Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

Strange odors emanating from your car aren't just unpleasant, they can signal that something is wrong with a system or a part in your vehicle. Let's take a look at some common car smells and what they might indicate.

Burning Rubber

The smell of burning rubber is a pretty intense one that is easy to recognize. This smell might have several causes. One common culprit is drive-belt friction that can happen if a belt has slipped. Other culprits may be a hose that is rubbing on a belt or leaking oil caused by a gasket seal that may have failed, which causes oil to leak into the hot engine, thus creating the burning rubber smell. Once your vehicle cools down, open the hood and take a look at your belts and hoses. If the smell sticks around, it's time to schedule an appointment for a full inspection.

Burnt Carpet

If you smell something similar to burnt carpet in your car, then the culprit might be your brakes overheating. This can occur if you've used your brakes extensively, such as descending a long, steep hill, if you're towing something or if the hand brake is on. A burnt carpet smell in your car may also mean you have dragging or sticking brake calipers, or excessively worn brake pads. It's normal for new brake pads to have a smell to them the first hundred miles or so. However, if the smell sticks around and you haven't been driving in stop-and-go traffic or on hills, have your brakes inspected as soon as possible.

Gym Clothes

That musty locker room smell in your car is likely caused by the AC unit. This occurs when mildew starts growing in the AC evaporator. When you turn on your AC, you'll notice this type of foul odor right away. We advise running the fan to help the system dry out, but if that doesn't work, then you should make an appointment for a complete system cleaning.

Syrup

A sweet, sickly smell similar to syrup might mean that you have a coolant fluid leak. You're most likely to notice this odor right after you turn the car off or sometimes even when it's still running. This smell can signal a leaky radiator hose, a leak in the heating and cooling system, a bad cylinder head, or an issue with the intake manifold gasket. Your radiator or radiator cap might also be a leak source. This can wreak havoc on your vehicle, including causing it to overheat. You could also damage the engine by driving so it's best to have your vehicle towed for a complete inspection.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

The distinct odor of rotten eggs when you run your car is likely due to hydrogen sulfide lingering in your exhaust system, and it indicates an imbalance in your fuel-injection system. When this happens, it could be because the catalytic converter is not properly converting the sulfur in your fuel to sulfur dioxide. This may be a sign that the catalytic converter is damaged, the filtering layers have worn down inside it, the fuel has plugged your catalytic converter or you have a broken fuel pressure regulator. Other warnings include floor heat, poor acceleration, and dark exhaust smoke.

If you're smelling strange odors in your car, it might be time for a checkup. Give us a call or schedule your appointment easily online 24/7. Our team of Hyundai certified technicians will give you a detailed diagnostic of any issues and quickly repair them to get you back on the road.

* For informational purposes only. For an official diagnosis and details on your vehicle, please schedule an appointment with our dealership.