Wierd smell coming through air vents
09-02-2007, 11:49 PM
#1
1st Gear Member
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Wierd smell coming through air vents
When i have the air on in my car and stopped at like a red light a wierd like gas smell comes through the vents. it only happens when the air is on and the car is ideling. Is it a manifold leak. Let me know.
09-03-2007, 12:36 AM
#5
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Whitehall, Michigan
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RE: Wierd smell coming through air vents
If it smells like gas, it probably is gas...
I had the same problem, turned out the fuel line got a crack and was spraying a fine mist of fuel into the engine bay... that was not awesome. This was last year! My car was only two years old, wtf... Have someone look at the fuel line (top passenger side corner of the engine bay) while you turn the key to on (but not starting) to jump the fuel pressure, if it has a leak, it'll do it there.
Otherwise, if it smells like exhaust, it could just be exhaust being blown up to the front by wind, or an exhaust leak.
I had the same problem, turned out the fuel line got a crack and was spraying a fine mist of fuel into the engine bay... that was not awesome. This was last year! My car was only two years old, wtf... Have someone look at the fuel line (top passenger side corner of the engine bay) while you turn the key to on (but not starting) to jump the fuel pressure, if it has a leak, it'll do it there.
Otherwise, if it smells like exhaust, it could just be exhaust being blown up to the front by wind, or an exhaust leak.
09-03-2007, 07:53 AM
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
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RE: Wierd smell coming through air vents
ORIGINAL: Cody 96gt
Um its kinda like an exhaust smell. kinda like gas / oil. Itf you dont turn off the air at a long redlight it makes you feel awesome!
Um its kinda like an exhaust smell. kinda like gas / oil. Itf you dont turn off the air at a long redlight it makes you feel awesome!
09-03-2007, 08:25 AM
#7
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RE: Wierd smell coming through air vents
That smell could be the mold in your accumulator. If the car does not drip from condensate a drain line is cloggged and the water vapor has built up. Mold or fungus begins to grow. At a stop light the refrigerant is not being pumped as quickly through the system and warms up ever so slightly. This allows the musty smell to reach your nose. After resuming your travels the coils freeze or cool more and smell disapears. Check the bottom of the car while you have the air on. If water is dripping, all is well. If not then you need to free up that drain and clean out the coil box area with a fungus/mold remover, usually found at Home Depot. Also look at the accumulator, it may beyond saving and need to be replaced, however I doubt it since while running all seems ok. Very common problem during hot humid conditions.
Good luck and I hope you don't have a serious exhaust leak, that is extremely dangerous.
Good luck and I hope you don't have a serious exhaust leak, that is extremely dangerous.
09-03-2007, 10:39 AM
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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RE: Wierd smell coming through air vents
ORIGINAL: marcm94
That smell could be the mold in your accumulator. If the car does not drip from condensate a drain line is cloggged and the water vapor has built up. Mold or fungus begins to grow. At a stop light the refrigerant is not being pumped as quickly through the system and warms up ever so slightly. This allows the musty smell to reach your nose. After resuming your travels the coils freeze or cool more and smell disapears. Check the bottom of the car while you have the air on. If water is dripping, all is well. If not then you need to free up that drain and clean out the coil box area with a fungus/mold remover, usually found at Home Depot. Also look at the accumulator, it may beyond saving and need to be replaced, however I doubt it since while running all seems ok. Very common problem during hot humid conditions.
Good luck and I hope you don't have a serious exhaust leak, that is extremely dangerous.
That smell could be the mold in your accumulator. If the car does not drip from condensate a drain line is cloggged and the water vapor has built up. Mold or fungus begins to grow. At a stop light the refrigerant is not being pumped as quickly through the system and warms up ever so slightly. This allows the musty smell to reach your nose. After resuming your travels the coils freeze or cool more and smell disapears. Check the bottom of the car while you have the air on. If water is dripping, all is well. If not then you need to free up that drain and clean out the coil box area with a fungus/mold remover, usually found at Home Depot. Also look at the accumulator, it may beyond saving and need to be replaced, however I doubt it since while running all seems ok. Very common problem during hot humid conditions.
Good luck and I hope you don't have a serious exhaust leak, that is extremely dangerous.
I had this on a GM car although it was not too bad.
Just a sour, stinky kind of *dirty body smell*.
I got a can of this A/C box deoderizer stuff, sprayed it into the air box via the drip hole and the stink went away.
It's like a foam spray that kills mold.
I got mine at a GM dealership.
Like everyone else says if you suspect fuel/exhaust PLEASE get it fixed IMMEDIATELY!
Extremely dangerous stuff CO and or fuel on a hot motor is!
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