\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Its important that you check for any obvious fluid leaks and schedule an appointment with a service facility to perform a transmission fluid change or repair the seals. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Why does my car heater smell like rotten eggs? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 617 times. But its still pretty young. The odor. Store Were available 7 days a week, work around your schedule, and complete repairs in your driveway! This may lead to belt or fuse issues, and in worst-case scenarios, even a car fire. A very common occurrence when youre noticing a rotten egg smell coming from your vehicle is that a faulty fuel pressure sensor is sending too much fuel into the system and its clogging up your catalytic converter since it cant process that much at once. But coming through your car heater, this bad smell can mean you have a vent hose or fuel injection line leak. A musty mildew smell also can be caused by carpets that get wet when water leaks into the interior. Sulfur or rotten egg smells are nothing to play with if you have a gas heater. Important: Avoid jump-starting a defective battery, as it could risk an explosion. Available on iPhone and Android. Its best to catch problems early to make them less costly to fix. 1. What are the consequences of not replacing a leaking heater core? In both cases, you'll need to have a mechanic look into the issue . Consider installing some kind of mesh to prevent this from happening again. The usual culprit is a leaking heater core. So why is your heater producing this burning smell? What will happen if I continue to use my cars heater with a leaking heater core? Learn how to identify and troubleshoot your car's smelly hints that something's wrong. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It is then further neutralized in the car's emissions system., However, if the converter is damaged or clogged for example, if a, floods your converter with oil sulfur gas can leak out into your car's cabin area. 1. Its also unlikely that the sensor is giving out without giving you an engine code though. When your batterys acid starts leaking, this signals that the battery is failing. The sulfurous, rotten-egg scent you sometimes smell in a pilot light or other natural gas is mercaptan. In addition to producing a revolting car smell, theres also the possibility that deadly carbon monoxide from your exhaust fumes can get inside your car. Sulfates are a type of pollutant that can come from a number of sources including exhaust fumes gasoline and even the water in your cars cooling system. The heater core is located behind the dash and in front of the windshield. Not only is the sulfur smell harmful to your health, the vehicle can be damaged if this problem is left unchecked. However if the catalytic converter isnt working properly it can cause a build-up of pollutants in the exhaust which can then be released into the cabin of the car causing that rotten egg smell. Batteries that emit hydrogen sulfide gas will produce odors similar to rotten eggs or sewer water, which typically happens when the battery gets old and can no longer hold a charge. But if your car battery suffers any damage, the sulfuric acid can leak out, causing that rotten egg odor. Web Design and SEO provided by Best Edge Tech Inc. Making Easy Sense Out of Your Vehicles Sensors. Why Does My Car Smell When I Turn It On? | Sun Auto Service Learn how to identify and troubleshoot your car's smelly hints that something's wrong. As you can imagine this doesnt smell good, and it might be the reason you have an unpleasant odor following your car around. Other common sources are old gear lube from a manual transmission or differential and a foreign substance in the fresh air intake. Bad battery: The battery in your car is filled with sulfuric acid. Something is wrong with your emissions system. Normally the sulfur is converted to sulfur dioxide, which has no odor. Normally, it would convert hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide. In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Cloverdale Auto Service provides inspection to find the source of your heaters bad smell. What does a leaking heater core do to my car? And before you rush off to a mechanic to have them diagnose it and fix it for you, its worth getting a better understanding of whats going on. Some alternatives include using a small bag of ground coffee or storing fabric softener in your car. Your ignition coil could be the culprit! How to Remove a Rotten Egg Smell From Your Car, catalytic converter could also be clogged, How to Get Paint Off Your Car (Without a Trace), How to Dispose of Old Gas (The Safe and Legal Way). If your battery is not sealed, it may be leaking harmful gases into the passenger compartment. However, it could also cause the exhaust to smell like gasoline. With a clogged catalytic converter, instead of turning into water or steam, the hydrogen sulfide turns into sulfur dioxide, which creates the rotten egg smell. Bad car smells that mean trouble - Matt Castrucci Nissan Either way, sometimes if you smell rotten eggs in your car, its because theres a rotten egg, spoiled milk, broccoli, or some other rotten groceries in there! Thanks for reading our article! No it is not safe to drive your car with a leaking heater core. If your heater creates a bad odor, it can mean any of several problems exist. Why Does My Car Smell When the Heater is On How Can You Diagnose the Cause of Bad Smells in Your Car? Before reading further, check to make sure you didnt actually forget eggs in the vehicle a few days (or weeks) ago. This is really helpful. By continuing to browse our website, you agree to use these cookies. If your Check Engine light turns on, it may actually be good news as it may allow you, with the help of an OBD2 scanner, to pinpoint the electrical component thats the culprit. Burning rubber is equally unsweet in odor, pointing to loose hoses or belts. bad smell | Hyundai Kona Forum If you dont replace your catalytic converter, youll eventually do serious and potentially irreparable damage to your engine all while spreading toxic emissions into the environment. 