Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

A lousy car smell is not just irritating; it could also be a result of a much bigger problem. It is essential to bring your vehicle in for service to check why these smells are coming from your car. Depending on each type of smell, there is a need to understand them to help develop a working solution. Below is a list of the common kinds of odors from your vehicle and what they might mean.

Burned Rubber

The smell of burned rubber in the car’s cabin is due to various causes. One popular culprit is friction emanating from the drive belt. A burning odor can also be contributed by leaking oil, which is why you need to involve a mechanic urgently.

Burned Carpet

The smell of a burned carpet can be alarming. The reason for such a smell is the problem with the car’s brakes. If you use them extensively, the burning carpet smell will probably be a warning that brakes pads need to be checked. Overheating is the first contributor, and thus replacing the brake pads could be the best solution.

Gym Clothes

If a car starts developing a locker room smell, then the culprit here could be the A/C system. It is most apparent when the mildew grows in the air conditioning evaporator. To solve this problem, you can try to turn off the air conditioning system and then run the fan to dry out the system. If it still doesn’t work, contact our service center to work with our certified service experts in identifying the odor.

Syrup

When there is leaking coolant fluid in your vehicle, then syrup smell is likely to occur. You will notice this scent when your car is running or after it has just been turned off. This leak may also come from various sources, including a radiator hose, intake manifold gasket, or the cylinder head. Other causes of the maple syrup scent are the radiator or the radiator cap.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

If you notice this kind of smell when a car runs, the likely cause could be hydrogen sulfide concentrating in the exhaust system. The scent is usually created by the exceptional amounts of sulfur in the gasoline, which did not properly convert to sulfur dioxide. The result is the smell of rotten eggs or sulfur.

If your car continues to produce such unusual smells, be sure to contact our Audi dealership to schedule an appointment for the repairs.