Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

When your car produces abnormal odors, it certainly gets your attention. Aside from merely being unpleasant, unusual smells can indicate a serious problem or mechanical issue. While you might not know what is causing the smell, we offer some information that can give you a good indication of what the underlying problem may be based on the smell.

Burned Rubber

Several things may cause a burned rubber smell. It may be stemming from the brakes, which can start to smell if the brake pads wear out. When that happens, the brake pads no longer prevent the metallic parts of the brakes from rubbing together. This creates a substantial amount of friction, causing the brakes to smell like burning rubber. Leaking oil can also produce the same smell when it drips onto an exhaust pipe after the car has warmed up.

Gym Clothes

The unpleasant smell of damp gym clothes can be caused by moisture buildup in the car's air conditioning system. The problem starts when moisture reaches the air conditioning compressor, where it turns into condensation and begins to produce an unpleasant odor. To get rid of the smell on your own, you need to air out the A/C system by allowing the fan to run with the A/C off. Doing so will help dry out the system and get rid of the pungent scent.

Burned Carpet

A burning carpet smell indicates that the brakes need attention. This smell can be due to short-term causes such as braking excessively or driving while you have the emergency brake or hand brake on. It can also occur when the car's brake components are wearing out.

Syrup

A syrupy scent can indicate a coolant fluid leak. You might also notice that the smell starts when the engine has been running or for a short period of time after the car has been turned off. The coolant fluid leak may come from several sources, including a broken intake manifold gasket or a cylinder head.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

A sulfuric smell can be a sign that something is wrong with the catalytic converter. The problem can start when the catalytic converter doesn't sufficiently convert hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide in the exhaust system.

Abnormal smells can signal serious trouble with your car. Contact our dealership today or visit our Nissan service center in Decatur, IL, for service or repairs.