How to find smells in the car

It can happen over time, or it can happen suddenly. You may gradually begin to pick up a strange smell from your car, or you may one day get into it and there it is, a strong, strange smell. The smell can be bad, it can smell good, or it can just smell weird. Some odors can be a sign that something is out of order or not working. A mechanic can diagnose many of the odors that come from your car simply from their experience. Knowing some of these smells can help you identify a problem or serve as a warning to check your car.

Part 1 of 4: Where smells might come from

There is a seemingly unlimited number of odors that can come from your vehicle. Smells can come from different places:

• Inside the car
• Outside car
• Under the car
• Under the hood

Odors can occur for various reasons:

• Worn parts
• excessive heat
• Not enough heat
• Leaks (internal and external)

Part 2 of 4: Inside the car

The first smell that usually reaches you comes from the interior of the car. Given that we spend so much time in the car, this tends to be our biggest concern. Depending on the smell, it can come from different places for different reasons:

Odor 1: Musty or moldy odor. This usually indicates the presence of something wet inside the car. The most common reason for this is a wet carpet.

• Most often this happens from under the dashboard. When you start the AC system, it accumulates water inside the evaporator box under the dash. The water must drain out of the car. If the drain is clogged, it overflows into the vehicle. The drain tube is usually located on the passenger side fire wall and can be cleared if clogged.

• Water can seep into the vehicle due to body leaks. Leakage can occur from sealant around doors or windows, from body seams, or from clogged sunroof drains.

• Some cars have problems with the air conditioning system that cause this smell. Some cars were built without the use of a protective coating on the air conditioning evaporator in the dashboard. When using the air conditioner, condensation will accumulate on the evaporator. When the car is turned off and left for a while after being turned off, this moisture starts to smell.

Smell 2: burning smell. A burning smell inside a car is usually caused by a short in the electrical system or one of the electrical components.

Smell 3: sweet smell. If you smell a sweet smell inside the car, it's usually caused by a coolant leak. The coolant has a sweet smell and if the heater core inside the dashboard fails, it will leak into the car.

Smell 4: Sour Smell. The most common cause of sour smell is the driver. This usually indicates food or drinks that might go bad in the car.

When any of these odors appear, the main solution is to fix the problem and dry or clean the car. If the liquid hasn't damaged the carpeting or insulation, it can usually be dried and the smell will go away.

Part 3 of 4: Outside the car

Odors that appear on the outside of the car are usually the result of a problem with the car. It could be a leak or part wear.

Smell 1: smell of rotten eggs or sulfur. This smell is usually caused by a catalytic converter in the exhaust getting too hot. This can happen if the motor is not working properly or if the inverter is simply defective. If so, you should replace it as soon as possible.

Smell 2: The smell of burnt plastic.. This usually happens when something comes into contact with the exhaust and melts. This can happen if you hit something on the road or if part of the car comes off and touches a hot part of the engine or exhaust system.

Odor 3: Burning metallic smell. This is usually caused by either too hot brakes or a faulty clutch. The clutch disc and brake pads are made from the same materials, so when they wear or fail, you will smell this smell.

Smell 4: sweet smell. As in the interior of a car, a sweet smell indicates a coolant leak. If coolant leaks onto a hot engine, or if it leaks onto the ground, you can usually smell it.

Smell 5: hot oil smell. This is a clear sign of burning oily substance. This is usually caused by engine oil or other oil leaking inside the car and getting into a hot engine or exhaust system. This is almost always accompanied by smoke from the engine or exhaust pipe.

Smell 6: Smell of gas. You should not smell gas while driving or when it is parked. If yes, then there is a fuel leak. The most common leaks are the top seal of the fuel tank and fuel injectors under the hood.

Any of these smells coming from your vehicle are a good sign that it's time to have your vehicle checked.

Part 4 of 4: After the source of the smell is found

Once you find the source of the smell, you can begin to repair. Whether the repair requires cleaning something or replacing something more serious, detecting this smell will allow you to prevent further problems from occurring. If you cannot find the source of the odor, hire a certified mechanic to locate the odor.