Car Smell - Dailycarblog
Why Does My Car Smell Bad?
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‘New car smell’ is one of life’s great pleasures, but alas your car won’t smell like that forever. Depending on how often you take your car to get it cleaned, it may not be long until the aroma of perfume, aftershave or French fries permeate the air. How your car smells doesn’t just reflect your favorite scent or fast food joint; it can indicate a problem with the vehicle itself.

If your car smells bad and you can’t figure out why, take a look at these common causes of bad car odors and find out what you need to do to get rid of them…

Stale and musty

If your car smells musty, there’s a good chance water is getting into somewhere that it shouldn’t be. Mold and mildew can form anywhere but it particularly likes dark places where it won’t be disturbed. In addition to this, mold thrives on fabric because it takes longer to dry and is harder to clean than other surfaces. This means your car seats, trunk and interior can be a breeding ground for potentially hazardous mold. 

Although most molds are visible, you’ll probably notice the smell before you can see anything. If mildew is building up in hard to reach places, you won’t see it just by scanning the interior of your vehicle. Instead, you’ll need to check under the seats, remove the boot liner and even take out the seat cushions to see what’s going on. 

If any area of your vehicle feels damp, it’s vital to ensure it’s probably dried and aired. However, this alone won’t solve the problem. If water is getting into the vehicle, you need to find the source and prevent it from happening. While airing your car can help to get rid of musty odors, mold will continue to form if water can still get into the car. 

The A/C evaporator is a common cause of musty odors in vehicles but it’s worth checking the seals on windows and doors too. Even a slight crack in the seals can allow water to infiltrate the interior, so check they’re working properly and replace them if you see any damage. 

Sulfur

A smell of sulfur emanating from your car is never a good thing but there could be a variety of problems responsible. Similar to the smell of rotting eggs, sulfur is extremely noticeable, which means you can identify a potential issue with your car quickly. 

One of the most common causes of this type of smell in a vehicle is the battery. If a car battery is damaged or shorted, gas can leak from it, hence the sulfuric smell. When this happens, it’s important to replace the battery straightaway. With assistance from a reputable supplier, such as R & J Batteries, you can find the right battery for your car. Generally, you’ll want a battery with a higher ignition power for large engines, like SUVs and mods, while smaller engines, such as a compact or city car, typically function perfectly well with a standard model. Remember – choosing a battery with too much or too little power can put your vehicle at risk, so it’s best to get professional advice. 

Sweet

Having a sweet, candy-like scent permeating your vehicle may not seem so bad but it’s definitely not a good sign. Usually, it means that the heater in your vehicle is leaking and the sweet smell you notice is due to the presence of antifreeze. 

When the smell is noticeable inside the vehicle, as opposed to when you’ve got the hood open, it’s most likely to be heater core that’s leaking. In some cases, antifreeze can also leak onto the floor of a car, so keep an eye out for any drips or leaks you weren’t aware of. 

Burning

If you can smell burning in your vehicle, the first thing to do is check it’s not alight! Once you’ve confirmed you’re not in immediate danger, it’s time to do some detective work and figure out the cause of the odor. In most cases, a burning smell can be traced back to your brakes or the clutch. If the smell is stronger when the clutch is depressed or the brakes are applied, you’ve almost certainly found the cause. While replacements might be needed, you may find that you only need to replace your brake pads or adjust the clutch.  

So now you know what that smell is!


Car Smell - Dailycarblog
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