Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

When your car smells, what could the issue be? That's a question asked by many concerned car owners who want to know what might be wrong with their vehicle when they smell a peculiar smell. Multiple issues may be responsible for producing foul, unpleasant, and sometimes alarming smells in your car. When you're wondering what your car's issue may be, we can give you some helpful tips to figure it out.

Burned Rubber

Burning rubber is one of the more concerning smells you may discover coming from your car. And for a good reason – this smell often involves a more major car part such as the brakes or engine. The brakes may start to emanate a burning rubber scent after their components begin wearing out, which may be caused by mileage, normal wear, and tear, or even your driving habits. The cushioned parts on your car's brakes can get worn out, which results in friction when the metallic parts rub together. Oil dripping out from the engine can cause the smell, too.

Gym Clothes

Old gym clothes or musty laundry is another common scent. This smell comes from the interior of your vehicle. You may find that it gets worse upon turning the car on and using the air conditioning system. The underlying problem is usually mold, which can start to grow and multiply in the warm, moist interior of the air conditioning system. The mold produces a foul smell, but it may be eliminated by airing the air conditioning system out, which is possible simply by turning on the fan.

Burned Carpet

The smell of burning carpet can also be associated with brake system issues. This smell may arise when the brake pads wear out, causing the metal parts of the brakes to touch and generate heat and friction. The smell can be fixed by taking your car to a service technician to have the braking system's components checked and repaired.

Syrup

Although it's a more tolerable smell, the syrupy smell coming from under the hood can be the sign of a more serious problem. In this case, a coolant fluid issue is the most likely cause. Your car should be seen by a mechanic to look for a coolant fluid leak.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

A rotten egg odor can mean that the car's engine is not running very well. It can also point to something wrong with the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter can be seriously damaged if the problem goes unchecked.

If your car is exhibiting these smells or others, contact us for an appointment soon.