Dr.Murdock

Yesterday, i noticed a horrible smell while driving my car. I opened the windows but it still has not gone away. I went the the movies last night and had my cousin check it out, and he says it smells like something when its gets wet or damp, and released an awful smell. Has anyone had this problem before? What did you do to get rid of it?

ThePianoMan

The only smell I can think of is the rotten egg smell that you get when you floor the car. It always happens to me regardless of what brand gas I use. There are many threads on this. It's sulfur or something.....

It generally goes away after a minute or two.....if you are still conscious and on the road! LOL

Hawhyen51

Yea, there were a few posts regarding a bad smell/odor. I think this was the post or maybe this one. Just tryin' to point you in the right direction.

Brewmaster

Do you keep your AC on or do you keep the thermostat on Auto?? If so it may be condensation from the AC building up.

I had that prob in mine, I didn't realize that if you are using the "Auto" mode, unless you turn the AC off it is on constantly.

Dr.Murdock

its not the rotten egg smell, its like the smell of something getting wet and moldy. i never turn the ac or heat on, i hardly ever use it. maybe some water got into somewhere and is causing the smell. i am going to check today since it was to odark last night. thx guys.

In the first thread you gave me, that is basically what my car smells like...im reading it right now to find out what the problem is.

Dr.Murdock

hmmm... the guy in the other thread mentioned somethnig about tomato sauce. i actually had a box of tomatoes i had to pick up for my parents and it was in the trunk, left it tthere a few hours (it was cold yesterday, so i thought it would be ok). They were whole tomatoes and took it out of my car last night. i will go check the trunk now and see if te smell is coming from my trunk or if it went away.

Papaman677

Fart

JoganJani

It this it is mold formed by dampness due to condensation. Try this, if you keep your AC on all the time, switch it off for about 3-4 miles away from your destination and the fan will help it dry out, avoiding the conditions for molds to form.

Riu

I dont know how i fixxed mine lol. The only thing i really did was put a box of baking soda in the car. Its in back of the drivers seat.

crazymjb

Can the dealer fix it, tell them you are concerned. I have an electric drill(needed one quick and all they had was skil, never buy skil stuff, its crap) and it overheated and started smokeing. The motor lett out this horrible smell for the next 2-3 months whenever it was used, just stopped noticing it today.

KJSmitty

Definitely sounds like the old "mold in the AC condenser" issue. Usually this occurs when a/the AC condensation vent/tube gets clogged. Check to ensure you see water dripping from the passenger front wheel area (behind/underneath).

If you have the AC on and its hot/humid out you should see quite a bit of condensation coming out under the car. If not, you could have a drain issue. I've seen it get bad enough to start overflowing onto the passenger front floor/foot area....

Also, most dealerships will not cover an AC condenser box "cleaning" under warranty unless their is a pre-existing issue with the drain/system etc.

Dr.Murdock

Hey guys, today the smell seems to have went away. As Riu's father pointed out in the old thread, i am almsot 100% sure it were the tomatoes causing the odor. I had a box of whole tomatoes i nthe trunk, and i took it out once ui got home around 2am. This mroning the smell seems to have gone away. Lesson to be learned: dont leave tomatoes in your car.

crazymjb

This proves tomatoes are good for nothing...Except ketchup.

ayethetiense

listen carefully... this is a very common problem. usually with only older cars though....

but it can happen with fairly new cars as well...

when you drive, you should allow air to circulate from the outside to in.... dont have the air recirculate....

the tubes that vent air into the cabin probably has some water in it. condensation. once it gets damp and it doesnt dry up, you'll get smell, mild mold forms.

the best way to get it out is to constantly drive with air circulating into the cabin from the outside. make sure you are getting fresh air from the outside. then open your windows a bit and you will get a higher flow of air through the system. this will help stop the mold and allow the passageways to dry.

ibeplato

I've noticed the same thing in my '04 TL with 15k. I'm going to try to spray lysol into the HVAC intakes below the windshield, which usually takes care of any mold.

DMZ

It was this post https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...9&postcount=24

rets

Decent way. I used to do so with the moonroof-up instead of window-open. It helps.

Riu

tomatos suck

robs04TL

Hello, I have the same problem, when I get on my car it smells like rotton eggs, I went to the dealer and of course the guy tested it at 65mph (So he says) and said he smelled nothing, He said i should switch my Gas to Sunoco, i tried that and still the same smell, I am gonna go to the dealerand have them check out the catalitic converter..Ill keep you posted

JetJock

I keep my AC on constantly and the interior still smells new after 15 months. Even during cold weather, the AC will come on to remove moisture. Moisture is involved with most odor problems so the AC is your friend...keep it on.

05whitetl

Check out your under arm deoderant. It may be expired.

Scott in Houston

Are you sure it wasn't the valet and his B.O?

loud_whispers

This happens when you pretty much beat on the car.
It's your catalytic converter smelling like rotten eggs. It's normal.

Due to it being an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV).
The exhaust gases are neutralized in the catalytic converter so it's not released into the air.


It will smell like rotten eggs.
What other Make of car is 270hp and is a ULEV?
None, them exhaust gases built up in the cat have to be released somehow.
Primarily when BEATING ON THE CAR.

It's normal, deal with it.
Don't like the smell? don't beat on your car.

mio

AC problems or skunks...