on/around the motor/exhaust from the swap that is burning off.
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Mk7 GTI, currently at 5k miles but strong mildew smell coming from the vents.. I know the cabin air filters will last at least 15-20k miles.
I read before that the condensation hoses were sometimes installed incorrectly leading to run off inside the cabin. Can that be it?
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I have done some reading of past threads regarding both Gen 7 Camry with people having an issue with a strong smell coming from their vents after perhaps 1K miles or less on their vehicle. Looks like some people had it fixed (some fixing it by themselves) while others continued to experience the problem. Similar thread regarding Toyota Camry Hybrid but only brief thread. Then another thread regarding perhaps another smell like from plastics /battery (?) in Prius while I was on the Prius threads.
Has this problem been addressed/resolved either by Toyota or by owners who simply fixed it themselves? I also do not know if the Prius offensive odor (someone who was testing them noticed it while test driving) is a totally different thing (like I say someone said it was from plastics or battery itself, not sure.... )
These are things I never even thought of /considered when looking for a new vehicle, and never experienced in my older Camry.
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The exhaust from my caprice if thick and white. And there's a strong carbon smell. Could this mean my cat converter is bad?
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I purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Impala last year with 14,000. When the car reach 26,000 I begin to smell a very strong sulfur smell coming from the exhaust. I took the car to the local Chevrolet dealer and was told that the particles in the catalytic converter begin to break up at about 26,000 mile and the result is a sulfur smell.
I didn't believe that all Impalas had this problem. So I took it to the Chevrolet dealer in the next town where I personally know and trust the maintenance chief. He put his two best men on the car and could not find anything wrong. I was told to try another gas station which I did but it did not work. I now have 31,000 miles on the car and the smell is very strong coming into the passenger compartment when stopped.
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My car was running rough, with white smoke and strong gas smell coming from exhaust. It died out on me a few times as if it was not getting enough acceleration. Well, I coded it and said misfire cylinder 3 and 4. I also tried to shut down 3 and 4, but did not shut down. I switched 3 and 4 with 1 and 2, still did not shut down cylinders 3 and 4. Engine coils are good, engine module was tested and passed twice. Ok, fuel injectors 3 and 4 were leaky and I changed them out. New spark plugs and boots. New oil and filter..(There was gas in my oil and oil in my air filter.) With the new parts....my car sounds soooo much better!!! still a little rough, does not bog down, but it still has the strong gas smell and white smoke from exhaust..(gas smell soo bad I had to open all doors to the garage!!) What else could be wrong?!?! I'm getting frustrated!! It also has NOT ever over heated, does not run high.
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My 2001.5 Passat traditionally does not start easily when it is less than 6degrees outside. Today it was that cold..it started easily..but about 30 minutes into my drive to work..I realized it was a little smoky and exhaustish smelling in the car..once I realized it wasn't the car next to me..i realized if I turned off the heat..the smell went away..but at the stoplight..i could see smoke coming from under the hood..out the corner by the passenger/dashboard... Car has 80,000, recent oil change, what it is?
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My '03 Jeep Liberty developed a quite audible hole in the exhaust system overnight (sound is coming from engine compartment) and at the same time has begun missing. The missing occurs most often in the low end of gears - once through the gears (in 4th or 5th) and at highway speeds it smooths out again. My question is are these two problems related?
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I have had my Prius for a few weeks now and have noticed a very strong smell of petrol when I have the vents open to heat the car (without AC). It seems to only happen when the fan is on and vents open. What could cause this and should I be concerned?
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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?
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I'm going to take my Elantra in to get it checked. My Elantra is a 2013, got it in March. Over the last few weeks, I would say, on 4 days or so there has been a STRONG exhaust smell. No smoke, nothing else but a smell. If I'm pulling into the garage with no idling, just pull in and park, I get out and the smell in the garage is very strong. I have to leave the garage open for at least an hour if not more to air it out. The cab ends up having a light smell inside the next day still.
If I'm parking outside when I get out I can still smell it, but not quite as strong, because I'm not in an enclosed area. I don't think it's an exhaust manifold leak, because I don't hear the popping. My best guess is it would be in the tail pipe area pre-catalytic converter, or in the catalytic converter if it is in fact an exhaust leak.