01 of 06 Maple Syrup Jonathan Kim / Stone / Getty Images Some people describe this odor as like syrup in general, and others say it's sickly sweet or a mix of bitter and sweet. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Aside from the nasty car smell, a failing catalytic converter can cause poor gas mileage, problems with starting your car and acceleration, and lighting up your Check Engine Light. What does a leaking heater core do to my car? Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. For your convenience, you can schedule your services online or give us a call at 704-992-0711 to speak . This isnt an either/or option here, its just a matter of whether or not you need to replace both components so your vehicles new catalytic converter doesnt wear out prematurely. If the heater box can't drain properly, water can collect in it, causing a moldy, musty, mildewy smell. If its worn or damaged, it may not be doing its job properly. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If you needed more proof that time flies, the Tesla Roadster was released 10 years ago. Most of the time, a bad catalytic converter is the core reason you smell rotten eggs, so see a mechanic to get your catalytic converter replaced. Wake up and smellyour car? It can happen whether you have a new car or old one, so its essential to be on the lookout and keep an eye (or a nose) open for these issues: Your car battery contains sulfuric acid. If youre wondering, why does my car smell like sulfur and burning rubber?, it may be due to an electrical issue within your vehicle. This may cause the battery to release hydrogen sulfide gas that smells like sulfur or rotten eggs. If you smell a rotten egg odor in your car, chances are that the smell is hydrogen sulfide, a chemical found in your car's fuel that is described as smelling like rotten eggs. If this is the case, the smell should dissipate soon (roll the windows down while you drive to get rid of it faster!). As if these werent convincing enough, a leaking battery will quickly damage other components in the engine as the acid eats through the metal and plastic. The smell of burning rubber in your car can indicate that a rubber hose or belt under the hood has loosened. Why Does Car Smell When Heater Is On? (7 Smell Types Solved) In most cases, hydrogen sulfide is transformed into odorless sulfur dioxide. Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs?!? (Here's What to Check) Though this is similar to an exhaust smell . This often causes a gasoline odor to enter your vehicle. W . Some batteries are stored in the trunk or cabin (ie: under a seat). Whether it's musty air coming from your A/C vents or a rotten egg smell in your car's interior, some car smells are definitely worth sniffing out. Thanks for sharing. Tip: Avoid "topping off" your fuel tank when pumping gas. How often should I check my cars heater core for leaks? #28738 When everything is working properly with your vehicles catalytic converter it converts toxic chemicals into harmless H2O compounds otherwise known as water or steam. It's the weekend and I don't have insurance yet. It is hydrogen sulfide, which is a product of the sulfur in gasoline. Every vehicle runs on energy and produces heat. Though it's not technically the smell of exhaust, this one often gets reported as an exhaust smell. The cause could be a malfunctioning motor, a frayed wire, or another electrical problem. Open all windows and drive around for a while and see if the smell persists. When your fuel pressure sensor fails, your car can run with a fuel mixture thats too rich. You may end up sending up to $2,500 on a new converter. If the heater core in your vehicle is damaged, it might cause the smell of burning coolant to enter your cabin. While its possible that the catalytic converter is giving out and theres no check engine light, it is a bit odd. You can save time in the store by pre-booking your maintenance service appointment online today. Call us today at 336-331-3448 to schedule your car heater inspection and maintenance. The too-rich fuel mixture then allows an influx of sulfur to move into the catalytic converter, burning it out. You typically need to change your transmission fluid every 30,00060,000 miles (48,00097,000km). If you sense this smell, pull over to a safe parking area and open the cars hood. If the catalytic converter is clogged it can start to overheat, and if it gets too hot it can catch on fire. The windows fog up with this problem, too. Regular car maintenance starts with good car insurance, Drivers depend on their senses to navigate and guide them when they drive. This unpleasant odor is due to the emission of hydrogen sulfide gas from the battery. The Reasons Why a Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs - CAR FROM JAPAN This device helps to convert the harmful pollutants in your cars exhaust into less harmful gases before theyre released into the atmosphere. A burning smell in your car is often caused by a leaking heater core. Culprit #3: Overcharged RV Batteries. 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