Toxic Smell inside 04 VW Passat

banoffe2

Hi All
Driving my 04 Passat yesterday all of a sudden I got this unreal stinking foul smell, thought it was something from a nearby building but it was from inside the car, I had the A/C turned on and the smell is something I couldn't describe, I thought the car was going to go on fire and couldn't wait to park up and get out fast, no trace of heat from the engine, and clutch seemed ok, car driving perfect but no way could you stick the smell, Got roadside assistance, they couldn't find anything wrong with the car apart from the smell,they towed it to my mechanic, collected it today, mechanic said he could find nothing wrong with it, took it for a fast drive and it sorted itself out, said it was to do with A/C. I am not convinced that the problem is solved, I had to put all my clothes in the wash, even the watch was stinking. Anyone with similar experience or opinion?
Thanks for your time

bilbot79

Did you get a bird strike in the fan system?

banoffe2

Thanks for your reply bilbot79
I don't fully understand your post? do you mean was there a dead carcass lying around somewhere? This crossed my mind but the smell wasn't something that was festering for a while it was all of a sudden, I rarely used the air conditioning, no guarantee this wont happen again, still not over the smell!

biko

Did it smell like rotten eggs?

banoffe2

Thanks biko, It had very strong fumes like there was some kind of chemical in it hard to describe it but the strong stink off it was very overwhelming, no way could you stay in it

biko

Something Smells Like: Rotten Eggs or Sulphur
If you smell this (and when you do, you wont easily forget it because it’s awful!), it generally signals a problem with the catalytic converter, but it can also be a problem with fuel injection. You can also smell this odor when the heater core (part of your car’s heater that takes heat from the engine) gives out.

Something Smells Like: Syrup or Burnt Sugar
This smell often signifies a coolant leak, the second most important fluid in your engine, after oil. Since coolant contains ethylene glycol, which may smell sweet but is highly toxic, a faulty radiator leak, a leaky radiator hose, or even a bad manifold with a worn gasket can produce this kind of smell. Another possible source is the heater core, which you’ll want to repair as soon as possible - especially in the winter months. If the heater core goes bad, not only will your car be without heat, but your defroster will fail to produce any warm air to clear your windshield.

Something Smells Like: Hot or Burning Oil
This usually signals oil that has leaked onto hot portions of the engine. If you have recently put oil in your car and spilled a little bit, this smell is okay. The smell will go away in a few minutes after the oil burns off, however if the smell suddenly occurs or persists, it could mean a leaky seal or something else. The best thing to do is look to see if oil has pooled up underneath your vehicle or is dripping steadily, and if so, it’s time to visit a mechanic.

Something Smells Like: Strong Exhaust Fumes
This usually means there’s a problem with the exhaust system, therefore it should be checked out by a mechanic as soon as possible. Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and are dangerous. Breathing exhaust fumes can make you sick, causing nausea, headaches, a light headed feeling as if you might pass out. Strong exhaust fumes in an enclosed area can even result in death. If you are smelling exhaust fumes, roll down or crack your window to let in fresh air and make sure all your air vents are closed. Exhaust leaks require your immediate attention, so take your vehicle to your dealer or mechanic as soon as possible.

Something Smells Like: Burning or Burnt Rubber
Open the hood and check to make sure all hoses and belts are secure. Sometimes this smell indicates a hose resting on a hot engine or signals a belt, has become loose or is about to break.

Henry Ford III

Would the cabin filter be blocked? The a/c vents can also get pretty nasty after a few years.

JBokeh

I had a problem with the AC system in a car having gone mouldy, it had a smell like the one in an old folks home. First thing I did was blame the girlfriend :pac: After that I changed the cabin filter, and got the AC until flushed through and disinfected and then the smell went away thank christ.

Now I mostly keep the AC on with the climate control in the car so it doesn't get a chance to build up mould on the wet surface

jca

Is the AC working now i.e. is it cooling the air? Maybe the evaporator has sprung a leak and that was what you were smelling. Check the coolant level too in case it's the heater matrix that's leaking. Is it a petrol or diesel car?

jca

JBokeh wrote: »

I had a problem with the AC system in a car having gone mouldy, it had a smell like the one in an old folks home. First thing I did was blame the girlfriend :pac: After that I changed the cabin filter, and got the AC until flushed through and disinfected and then the smell went away thank christ.

Now I mostly keep the AC on with the climate control in the car so it doesn't get a chance to build up mould on the wet surface

I keep mine on continuously to avoid this problem too.