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Not long ago my wife said the air recirc doesn't work any more on our '04 V8 and I had to admit that I agreed. After a little investigative driving, I noted that heavy acceleration (or uphill climb) causes V8 to tick (can hear it reflecting on passing walls, for instance) and strong smell of exhaust in cabin.
I thought it might be a manifold/exhaust system leak causing the noise and the exhaust smell. Seems to be only when driving aggressively or climbing. Soonest the local dealer can see it is 7/21 (16 days from now). You think it safe to drive?
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I was driving home from a backpacking trip when I noticed a knocking coming from my engine. It got worse as I drove up a large hill and suddenly became very loud, and I lost the ability to accelerate, power steering and brakes.
I managed to pull off the road and checked all my fluids, everything was good. No smoke from the engine and it was not over heating. I was unable to start the car, it wouldn't even make a noise, just dead.
Check engine light is broken and remains on. No other warning lights came on while I was driving.
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We've had a run of -20 to -40 weather here for the past few weeks.
A few weeks back I noticed that when I climbed into my truck after command-start warm up for 10 minutes, and I could smell strong exhaust.
I figured it was hopefully the wind, or an isolated event.
Over the past few weeks I've used my truck for 3-4 more around town runs and every time I warm it up I get the strong exhaust smell. It's that rich, eye watering, sickening exhaust smell. I also notice a small yellow frozen puddle under the exhaust tips that wasn't there before.
It's bad in the cab, but even walking around outside the truck and the smell is sickening. I actually just started the truck and I could actually smell the exhaust smell faintly, from inside my house! This has never before occurred. Prior to this, a person could hardly tell it was a diesel by the smell of the exhaust.
Once the truck is up to temperature the smell seems to disappear, or at least lessen.
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Not at the exhaust, but from the engine compartment. Have to open the windows at a stoplight. Can also smell it when I walk past the parked truck. What's up?
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1994 reg cab 4.ol 13ok.. my wife just got it, been doing some small things like replaced dome light, replaced cargo/third brake light, truck starts and seems to run ok. but i get a headache in it which i believe is carbon monoxide, has a leak or something? i text previous owner, he said he replaced 02 sensors, but didnt say if they were bosch or a good brand.. also trucks has a oil pressure and coolant temp gauge fitted on by the gear shift as the dash gauges for those functions are out. Does this mean the CTS may not be working and affecting fuel/air I do not know these trucks i only just found out what this strange silver looking thing was it is the IAC, I Believe, then there is this black plastic vacuum type cylinder by the passenger side firewall, what is that? and right against the drivers side fire wall is a small reservoir type thingy, is this something to do with ABS? i do have an ABS light on, was hoping it was the bulb out on the third brake light or something quirky like that no such luck its still on after starting engine. but i am concerned about this running rich/strong smell as we really cant take it far as is it, its dangerous, may have to get a smoke test? Just got the truck, trying to get caught up..
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I have gear noise in my 2007 Liberty 4 X 4. It sounds like it is coming from the rear axle and is more pronounced under acceleration or decelleration.
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I recently had a turbo installed, everything went well, car runs very smooth considering having just upgraded the turbo. However, I keep noticing a strong smell coming from the engine bay. Kind of like a gas like smell or some chemical. At first I thought it was the loctite we used to put the gaskets in place burning off or the coating of the turbo but it has been a week and it still smells. I do not have a check engine light, my vacuum is right on the money, I am boosting fine, and my temperature gauge hasnt moved. What could this be? exhaust leak maybe?
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I have a problem that I cannot pinpoint. For at least 2 months now, I have noticed a strong odor almost like a diesel coming from the exhaust. I replaced the plugs, wires, air filter and cleaned out the throttle body but it remains. No check engine light and runs smooth. Also, noticed a significant loss of coolant from the overflow bottle. Filling it every 3 days. Took it out to inspect for holes or cracks and nothing. Not sure if all these are related. Every oil change the used oil smells like fuel. I was thinking rings going bad but don't think that would solve the coolant loss which is unseen. Everything under the hood is dry.
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