My wife mentioned that on more than one occassion, she has gotten into the car and smelled a slight burning-type smell or possibly a slight musty/mildew smell. I've checked the seal around the sunroof and there is no water leakage, checked around the cabin a bit to make sure (during the rain or after a wash) that there is now water entering the cabin. Nothing to be found......but this morning I did smell a slight almost like an electrical burning smell.

Any ideas? Anyone experience this on some occassions?

 

Could it be digested Taco Bell?

Are you using the heating system for the first time?

 

I noticed that too when the car was new.

Haven't noticed it lately.

Hmmmm.

 

No don't think it's takeout....we haven't eaten in the car and trying not to.


hemants, you recognize the burning type smell or the musty smell? What do you mean by "new", like just in the first month? My car was purchased in July and my wife has noticed it like 3 or 4 times since.

I hate mentioning stuff to the dealership that makes us look like freaks...but it is an occassionally reocurring thing

 

What they think about you is inconsequential. If they perceive it as being "anal", it's they're problem.

 

That Jaguar is so fiiiiinnnnnne! Even if it's a FORD underneath

 

it's the XK180 Prototype.....and I think it's a pure Jag.

 

All Jag.....drool, drool, drool.

 

Definately a Burning smell, could be the catalytic converter?b

I notice it at the end of a drive when I get out of the car.

 

LOL.....too bad it's only a prototype.

 

Hemants,

I know the catalytic converter is just a guess...but it's as good as myne.......you think the converter might be causing the burning smell within the cabin?

 

I smelled it a couple of times already! It smelled like a dead fish to me but I am unable to locate the origin. However, I do recall smelling that during rainy days. Possibly from water evaporating from the catalytic converter from splashes, no?

 

Try driving with your window open or when you park at home leave the window open to air things out. If all else fails then get an air freshener. Good luck with finding the causes.

 

I've never had this problem...

 

its probably your ac.....i know its a problem in a lotta hondas where water gets into the ac vents after it rains and stays in there and eventually mildews...so when u turn on the ac afterwards..hence the mildew smell....someone sugegssted spraying lysol in the ac vents, but i dunnno

 

Avitron22, that sounds possible....but I noticed that just getting into the car (even before it was on) that the smell was THERE. Do you think that could also be from the vents?

It is a mysterious thing....just hope it goes away...I can stand once in a while (as long as it goes away) but if it becomes constant or permanent...then there's a problem!
Only time will tell.

 

Yep, when we got our car the last of August, the stink was unbearable. The day I took delievery, I thought the salesman had gas or a really bad "soured stomach". To me, it was like "old wet green cigars" or possibly "vomit" or "urine". In the Houston heat and humid weather is when we notice it the most.

I could not find its source, at first I thought the car had been flooded, but I have looked into every nook and crannie, and found no flood damage.

The leather seat cushions, headrest, and seat backs seem to be the source of the smell,,,but that is only a guess. I have used the Meguirars Gold Class Leather Cleaner & Conditioner - Twice! To us that seems to have freshened the car up a LOT ! And we believe that has eliminated about 90% or the smell in our car.

Over the last 90 days, the smell is almost gone, but it is still there a little; but I do not think you would now notice it if you did not know it was there to begin with.

Advice,,,,smell the cushions real close!

 

Thanks Walkthisway.....will put the sniffer to the seats. I haven't used Meguiar's but am good about cleaning & conditioning the leather (it's been done 3 times since July). Maybe I'll buy Meguiar's and try it...after sniffing the seats Thanks for the input.

P.S. Where did you buy your tl-s?

 

A couple of years ago, I thought most of the automotive leather cleaners were about the same. I had used one major "name brand" (i forgot the brand). on my Avalon, and it was actually drying out the leather, it had some sort of alcohal base or something. The Mequiars stuff, is suppose to be ph balanced for leather and all sorts of stuff (you know yada yada yada - marketing crap). Anyway on the TLS, it did make the leather much more "soft" and "supple". I simple worked the "creamy" stuff into the chairs real well (all the perferations), and then buffed it all over with a clean dry towell, and in our situation the smell was gone (well 90%). Even though I did not try it on the TLS the other automotive leather cleaner and conditioner I "know" would have not taken out the smell.

