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· Camryologist
1998 Toyota Camry
Joined
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374 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Sup guys..

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..??

Oil burning somewhere it shouldn't...??

Help please... :dunno:
 

· Registered
'00 toyota camry
Joined
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323 Posts
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....

Engine smells like rotten eggs

2006 Avalon catalytic converter smell
 

· Camryologist
1998 Toyota Camry
Joined
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374 Posts
Discussion Starter · #3 ·
Thanks a lot man.. I posted this because I worried.. This is the first time I feel that smell in my car and wanted to know a bit about it...

I worried because it started happening a really short while after I installed my Magnaflow muffler...

Any other thoughts about this..?? I would appreciate it..
 

· Registered
Joined
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80 Posts
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.
 

· Premium Member
Joined
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2,688 Posts
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.
 

· Godiva Gifts
'97 Camry LE
Joined
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52 Posts
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.
 

· Camryologist
1998 Toyota Camry
Joined
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374 Posts
Discussion Starter · #8 ·
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..??

Thanks again..
 

· Banned
Camry / 2WD Pickup
Joined
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602 Posts
PTY,

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!
 

· Registered
'21 Corolla SE Apex
Joined
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21 Posts
Digger1 said:
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.
 

· Registered
Toyota Camry
Joined
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69 Posts
Hi there guys,

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
 
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