ROTTEN SMELL? NOT ENGINE?

[taejinah]

So, after a loooong time of thinking it was just my imagination, I finally got other people to believe me.

Every once in a while ( I can't seem to diagnose why exactly it happens, it's seemingly random) when I stop my car, the whole cabin fills up with this horrible rotten smell. I can't describe it, but I know it doesn't smell like any type of burning or clutch or what not. It's definitely a sewage smell.

Being in Tucson, for a long time I figured it was outside but I've come to realize I smell it when the outside doesn't smell at all!

Anyone having a similar problem? It's an 06 Si btw.

I know it's not the engine either, it seems to rise out of from the ground or something.. -_- I always rush to open the hood and take a whiff, but smell nothing.

I'm boggled... sometimes I've heard that dead animals stuck in engines make bad smells... but usually that's a pretty constant smell... this only happens like once every week or so.

[Yodums]

Could it be something from your exhaust? My friend had that problem where something smelt like rotten eggs and it was his exhaust.

How often do you smell it?

[fa1]

It's probably rotten gas. Try a different gas station next time.

[ILL FG2]

I dropped a log in your backseat while you weren't looking

[ShaneWdrd]

Have you drilled a hole in your fire wall for a power wire? If you have and don't seal it up proberly water will get under your carpet and in to the foam and never evaproate.

[Goose]

As soon as the word "rotten" is used, my first thought goes the cat converter. Concentrate on this area while sniffing - at least to eliminate it from the diagnosis. Although highly unlikely, catalytic converters can get plugged up and become smelly.

[Streethonda06]

i have the same problem some time.... do you have a CAI??

[Sli(ks]

I had the same thing, but I thought it had something to do with the A/C. Like, I didn't really use it in a while and when I did the cabin filled with a really off smell. I figured there was someplace in the A/C where water gets "stuck" and just sits there (like a "U" Shaped pipe or whatever) when it's not in use, so when you do use it the stench of that stale water gets into your cabin. Think I read somewhere that older mustangs have this problem, I dunno maybe we do as well lol.

could be completely wrong, this is just a guess

[dmx]

maybe its a plastic bag stuck on ur exhaust thats still melting o_O

[PoLiShPrInCe]

Originally Posted by Sli(k

I had the same thing, but I thought it had something to do with the A/C. Like, I didn't really use it in a while and when I did the cabin filled with a really off smell. I figured there was someplace in the A/C where water gets "stuck" and just sits there (like a "U" Shaped pipe or whatever) when it's not in use, so when you do use it the stench of that stale water gets into your cabin. Think I read somewhere that older mustangs have this problem, I dunno maybe we do as well lol.

could be completely wrong, this is just a guess

this is exactly what i was thinking... i have the same thing... i read into it somewhere too... when u get that stale air too you get some mold in there... there is stuff that you can spray in the vents that will kill the mould...

[yellingguy]

check your elec. connections, like battery, amp, after market audio/fogs/aux lights.

i had an amp and sub stolen out of my car (by a shop none the less) a few years back on my old car. i was driving around and it smelled like rotten eggs everytime i stopped.

it was the battery acid mixing with something else, i foroget the whole issue, but basically, the electric was messed up somewhere and it was causing my bat to run low and smell like poo.

CHECK YOUR ELECTRIC!

[fa1]

Check your underwear also, vtec can be an exhilarating experience:)

[06simike]

Its the cat. Sulfur addatives in fuel aren't burned off completely if you are just on a short drive and the cat doesn't have time to fully heat up. I notice it on mine if i get in and blaze off right away and then come to a stop. The cat hasn't had time to heat up and you can smell the sulfur smell.

[Bman]

My old 93 Saturn SL does that too... it's the gas man. Just change gas station brand.

[taejinah]

Originally Posted by 06simike

Its the cat. Sulfur addatives in fuel aren't burned off completely if you are just on a short drive and the cat doesn't have time to fully heat up. I notice it on mine if i get in and blaze off right away and then come to a stop. The cat hasn't had time to heat up and you can smell the sulfur smell.

Hm... this is probably it. Next time I smell it, I'm going to rush out and see if I can get a whiff of the cat (good thing it's not a dead cat in the engine.. hopefully). I figured it wasn't the a/c because the smell was definitely not coming from the vents.. more from under the car somewhere near the middle console area.

[halabut]

Lay off the burritos for a week.

[dannn]

the cat will give off a rotten egg (sulfur) smell when the engine is on a high load. you can notice this effect if youre on a hill on the highway with other cars. roll down your windows and you can smell all the cats working overtime to get over the hill.

[Ryd1ZZ]

I have noticed a strange smell in my LX coupe a few times as well, I do not know what it is and it is not an everyday occurance. I examine the engine and vents but its not there, then it just goes away...after reading the replies maybe it is the gas... wierd

[SiViC81]

are you sure it's the gas from the pump?

[Torredo]

Originally Posted by fa1

Check your underwear also, vtec can be an exhilarating experience:)

HAHAHA!!

took the words right outta mah mouth!!