Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

Everyone loves the new car smell. Don’t you? If you fail to ensure regular maintenance of your car, it could start producing unpleasant odors instead. When you become aware of the smell from your vehicle, it will be easier for you to diagnose various problems before you notice them or before they become worse.

Bad smells may lead to expensive repairs or cause health problems. Therefore, they shouldn’t be ignored. If you notice that your car is giving off unusual or sickening odors instead of that associated with a new one, follow your nose and establish the source. Here are some of the most common car smells and what they mean.

Burned Rubber

When you perceive the smell of burning rubber, you should stop at a safe location and inspect your vehicle, starting with the tires. Once you are done, move on to the hood of your car. Ensure you stop at each tire and sniff around to identify the source of the issue. If you notice that it’s coming from the hood, open it and wait for the engine to cool down before you touch any other part.

The smell could be a result of several reasons. First, many car parts are made of rubber or wrapped using the material. If one of such parts gets into contact with the hot engine block, it starts melting, and this produces a burned rubber smell. Another major cause is an electric short-circuit.

Burned Carpet

The overheating of brake pads is the cause of a burned carpet smell in a car. It’s common after intense braking like when you drive down a mountain pass. However, it shouldn’t happen under typical driving conditions.

This mainly happens due to a seized caliper piston. Several reasons could cause the overheating of car breaks. You can avoid the burned carpet smell by ensuring proper maintenance of your car breaks.

Gym Clothes

Is your vehicle producing a locker room smell? One of the possible causes is the air conditioning system. One of the actions you can take is turning off the air conditioning system and running the fan to keep the system dry.

Syrup Smell

If you notice it, this could be an indication that your car is leaking coolant fluid somewhere. You can notice a syrup smell when the vehicle is running or when turning it off. Some of the common sources of the problem include a heater or cylinder head.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

The smell could be a result of several issues. One of the most common culprits is a broken catalytic converter, which helps to convert harmful gasses like sulfur dioxide. Failure to fix the problem may lead to a car fire.