Hi guys,

Just had a claim adjuster from my office come to give my car a quote for the damage, since I was in a recent accident. The other company isn't covering it, so I have to go through mine. It was a dodge ram, that backed into me, quote came to $2500...

Anyways...right before the guy leaves he says...OH you should probably tape up the gap between the bumper and the trunk, and put a plastic bag there...I said why? He said the exaust fumes can go through the gap and into your car, and you can pass out?! He said he's heard stories of people at stop lights/traffic and passing out from the fumes? This scared the kajeebers out of me. Its a pretty big gap from the trunk and the bumper from the impact (the trunk won't fully close). I will now drive with my window down...but should I be very worried? Car should be fixed next week hopefully...

Thanks.

 

You know, I happened to be listening to a Podcast of NPR's Car Talk. It was a recording from 1-2 weeks ago. This dude called in and said he has a '62 T-Bird...Said after driving it for about 45 minutes, he gets very sleepy. The hosts told him that they think it could be an exhaust leak from under the engine, maybe out of the manifold and coming into the car, and it might be carbon monoxide poisioning. They suggested buying one of those DIY tests to check for carbon monoxide. Maybe you should try that?

 

Do whatever these guys say. Funniest people ever

 

you should be fine with your HVAC/heating on OUTSIDE air, anything that does get in, should be pushed right back out with the outside air on

btw: even on RECIRC, it stills sucks some outside air in (iirc about 20% on average), so that the air does not become stall (or monoxide building up)

 

Definitely possible, do as he says. Drive with the window down too until it's fixed. There is no such thing as being too careful with Carbon Monoxide.

 

Unless there is a hole that you can actually see into your trunk (and not a small screw size) you are fine.

 

From the outside of the car you can stick your whole arm into the truck as there is a gap between the truck and bumper. BUT there is no hole from the cabin of the car to the truck? If that matters?

 

what year is your car? most new cars have catalytic converters that prevents build up of carbon monoxide.

 

Cats dont prevent that.

 

There are vents from inside to the trunk for air to flow. Get some duct tape and tape the hole shut, it will help.

 

Don't cats reduce the amount of carbon monoxide leaving the exhaust though?

I wouldn't be too worried. The gases would probably be dispersed in the atmosphere before enough gases go through the trunk, and then into the cabin, for you to notice.

 

Oxidizes to CO2 but it can't prevent CO.

 

look at that, learn something new every day

 

it tries to reduce it as much as possible, but it is not able to get everything though (and the cat has to be at operating temp itself [500 degrees or so iirc], before it can even start converting any sort of gases; and even then it is still NOT 100% effective)