Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can't get that smell out of your car. No matter how often you clean or how thorough you are, that sweet or foul smell lingers. Here are a few things that could cause your car to smell off.

Burned Rubber

A burning rubber smell in your car could be one of a few things. Sometimes, it's something relatively harmless, like that plastic bag you ran over melting to your exhaust pipe. Occasionally, however, a burning smell could be something much more significant. If your clutch keeps slipping, an overheated clutch plate could create a burning smell in the vehicle. The same is true for an oil leak, with the scent of synthetic oil dripping onto hot engine parts being much more pronounced.

Gym Clothes

A musty smell in the car may be gym clothes you forgot in the hatch or back seat. On the other hand, a musty smell coming from your air vents could indicate that mold or mildew has formed in the air conditioning system. Otherwise, think about whether your carpets or other fabrics in the car have recently been wet. In warmer months, especially, moisture in the seats or carpets could cause a musty smell.

Burned Carpet

This smell is another one that could be quite dangerous. If you're smelling burnt carpet as you brake down a hill, it could be a sign that your brakes are overheating. If you're smelling this scent when you aren't braking frequently, it could signal that you need to have your brakes looked at immediately. Of course, if you or someone in your vehicle is a smoker, take a look to make sure you didn't just burn a hole in the carpeting.

Sweet or Syrup Smell

A sweet smell coming from your car is an almost sure sign that something is wrong with the cooling system. Anti-freeze has a sweet smell, and smelling it in the vehicle could indicate a leak in a variety of places. Not only is the smell difficult to deal with, but it can also be dangerous to drive the car for an extended period of time if you do have a coolant leak.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

This smell is hard to miss. If your car begins to smell sulfurous or like rotting eggs, it is likely a sign that you have a problem with the catalytic converter. This could be caused by problems in either your engine or exhaust, and it is important to have it examined by a service technician. Not only is the catalytic converter essential to a healthy exhaust system, but it's also critical to passing emissions testing.

If you're experiencing any of these smells, it's time to have the car diagnose. Even if you think something is innocuous, it's better to be safe than sorry. Visit us online to schedule service appointment using our online form, or bring your car over to our dealership in Scottsdale for diagnosis and service.