Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

Foul car smells are not just unpleasant – they can also indicate a more serious problem with your vehicle that needs to be addressed. Depending on the smell, the bad scent you notice may be coming from different parts of your car. Here, we happily share some information on common bad car smells and what they might mean.

Burned Rubber

A smell of burned rubber in the cabin can be due to several causes. A popular culprit is friction in the drive belt. A burning odor can also be caused by leaking oil, which would require a mechanic's prompt attention.

Burned Carpet

A burned carpet smell can be caused by problems with the brakes. If you have recently used the brakes extensively, a burning carpet smell can be caused by the brake pads overheating. The smell can also be caused by worn brake pads, which means you'll need to bring the car to a mechanic to have the brake pads replaced.

Gym Clothes

If your car starts to develop a locker room smell, the culprit is likely the air conditioning system. Mildew can start to grow in the A/C evaporator. You can try turning off the air conditioning unit and running the fan to dry out the system. If that doesn't work, a mechanic may need to clean out the system.

Syrup

The smell of syrup in your car likely means that there is leaking coolant fluid somewhere. You may notice this smell when the car is running or after you've just turned it off. The leak may come from several sources, including a heater or radiator hose, the cylinder head, or an intake manifold gasket. The radiator or radiator cap may also leak and cause a maple syrup scent.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

If you notice a sulfur smell when the car runs, the likely cause is hydrogen sulfide in the exhaust system. This smell is created by small amounts of sulfur in the car's gasoline, which ultimately is not converted to sulfur dioxide by the catalytic converter as it should be.

If your car produces unusual scents, be sure to contact us to make an appointment for repairs.