Weird smell in car

MaccaIRL · Post by **MaccaIRL** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:07 pm

Hi

So i have the 1998 vti prelude with 4wheel steer

For some reason theres a weird smell, almost like old cheese when i put on my blowers i the morning?

Really bad when i put on the heat on the window but dont know why

Googled it a bit and apparently the 98 models didnt come with the cabin filter.
Engine bay looks free from all leaves etc and i dont have air con on so dont think its from that....

One other thing to add is it always steams up overnight, or if left for more than 6 hours or so

Any ideas?
Car was in a workshop getting bits sprayed like bonnet, could that have led to this problem with paint on a fan or something?

Post by **Merlin** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:34 pm

I wonder if it is coolant you are smelling. The heater matrix gets its heat from the coolant, and the heater matrix is under the dash. To me old coolant smells curry-like but maybe a different type of coolant is in your car and so it smells a little different?

MaccaIRL · Post by **MaccaIRL** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:41 pm

Dunno tbh
Worth replacing coolant to see i guess

I needed antifreeze anyways haha

Post by **Merlin** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:49 pm

If it is the coolant replacing it wont solve the problem. But it might change the smell.

It could either be a small leak in the engine bay or a leak from the heater matrix. Both have the potential to give smells in the cabin. Have a look in the engine bay for any little pools of water (on the top of the rad etc..), and if there is antifreeze in your coolant there should be white crystal deposits where the evaporated coolant has left them.

Also it would be worth checking al of the radiator hoses plus the coolant hoses around the thermostat housing, the hoses that go from the thermostat housing to the FITV (on the underside of the throttle body) and the hose that goes from the FITV to the IACV (this hose loops back round to the thermostat housing).

Post by **Thebusofwoe** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:25 pm

It will be bacteria on the evaporator and inside the ducting.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/23124313 ... 108&ff19=0

That will sort it out. Spray it right into all the ducts and into where the pollen filter would go. All around and then run the fan on high. I wouldn't recommend staying in the car as you will pass out

Does it have AC? If so it should have a pollen filter fitted. But not always.

Post by **Thebusofwoe** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:28 pm

(If you have AC) Something else I would recommend is run you AC on, very slight heat, on recirculating, blowers high. Run it for 30-50 mins and that should get rid of most of the moisture in he car (providing there is no water leaks)

MaccaIRL · Post by **MaccaIRL** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:39 pm

Thebusofwoe wrote:It will be bacteria on the evaporator and inside the ducting.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/23124313 ... 108&ff19=0

That will sort it out. Spray it right into all the ducts and into where the pollen filter would go. All around and then run the fan on high. I wouldn't recommend staying in the car as you will pass out Does it have AC? If so it should have a pollen filter fitted. But not always.

Read somewhere that my model doesnt have the pollen filter tho

Ill get that stuff tho and spray in the vents

Did notice a slight decrease in coolant but assumed it was cause of vtec haha

Post by **Thebusofwoe** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:44 pm

I'm not 100% sure but there should still be a space for it. You need to spray it in the fan box/housing and then run the fan on low speed and spray whilst fan is on. This will allow spray to get onto the evaporator inside the heater box.

nitin_s1 · Post by **nitin_s1** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:57 pm

"Weird smelling car"

Post by **Merlin** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:22 am

Good thinking Thebusofwoe

You could take the scuttle panel off to get access to the blowers cold air feed? Then spray in there as well?

Lude Generation

Weird smell in car

Weird smell in car

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Re: Weird smell in car