Camry & Solara LoungeDiscussion area for every generation of Toyota's family car, the Toyota Camry. Lexus ES250/300 owners welcome! Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance and more.
I've been smelling something weird inside my car for about a week now, but don't know what it could be... Only when I'm inside the car.. Air conditioner on or off, same thing...
It smells like the smoke that comes out the exhaust but I'm not sure... Could it be a leak in my exhaust system..??
Sounds to me like exhaust gases if its a sour smell like sulfer(rotten eggs/burning smell). But that is normal to smell exhaust sometimes, especially if your driving with a heavy foot, then come to a stop at a red light or slow down. If your burning oil you'll see some smoke out your tailpipe, but not always. Have a friend drive behind you at different speeds to check for smoke.
Read these posts for more info about exhaust smells in the car....
if you want to find if you have a leak in your exhaust, plug the muffler tip with a cloth, and if the engine stumbles or dies, then you dont have one, if it doesnt, then yes you do. also you can hear sometimes where the leak is, if you're lucky.
It's also possible that with the age your Camry is that you might have a slight oil leak under the hood and when you're moving, the smell is entering the vehicle.
We need more information on the smell before we can really help you. If you could describe it better. rotton egg smell? Smoke? Sweet?
Just a few details more and maybe we can help.
Also, is your exhaust loud or still nice and quiet. That will help us determine if it's an exhaust leak or something else.
__________________
"Fools", said I, "You do not know, silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you. Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell, and echoed, in the wells of silence.....
Jason Johnston
Toyota/Scion of Des Moines
(800)342-7045
You might also want to check your fuel rails, possible coolant flush- well, check your coolant. I'm just laying out some other ideas. But like HatenFate says, we do need some more info before we help you in details.
Well.. It actually doesn't smell like smoke.. I went to my car and figured that the smell is felt even with the car parked.. I turned the car on and everything was cool, and then, when I turned the Air Conditioner on, the smell came in...
Could it be something related to the air conditioner then ??
My exhaust is not nice and quiet because I have a Street Series Magnaflow muffler...
The smell itself, I couldn't say rotten egg, it doesn't smell that bad... And at first it's strongly felt when I turn on the AC but after a couple of mins it doesn't feel that strong..
It's just weird... Tomorrow I'm taking my car to the dealer for the 60,000 miles service.. I'll ask them to take a look at my exhaust system and my AC system, something else..??
Since you smell it most when the A/C is first turned on, the smell may be caused by mold growing in the A/C evaporator coil. I used to get that smell frequently when I lived in Houston, TX.
Someone on this forum may know of a fix. I never did anything about it when my car had that problem....I just lived with it.
Good Luck!
__________________
Digger1
"If you don't understand the technology you depend upon, you will someday be a victim of that technology."
Someone on this forum may know of a fix. I never did anything about it when my car had that problem....I just lived with it.
If it's mold, the fix that was recommended to me is to park the car with the AC on and fan on high (and on fresh, not recirculated) and the front vents rather than the windshield.
Then take a can of Lysol or similar anti-bacterial spray and spray it over the intakes (usually just in front of the windshield near the wipers). Ideally, you spray a mist *over* the intakes and let the AC fan suck it in. You get better coverage. A good dose (one person told me to empty the can, but I think that's overkill myself). You might want to even do a couple of short sessions over the course of an hour'ish.
When done, you'll probably want to clean the inside glass (especially if you forgot to use the main vents).
Brad.
__________________
Currently: '05 Camry XLE (wrapped the '98 around a deer); '00 Sienna LE; Toyota owner (just about every model) since youth.
well i think im havin the same problem with the air con.
some weird smell like some chemical leak.
I have emailed my dealer and was told this.
The smell you are getting is most likely to be the excess water coming off
the evaportor if you run the a/c on fresh air at all time the smell from
this will decrease.
this happens as the evaporator gets cold to cool the car, when the a/c is turned off, the evaporator goes back to hot causing the water to sit in the evaporator - causing at mildew smell
If you turn the a/c off but put the re-circulate switch to fresh & leave the fan on 5 mins before you get to your destination the smell will disapear.
If You still have a problem with this item please call the service department & make a booking
for us to inspect
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
Weird smell inside my car..
Linear Mode
