Odorless Gas In Cabin

January 17, 2004

hi

i have a 2000 model toyota spacia auto 2.0L 8 seat people mover available in australia

there is an odorless gas entering the vehicle cabin and the effect causes: tiredness, heavy eyes, lack of concentration and slight headache.

i have measured for carbon monoxide CO and found nothing out of the ordinary

odorless gas only present when vehicle engine is running and is worse when vehicle is moving

i have another vehicle, toyota corolla, and i have no problems with it.

i have driven 2 other toyota spacia vehicles and i have experienced the same problem.

i have driven another similar commercial vehicle, called a toyota townace, that has the same body as the spacia but different engine (7K series 1.8L petrol). spacia uses the 3sfe engine ( i think older CAMRY engine)

to date i have not been able to pinpoint what this odorless gas is.

i know it is NOT carbon monoxide, air conditioner gas or engine exhaust.

anybody out there have a simlar problem?

what did you do to fix?

thanks

z e d

January 17, 2004

hi
i have a 2000 model toyota spacia auto 2.0L 8 seat people mover available in australia
there is an odorless gas entering the vehicle cabin and the effect causes: tiredness, heavy eyes, lack of concentration and slight headache.
i have measured for carbon monoxide CO and found nothing out of the ordinary
odorless gas only present when vehicle engine is running and is worse when vehicle is moving
i have another vehicle, toyota corolla, and i have no problems with it.
i have driven 2 other toyota spacia vehicles and i have experienced the same problem.
i have driven another similar commercial vehicle, called a toyota townace, that has the same body as the spacia but different engine (7K series 1.8L petrol). spacia uses the 3sfe engine ( i think older CAMRY engine)
to date i have not been able to pinpoint what this odorless gas is.
anybody out there have a simlar problem?
what did you do to fix?
thanks
z e d

I'd say IT IS carbon Monoxide according to your symptoms. Try another detecteor or get it checked properly mate. I certainly wouldn't be driving it.

'i know it is NOT carbon monoxide, air conditioner gas or engine exhaust.'- not all Home type detectors are up to the job.

Its the only gas involved that i can think of other than O2!

Czan I be sarky and ask, If it's odourless how do you know it's there? If it's by the symptoms perhaps your just ill/tired. I'm not trying to be funny! Like I said, the symptons are classic Carbon Monoxide! Hope you get it sorted. :yes:

January 17, 2004

Are you sure it is some type of gas?

It is common in some cars in the UK of 'lesser' quality like in earlier Vauxhalls etc to get most of the symptons you mention from something called High Frequency Vibrations. Because they are high frequency you can't tell they are there, but they cause tiredness and headaches etc... You don't tend to find you get them on well engineered cars like most Japanese stuff though.

Another thing that can cause these problems is bacteria living in your air-conditioning unit. Because the unit is moist and hot Bactertia tend to thrive in the unit, a special gas can be injected into the unit (not refrigerant gas) which kills them. You usually tend to find though that if bacteria has been there for a while you get an adour as it turns into a mouldy type substance.