Fumes coming thru open vents

[lhrocker]

Sometimes while I'm driving, I can smell fumes thru the vents if they are open. It seems to be from the engine, but it can also be from outside. I don't really have these problems with the AC or when the vents are closed. Can there be a leak somewhere?

[scoobdude]

you can try installing one of the filters under the glove box or you can get an air freshner.

 

I thik the smell being more noticable with the air off has soemthing to do with the way the a/c actually dries out the air though the drier. less humidity usually means less smell...from waht i have notice any way. good luck either way

 

Joe

[sasquatch]

I thought A/C added humidity and that is why your defroster used is to add humidity to the air and defrost...maybe I'm wrong....

 

fuel smells aren't good....check your fuel lines followed by your exhaust

[rizzo]

I thought A/C added humidity and that is why your defroster used is to add humidity to the air and defrost...maybe I'm wrong....

 

fuel smells aren't good....check your fuel lines followed by your exhaust

 

the AC actually dries the air. it's like taking a hair dryer and blowing it on a fogged mirror in your bathroom after the shower.

 

as for the smell... the air generally smells different when the AC is first turned on or turned off. also, something to try if it's coming from the outside is to switch the air circulation method from taking the air from the outside to recirculating the air inside. if you've got it coming from outside and you're behind a car with an exhaust problem, you'll be smelling it. if you've got it on recirculate, you won't. that should get you started with what the problem could be.

[Strakes]

What do the fumes smell like?

 

Burning Oil (pungent)

Coolant (Sweet smelling)

Mildew (rancid)

 

I had fumes come through the vents and it smelled like burning oil. I thought I had an oil leak, but after I looking in the engine bay, it was apparent that my inner cv boot failed, throwing grease all over the hot exhaust.

[elcaminokurt]

We could smell fumes in the interior of our 01 outback. When we opened the hood, we discovered that the oil cap was missing! We had just had the car in a day before to get the oil changed, and the kid must have left it off! Needless to say, he is no longer there! Kurt

[lhrocker]

When I can smell it, it usually smells like exhaust - what comes out of the tailpipe. This doesn't happend often - mainly when it rains.

 

Thanx,

Pete

[Lawsonmh15]

Sometimes while I'm driving, I can smell fumes thru the vents if they are open. It seems to be from the engine, but it can also be from outside. I don't really have these problems with the AC or when the vents are closed. Can there be a leak somewhere?

 

Is it oil? If so, probably a leakey oil pump. VERY common. If been happening for awhile, you may need to replace the timing belt too. Should be under $400 to get both done. Shouldn't be much if any labor to do timing belt at same time because they have to remove it to do the pump. Good luck.

[SolacE]

It doesnt necessarily mean there is a proble with your car, if you dont know how to drive your stick, your clutch can stink up, over-rev on take off does this. When I first got my car and was getting used to it it happend every now and again.

[rizzo]

It doesnt necessarily mean there is a proble with your car, if you dont know how to drive your stick, your clutch can stink up, over-rev on take off does this. When I first got my car and was getting used to it it happend every now and again.

 

i had this problem as well... got mine a couple weeks ago. hadn't driven stick regularly in about 5 years (on and off during that time, but it was a truck, so it drove a bit differently)... i also had a hard time finding reverse in the new car... it's still hard to get into, sometimes requires a couple tries (never grindnig though, just release clutch and try again). the first time this happened, i rev'd really hard (as it rolled forward because it wasn't actually in reverse) and it smelled to high heavens. i got worried that i broke my new car... luckily it was jsut the over-rev. happens every now and again, but only on an incline when some ghetto fabulous guy is riding my rump roast at a stoplight (gotta love providence).

[Gnuman]

i had this problem as well... got mine a couple weeks ago. hadn't driven stick regularly in about 5 years (on and off during that time, but it was a truck, so it drove a bit differently)... i also had a hard time finding reverse in the new car... it's still hard to get into, sometimes requires a couple tries (never grindnig though, just release clutch and try again). the first time this happened, i rev'd really hard (as it rolled forward because it wasn't actually in reverse) and it smelled to high heavens. i got worried that i broke my new car... luckily it was jsut the over-rev. happens every now and again, but only on an incline when some ghetto fabulous guy is riding my rump roast at a stoplight (gotta love providence).

Even though my clutch slips a bit (I was sloppy when I replaced it and did not get the flywheel turned. You don't get much traction on a shiny surface. . .), I usually only get this when I'm in stop and go up a steep incline, or pushing/pulling cars up the same kind of incline.