Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

Unpleasant smells may indicate that there are problems that may need to be addressed. Depending on the type of smell, you may need to understand why it comes from those parts. You can follow the list below for some clues regarding some of the most common smells in your car.

Burned Rubber

The foul smell of burned rubber in the cabin may be due to various issues. Among the popular ones is the friction in the drive belt. The scent can also be contributed by leaking oil. Our service experts can help solve the issue and determine repairs.

Burned Carpet

Problems in the brakes can cause the burned carpet smell. After recently using them extensively, you may notice a lot of overheating in the brake pads. The smell can also come from leaving the handbrake engaged, causing the burned carpet smell.

Gym Clothes

If your car develops some locker room smells, then the culprit here could be the air conditioning system. When mildew starts to grow in the air conditioning evaporator, try turning off the A/C and switching on the fan on high to help you dry out the system. Still, it may fail on rare occasions, and if it does, consider seeking professional help for a comprehensive cleaning.

Syrup

The maple syrup smell in your car could mean a leaking coolant fluid in your vehicle. You might notice this smell while the vehicle is running or soon after the engine has turned off. The sweet but toxic odor may originate from the radiator cap of the radiator itself. Other sources include the heater or the radiator hose, intake manifold gasket of the cylinder head.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

The sulfur smell in a car is very annoying. The smell that resembles rotten eggs may also make your car uncomfortable. The culprit here is the hydrogen sulfide concentration in the car exhaust system. This kind of smell is usually created by tiny amounts of sulfur in the gasoline that has not reacted to form sulfur dioxide through the catalytic converter as it is supposed to be. This requires immediate attention.

If the car continues to produce any unusual smell, make sure to contact our dealership in Scottsdale for diagnosis and efficient repairs.