Portable CO monitor for car

lawred2

I want a portable and reliable CO monitor for the cabin of the car. Anyone know if such a thing can be obtained?

Cordell

You mean the same kind you would use at home to monitor the gas/oil boiler and the fireplace? Any DIY store will sell them.

lawred2

Cordell wrote: »

You mean the same kind you would use at home to monitor the gas/oil boiler and the fireplace? Any DIY store will sell them.

all the ones in our gaff are wired with battery backups? Could I take one of those down and use it?

are battery powered ones available? Will a bog standard CO monitor the type I'd stick on the ceiling work?

Surprises me that car manufacturers don't put these in cabins.

Reason I'm doing this is that I'm sensing a not so pleasant smell in the cabin of the car - hard to nail down but the sort of smell you'd get when you'd pop into your local garage.. Just want to be sure that it's at least not mixed with some levels of CO

Cordell

are battery powered ones available? Will a bog standard CO monitor the type I'd stick on the ceiling work?

Yes, most of them are battery powered. And it will work, as long it is a CO monitor and not a smoke detector, see below
They don't put them in the car because they don't expect exhaust fumes to make it into the cabin, a reasonably maintained car should never experience this.

Could I take one of those down and use it?

Probably not, as they are very likely smoke detectors, and not CO monitors.

elperello

Get your car checked as well.

Cordell

Yeah, that too. A leaking exhaust should be easy to spot.

lawred2

Cordell wrote: »

Yes, most of them are battery powered. And it will work, as long it is a CO monitor and not a smoke detector, see below
They don't put them in the car because they don't expect exhaust fumes to make it into the cabin, a reasonably maintained car should never experience this.


Probably not, as they are very likely smoke detectors, and not CO monitors.

We've both... each room has between 2/3 detectors between CO/Smoke/Heat

lawred2

elperello wrote: »

Get your car checked as well.

I did... On two separate occasions. Both occasions was told that there is nothing wrong with the exhaust. I've done a once over myself as well - it's not blowing as far as I can tell. The manifolds look good and so does the pipe work.

The last time the garage just ended up changing the pollen filter. I could have done that myself but as they'd already deconstructed the dash in their efforts I let them finish.

My wife uses the car and says she smells nothing. But then CO is odorless.

Cordell

Well, as long as you know what you're doing, being wired to the alarm and all, you can probably take one off and put it in your car, but I would rather buy a new one.
Also, they have a limited lifespan anyway, you should have a look to see if any needs to be changed.

landmarkjohn

Bought battery CO alarm in LIDL for €20 couple weeks ago. Digital readout, LED's and siren.

CO alarms seem to have a 7 year or so lifespan i.e. our previous Kidde model went into error mode after the expiry date stamp.

biko

Is the smell there all the time or only when you first start car up?
At standstill or also when driving?

jca

Sounds more like a diesel leak to me unless it's a Honda accord then it's a cracked manifold.

biko

Rip up the backseat and have a smell at the fuel pump (if there is one in your car)

lawred2

If it's a diesel leak would it not manifest itself outside the car at some point? On the drive etc? It's very dry.

lawred2

biko wrote: »

Is the smell there all the time or only when you first start car up?
At standstill or also when driving?

Pretty much all the time.

lawred2

biko wrote: »

Rip up the backseat and have a smell at the fuel pump (if there is one in your car)

are they always under the back seat?

biko

Depends on what car you have.

lawred2

2012 Qashqai + 2 1.5 Dsl

I've googled it but no obvious answer as to location of fuel pump

e: found this

https://imgur.com/a/VtWx0

I picked one up for the house on alixpress for about 6 euro with free delivery so you will get one there for cheap. The vast majority are battery powered too.

Del2005

Elisha Rich Lizard wrote: »

I picked one up for the house on alixpress for about 6 euro with free delivery so you will get one there for cheap. The vast majority are battery powered too.

While Chinese sites are great for getting bargains they are also full of fakes and uncertified products. For a critical safety device I'd be spending money to buy a genuine one from a recognised company.

pea be

What are the seals like on the boot/back door. Heard of a problem years ago where a faulty boot seal would allow exhaust fumes to be "sucked" in.

Also heard of faulty dpf burning deposits in the exhaust also have caused fumes / bad smell.

ianobrien

OP, what does the smell smell like? Rotten eggs? Diesel? Bad socks? The reason I'm asking is that CO is a colourless odourless gas (it cal't be seen and it doesn't smell) so you are not smelling CO. However, that's not to say that there's no CO there. If we knew what it smelt like we may be able to help you pinpoint what it is.....

I'd also get the interior properly cleaned (carpets & seats washed, etc) as something biological in origin may have spilled and it's now slowly decomposing (split milk, ice-cream, etc). A wet & dry hoover is needed for this if you want to do it at home.

Also, check the bottom of the spare wheel well for water. If you've a leaking boot seal, water will get in and pool at the lowest point (usually the spare wheel well). Is there a lot of condensation in the car at all? I had that before and the water was fair rank.

Gumbo

lawred2 wrote: »

all the ones in our gaff are wired with battery backups? Could I take one of those down and use it?

are battery powered ones available? Will a bog standard CO monitor the type I'd stick on the ceiling work?

Surprises me that car manufacturers don't put these in cabins.

Reason I'm doing this is that I'm sensing a not so pleasant smell in the cabin of the car - hard to nail down but the sort of smell you'd get when you'd pop into your local garage.. Just want to be sure that it's at least not mixed with some levels of CO

Most CO detectors in houses are battery operated.
There is no requirement to hard wire them at present due to the fact that the reactive element dies out after approx 7 years so they have to be replaced regularly (relatively speaking).

Just pick up a smallest neatest one you can see and bring it with you. In fact one of my detectors came with a clip for wearing/attaching to your clothing.

It’s a Firehawk unit.

Very small and discreet.