smelly astra?

knipper

Hope this is in correct forum.
Over the last week my car has quickly started to get a putrid smell.
At first I thought it was just my football boots but the smell got stronger.
I don't think its a dead animal but its very similar its very bad when you get in the car first but after you start driving the smell disappears only to come back when you stop.
I've crawled all over the car trying to find where it comes from found nothing in the engine or under the car from what I could see, I've pulled out all the carpets and junk from the car.
There are no damp patches but think maybe the smell could be from underneath the front passenger seat but the smell is so strong in the car I'm not sure.
I have no children so there wasn't anything spilled in the car.
Does anyone have any idea what it could be?
Was thinking maybe something under the car could be leaking?
Any help would be greatly appreciated as under pressure to get this sorted before new baba comes next week.
Cheers
Knipper

Atomic Pineapple

Moved to motors as you'll get more answers here.

no1beemerfan

Have you tried looking in the engine compartment or under the car? If it goes when you drive I'd think its something external and the movement of the air through the engine bay/around the externals of the car is getting rid of the smell and it comes back when you stop.

My mother had a similar problem with her Xsara a few years ago and we discovered a cat had climbed into the engine bay and got stuck and died.
Wasn't nice to find!


Edit....just copped you've looked in the engine etc. But mabey its something small like a rat/mouse so may be hard to spot but it can't be inside the car if it goes as you drive.

EPM

My dad had a similar problem a few years back. Turned out a cat was using the warm engine bay as a bed. While in there the cat had urinated on the engine and the smell was being brought in through the vents...Nissan even covered it under warranty:D

knipper

I've looked under the car but could have missed something easily as can't see much down there.
I was thinking if its a mouse or something I might not find it at all.
If so hopefully it will fade over time.
Will have another look today might go to a garage and ask them to raise the car so I can look underneath but would feel a right plonker asking them to do it as there is nothing mechanically wrong with it.
Cheers for the reply

CarMuppet

Is this a mid 90's to late 90's Astra by any chance? Is the smell a 'sulphur' (rotten egg) smell?

statto25

You might have a leak somewhere.
I know when I had a leak in my car the smell inside the car was shocking.

It would go away as the car got warmer or as my nose got used to it.

Check the footwells and boot for any dampness or puddles

KingIsabella

As far as i know(from watching verminators on Bravo), the smeel from a rotting rodent should stop after 5-7 days. But if it is in the engine or anything that heats up whole the car is on i reckon it could last longer due to the heat. Or maybe even be sped along?

high horse

Do you have air conditioning or climate control? Air con systems can build up with bacteria which needs to be dis-infected (once a year I think) and if its not done it can really smell

knipper

The car is a 2002 astra.
Could be a mouse or cats cos one neighbour caught a load of mice outside his back garden and another neighbour has about four cats.
Who to blame????
Either way the smell is terrible think it might be calming down a little but not sure.
Doesn't have air con and the smell came quite suddenly.

biko

Could be a rotten pollen filter.

knipper

Just an update on above took car to mechanic he took the seats out and found a damp patch under the carpet under the front passenger seat so said there is a leak somewhere. Haven't found it yet but smell is gone since cold weather is here as water is not evaporating. At least I know I'm not going mad and there is a leak will be sending car back to mechanic when I can spare it and he said he would sort it out. Messy job though taking seats out etc..
Thanks for all replies

statto25

I did the same last week. Stripped out the seats and half the dash and the carpet underlay and found nothing. Like yourself I cant spare the car either to get a right good luck at it. If the mechanic does indeed find the source I would replace the underlay, dry the carpet as best you can and then get the sh!te valeted out of it. A good shampoo should do the job.

TwoShedsJackson

Over the last week my car has quickly started to get a putrid smell.
At first I thought it was just my football boots but the smell got stronger.

Can't help on the problem, but this got me the best laugh of today, thanks