Paying close attention to the way your car smells can help you track down the culprit and fix it.
Here are eight of the top reasons your car might stink and what you better do about it.
Why it smells:Harsh, acrid smells typically mean thateither brake or clutch materialhas been burnt.
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Riding your brakes or leaving the parking brake on are both ways to make your car smell like this.
A stuck caliper or frozen parking brake cable can also do the job for you.
In systems with hydraulic clutches, a slipping clutch can also indicate a problem with the hydraulic system.
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If it’s more of a burning rubber smell, you might want to do fewer peel outs.
Why it smells: Antifreeze smells sweet.
If there is antifreeze on the floor inside your car, that’s another good clue.
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If you might’t afford to fix it, bypass the leaky core and check out somecar heater alternatives.
When does it smell: All the time or after a rain.
AnA/C evaporatoris also a common cause of this particular odor.
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You Have an Oil Leak
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Associated smell: Burning oil.
When does it smell: The engine is hot, whether or not you’re driving.
Why it smells:When oil drips on any part of the exhaust system, it burns.
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This smells bad and can create copious amounts of thick, blue smoke if the leak is bad enough.
The fix is simple enough: Get rid of the leak.
Your driveway will thank you.
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The Catalytic Converter Is Busted
Associated smell: Sulfur.
When does it smell: When the engine is running.
Why it smells:Catalytic converters are emissions control components that alter exhaust gasses to reduce harmful emissions.
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If that’s the problem you’re dealing with, change the lubricant and fix the leak.
When does it smell: All the time when the engine is running or on especially hot days.
Your Groceries Rolled Under the Seat Last Week
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Associated smell: Death.
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When does it smell: All the time.
Smoke from cigars and cigarettes represents one of the most persistent bad car smells.
Even special measures, like smoking with the windows rolled down, don’t help much.
Once your car has been affected by this source of bad smells, fixing it is a monumental task.
For help, check out our fullguide to removing cigarette and smoke smells from cars.