Mequiars also makes a product called "Car Odor Eliminator - Instant & Permanent" The description on the bottle says : "Freshens your car by permanently eleminating hard-to-remove odors trapped in carpet and upholstery" The bottle has a picture of a "lab" puppy. I have the product, but have never had to use. I had planned to use it on the TLS, and if the smell comes back in the hot weather, I will.

OK,,,the dealer. Well at this point I am not going to say. I am afraid if I "blasted" the dealer publically, they would sue me, and I am strongly considering sueing them. A very long story, that I will not go into here. I know that the dealers and Acura read this web site, and they can pretty well tell "who" you are by what you say.

 

U got rats hybernating under the hood!!!

city

 

I've had a similar smell but it was from listening to the BOSE system too loud for too long. I think I gave it too much of a workout b/c as soon as I lower the volume the smell died away after a few minutes. Perhaps the amps were being overworked.

 

Thanks Walkthisway! Sorry you had a bad experience with your dealer. Won't push for the name.

Regarding the Meguiar's. I have the cleaner & conditioner in one...is this the same you are using? If not, please advise of which one and I shall buy it. I've been using the Meguiar's detailing spray and that stuff has been working pretty well...of course, I haven't used a comparison product yet.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try them and if it don't work...will move onto the odor eliminator...and hope it doesn't eliminate the leather smell...love THAT stuff.

Best wishes with your dealership issues.

 

Thanks TL4Mo, for the wishes on the dealer problems. The product I was using on the interior leather is:
"Mequiars Gold Class Leather Cleaner & Conditioner". It is sort of a soft cream colored stuff, and it comes out of the bottle like hand lotion cream.

I know that makes several more, and different "leather" products as well,,,but I have not tried them. This one that I started with seems to work great for me.

I hope I understood your question correctly,,,if not just ask again!

 

I think this link should work:

http://www.meguiars.com/product_show...cfm?SrcLine=CI

Go to the last product on the page.

 

I have that bad smell you guys are talking about. It's most noticable before I start the engine and turn on the A/C. It smells like rotting tacos. As soon as the A/C comes on it's gone. I never eat in my car so the origin is not from food. I'm guessing it's the mildew in the A/C system. The smell is pretty bad. It overtakes the smell of the leather. After the A/C is on for a few seconds the smell is gone and then I can finally smell the leather seats.

 

Well, it's at least good to know that I'm not alone! And that it's quasi-normal (I think).

 

Thanks Walkthisway! I'll be shopping for Meguiar's this weekend!
Will let you know the results.

 

Smell perception and description varies greatly from person to person - here are a few ideas though:

1) New wiring outgases PVC volatiles that some perceive as acrid, just as electrical smells are
2) Any adulterant (wax, undercoat, etc. on the catalytic will burn off and smell due to the high temps
3) Make sure your AC recirc button is off, and leave it off when parked so that bacteria do not build up over time. Did you buy this car as an order, or off the lot? Cars that sit sometimes develop smells due to trapped air.
4) Some couples develop allergies to each other - including bodily fluids such as perspiration, saliva, etc.

 

We always drive with the recirculation button on....and we don't turn it off when parking......we'll have to try that and see if it makes a difference.

thanks!

 

07 TL bought 2 months ago,after sitting for more than half hour the weird plastic clay chemical smell actually gets into my clothes and when I leave the car it comes with me,Just like the Seinfeld episode,Sadly.Dealer says previous owner used some sort of bad cleaner and they arent able to do anything,yet the seats are aesthetically perfect,So how could something permanently stink up the seat but not be strong enough to change the color or damage in another way?Considering to polyurethane the seats to seal in odor because its some what nauseating.Then dealer suggested sending to his detailer,seats still smell and now the carpet has changed color???

 

Hello, Billy. It might be better if you repost this in the 3G TL section.

 

Don't worry, dealers wont go after people like that.
People share good/bad dealer expierienses frequently.

 

a 2001 thread revival- thats impressive searching!!

take the car to a detail shop yourself and explain the problem
Never believe anyone at the dealer--guessing at best,
and not accepting blame is their main concern

there may be mildew in the vents
open the center arm rest-rear vent and leave open all the time
closed off, it gets condensation buildup in the tubing = bad

replace the `cabin air filter`- simple DIY and bad things can live in there!!

Under the seat cover is a plastic bag as a liner but it can leak
an auto upholstry shop can remove the covers - see if the foam has gotten something in it and fix whats needed

for more help post in 3rd gen,,this is 2nd gen 99-03 cars