Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

What do you do when your car emanates unusual or unpleasant smells? Out of instinct, you comb your car in and out for any rotten fast foods. However, the chances are that your car is signifying underlying mechanical issues. That means grave trouble if not taken care of immediately. For better understanding, be wary of these five types of smells in your car. Try to understand what is triggering them and how to repair your car to a better form.

Burned Rubber

Do you smell burned rubber often in your car? If yes, then it's a great pointer to an underlying issue in your engine. That means you have been using your car non-stop, or it could mean that you have a clutch problem. If you notice rubber smelling after every gear change, it means your clutch is worn out and needs a replacement. Also, please have a look at your drive belts and replace them often.

Gym Clothes

A car that smells like a gym locker means there is probably an issue with the A/C evaporator. It may have some grown mold or mildew. Turn off all the air conditioning unit and run the fan with the vents open to dry out the system. If this doesn't work, have a technician to clean out the whole system.

Burned Carpet

When you notice a smell of burned carpet after continued use of the car on the road, check on the brakes. It only means that you have a dragging brake. That's the root cause. Hence, the brake pads overheat. Another reason is leaving on the handbrake. Always disengage your handbrake before driving. Also, have your car checked out by a service technician to replace the brake pads.

Sweet Syrup Smell

When you start your car, you smell a syrupy sweet smell. It also happens when you immediately shut down your car. It could only mean leakage of ethylene glycol from the radiator or the heater hose or the manifold gasket. If the smell is most prominent in the car, it could be an indicator of issues with the heater core. It's essential to have it checked out before the radiator runs dry and causes a breakdown of the heating system for your car.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

This is a clear indicator that your car's catalytic converter is faulty. It may not be processing the hydrogen sulfide in the exhaust correctly. Hence, weak fuel injection. You should have the issue immediately checked out by a knowledgeable car technician.

The above car issues can cause some hazardous problems if not properly checked. If your car produces such scents, be sure to contact us or make an appointment for repairs.