Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

Ever wonder what that smell is coming from your vehicle? Bad odors are unpleasant, and usually indicate a mechanical issue. This can lead to expensive repairs if you neglect to have them checked out. Here are some common smells that require attention.

Burning Rubber

The drive belt on your vehicle can malfunction, resulting in the smell of burning rubber. A common cause is a belt slipping, which causes drive-belt friction. You may also have a hose that may be rubbing on a belt or oil leaking from your engine from a broken or damaged gasket seal. This is a smell you don't want to ignore as it can result in irreversible damage to your engine. If you smell burning rubber, it's time to schedule a service appointment for a full inspection.

Burning Carpet

If your car smells like a burning carpet, your brakes may be the reason. Extensive use of your brakes either from stop-and-go traffic, descending long, steep hills and towing can cause this smell. Other possibilities include driving with the hand brake on, dragging or sticking brake calipers or excessively worn brake pads. It is normal for new brake pads to have a smell for the first hundred miles, but if the smell sticks around and none of the previously mentioned situations applies, it's time to have your brakes inspected as soon as possible.

Gym Clothes Odor

The musty smell of gym clothes can indicate that you need your A/C system serviced. Mildew can grow within the evaporator and create this unpleasant odor. Our service technicians can flush out the system to eliminate mold and mildew and also replace the cabin air filter.

Syrup Smell

Leaking coolant leaves behind a very sweet and syrup-like smell. This usually occurs while your engine is running, but the smell can even linger once you've turned it off. Damage to your heating and cooling system, an issue with the intake manifold gasket, a leaky radiator hose, or a bad cylinder head could be the source of the problem. This isn't an issue you should neglect because it could cause your engine to overheat, which could lead to extensive damage. You could damage the engine by driving, so it's best to have your vehicle towed for a complete inspection.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

An imbalance in your fuel-injection system can cause your catalytic converter to have issues converting the sulfur in your fuel to sulfur dioxide. When this happens, a smell similar to rotten eggs will be present. This can happen if you have a clogged or damaged catalytic converter, worn down filtering layers inside or a broken fuel pressure regulator. Other warning signs to look out for include floor heat, poor acceleration and dark exhaust smoke.

If your vehicle produces a bad odor, it may indicate serious problems, so we highly encourage you to schedule an appointment at our auto repair shop in Phoenix for top-quality care. Give us a call or schedule online 24/7 to have our team of certified Subaru technicians do a complete diagnostic to get your vehicle repaired and back on the road.