problems with a smell?

[sweetappl2]

So I found out that a smell in my backyard which I thought was a gas leak is actually from my car! I have a 97 toyota camry and it's been in good shape the whole time I've had it. Lately I've noticed this natural-gas like or ozone like smell coming from beneath the license plate. The grill is on top, the the license plate, but the strongest smell comes from "grill" underneath that. It is also noticeable when I open the hood of the car. I know nothing about cars and I have to drive home 7 hours in a week for spring break and I don't know what it could possibly be!! There are no lights on my dashboard. It has been a really cold winter, and the only thing that really happened was right after the car starts up there would be a klunk sound and it was fine. I was involved in an accident earlier this year by hitting a deer and had to have about 13 parts replaced including the hood. But that was October and I've just noticed this smell in the last two weeks. Does anyone know what it could be??? Please use non-car language if you can, I guarantee I will not know what you are talking about!!

[Blackhawk3D]

Antifreeze smell?

[sweetappl2]

I do not know what anti-freeze smells like. Nor do I know what it is used for. Any other ideas? please help, I can't afford to bring it to a shop to get it checked out. I'm a poor college student!

[deekay140]

You probably ran over a plastic bag which has burned to the exhaust pipe under the front of the car.
Have someone whos knows what to look for chk it out.

I wouldnt worry about it to much.
have a nice spring break

[Mike Gerber]

"I do not know what anti-freeze smells like."

Antifreeze has an almost sweet smell to it.

I would take the car back to the body shop that did the work last October, tell them about the smell and ask them to take a quick look. They will most likely do it for free.

Mike