If your vehicle is giving off an unusual odor instead of that new car smell, it could lead to an expensive repair or health hazard so it’s important to follow your nose. At our Peoria Volkswagen dealer, we’ve got a list of common odors and their possible causes.
Sweet
Antifreeze has a sweet, syrupy odor and if you’re smelling it inside your car, it usually means that there’s a leak somewhere in the cooling system. The source may not be easy to see; it could be from a corroded heat exchanger or in the form of steam that enters the cabin and fogs the windows. If you notice this sweet smell, have it addressed because breathing in antifreeze is a health hazard.
Musty
If you notice a musty smell when you turn on the air conditioning, mold or mildew has probably formed in the air conditioning system. Moisture naturally collects on the evaporator, but running the fan at high-speed with the AC turned off can dry the evaporator. If the problem persists, it could be a result of a clog in the drain tube; if that’s the case, bring your car in to our service center and let our service technicians take a look!
Electrical
Have you noticed a burnt toast smell? That could indicate a short circuit in an electrical component or overheated insulation. You should always take electrical odors seriously, as short circuits and overheated components are common sources of fire.
Burning
A burning smell could indicate that oil is oozing onto a hot part of the engine or exhaust system. It could also be a result of overheated brake pads or rotors—due to aggressive braking. On a vehicle that features a manual transmission, the clutch plate could be worn or overheating from riding the clutch pedal. Leave or other debris in the engine compartment can also burn on hot surfaces.
Rubber
The smell of burning rubber could mean that the accessory drive belt is slipping or getting chewed up by a broken pulley or hose rubbing against a moving part. In addition, an overheated clutch plate could also produce a burnt rubber smell.
Rotten Eggs
If you smell rotten eggs or sulfur, your car’s catalytic converter may have gone bad. This could mean that the engine or emissions system has made the converter overheat.
Gas
When a cold engine is first started, it’s normal to smell a little gas, but if you continue to smell gas after the engine is warm, the gas cap could be loose or the evaporative emissions control system could be leaking or clogged. The evaporative emissions control system is supposed to contain the fuel vapors and recycle them through the engine. The smell of gas could also indicate that gas is leaking from the tank or another part of the fuel system; always investigate gas smells when your car is parked before starting the car.
If you’ve noticed a curious scent in your vehicle, bring it in to our Peoria Volkswagen service center and our highly skilled technicians will check it out and make sure that everything is safe!
To learn more, contact Lunde’s Peoria Volkswagen at (602) 714-3968. To schedule a service appointment with us, click the button below.
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