Sulfur Smell at Start Up - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jimkuo · 05-06-2003, 01:44 AM

Hey guys, I have a Gen 5 SE and for the past 5 months since I've had the car, I get a sulfur smell for the first few minutes after the car starts up in the morning. I talked to the dealership and they said all the Toyotas do that because of the gasoline. Has anyone else noticed this? How have you been able to solve it? Does it go away after a few thousand miles? The people at Toyota tell me that it may last forever...if anyone has any helpful hints or advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

***Silver Streak*** · 05-06-2003, 08:35 AM

Well, the guys at Toyota are half right. It's not only due to the sulfur content in the gasoline, but it's mainly because of the low emission catalytic converter put on newer cars. My Gen 5 V6 has the exact same problem and I've heard of many other Gen 5 owners complaining of the same thing.

I asked my dealership and they gave me the same answer they did to you...they even told me I'm buying cheap gas!? Didn't know Shell was cheap!?

Anyway, the problem will only go away IF they lower the sulfur content in our gasoline (here in Canada it's being discussed, we have the dirtiest gas around)...if your lucky, it may go away after 2 years or so after the catalytic converter gets worked in or something.

The only other thing I can think of is to replace the cat with an aftermarket one, but it defeats the purpose of a low emission vehicle.

Tex97 · 05-06-2003, 09:07 AM

Can you smell it inside the car? If not, I wouldn't worry about it too much as, like Silver said, there is not anything you can do about it.
Is it only a Gen. 5 thing? I drove my mom's '01 Camry a little bit when it was new and never noticed anything.

***Silver Streak*** · 05-06-2003, 12:12 PM

Yeah, problem is that you can smell it IN the car while idling. And there doesn't have to be another Gen 5 in front of ya. I've heard so many complaints about this.....

I believe cat changes were made in the last year or two....

Stealth · 05-06-2003, 01:49 PM

I get a sulfur smell if I floor it. Think it's unburnt gas, don't think it's dangerous.

2002Camry · 05-08-2003, 08:29 PM

I have a TSB on this issue that I can send you if you like. It is a PDF format file and since I cannot upload it here, pm me with your email address and I can send it to you.