When your car smells a little, it’s trying to tell you something. Like the characteristic sound of a rattling timing chain or the clicking sound of a bad CV connection, bad car odors often indicate that something is wrong somewhere in your machine. And like other little clues, paying close attention to how your car smells can help you track down the culprit and even eliminate it.
Here are the top seven reasons why your car stinks and what you need to do about it.
01
from 08
Your brakes or clutch need attention
Accompanying odor : Acrid
When it smells : usually when the car is moving, and sometimes especially when the brakes or clutch are applied.
Why does it smell
Harsh, pungent odors usually mean that the brake or clutch material has burned off. Riding on the brakes or applying the parking brake is a great way to make your car smell like that. Of course, a stuck caliper or a frozen parking brake cable can also help you.
A burnt clutch smells a lot like brake pads that have gotten too hot, and this can be caused by riding on the clutch. It could also mean that your clutch is slipping because it is worn or needs to be adjusted. In systems with hydraulic clutches, a sliding clutch can also indicate a problem with the hydraulic system.
If it’s more of a burning rubber smell, then you can do less flaking.
02
from 08
Your heater core is leaking
Accompanying odor : sweet, candy, maple syrup
When it smells : The heater is on, the engine has warmed up, or occasionally after you have turned off the engine.
Why does it smell
Antifreeze smells sweet. In fact, it smells so sweet that it is legally required to include a bitter agent. This is to prevent animals and children from drinking something that smells like a delicious treat.
If something in your car smells bad and you’re pretty sure you didn’t accidentally pour maple syrup down the vents, then you probably smell like antifreeze. It’s probably the core of the heater, if you smell a lot inside the car, and if you notice fog forming on the windshield, that’s another clue.
Also, if there is antifreeze on the floor inside your car, that’s another good clue. If you can’t afford to fix it, bypass the leaky kernel and check some car heater options .
03
from 08
Water gets where it doesn’t belong
Accompanying odor : Musty
When it smells : all the time or after rain.
Why does it smell
A mildew or mildew smell indicates that water is getting into your car and then building up there. Leaky door or window seals can let water through, so if you find wet seats or carpeting, that might be the problem.
Nonetheless, A/C evaporator is a very common cause of this peculiar smell.
04
from 08
You are leaking oil
Accompanying odor : burning oil
When it smells : The engine is hot, whether you are driving or not.
Why does it smell
When oil drips onto any part of the exhaust system, it burns. It smells really bad and it can also create copious amounts of thick blue smoke if the leak is strong enough. The fix is simple enough: get rid of the leak. Your road will also thank you.
05
from 08
Your catalytic converter is broken
Accompanying odor : sulfur
When it smells : The engine is running.
Why does it smell
Catalytic converters are emission control components that modify exhaust gases to reduce harmful emissions. When they don’t work properly, you sometimes turn your exhaust fumes into a smell that someone spent most of the past week throwing rotten eggs at your car. You need to replace the catalytic converter and repair whatever caused it to fail, as long as it doesn’t just wear out.
Some lubricants that are used in manual transmissions and transfer cases can also smell sulfur with age, which you may notice if they start to leak all over the place. If you encounter this problem, you need to change the lubricant and find out where the leak is coming from.
