Strange Smell Inside The Car

[zdrav]

Dear All,

I have Avensis 2.2 D4D since November 2007, I bought it brand new and serviced it regularly with the same Toyota dealership where I bought it. I have traveled approx. 22,000 Kms with this car.

Last few months I started feeling strange smell inside the car and can't find the source. I've been three times to the same Toyota service reporting this problem. First time they cleaned and disinfected air con system, second time they disinfected air con system again and replaced the filter. Both times they added perfume to the disinfectant so it masked the original problem for a few days after service. Third time when I brought the car they did nothing, they said that they can not smell anything and that none had such problem before (so there can not be the problem !!! ) . I was pretty unhappy with such attitude and reported the problem to Toyota few days ago (haven't heard from them since).

I was wondering if anyone on this forum had similar problem? Odor is quite specific and I can recognize it as soon as it appears. It doesn't happen when the car is cold but as the temperature of the engine gets to the working level the smell is there, sometimes not so strong but sometimes it is very strong. If I am driving longer distances I keep opening the windows from time to time. Now even when I get in the car in the morning I can feel that smell as I think now seats and whole cabin has soaked a bit of that smell. I am really getting annoyed with that problem. Smell is not eggy smell, I've read that some members had some "catalytic converter smell" but I am not sure. I am pretty sure that this is result of some engine problem but not sure how that can get inside the cabin. Outside of the car I can not feel that smell.

I would appreciate your help.

Thanks.

[marama32]

Hi,

Is it a musty smell?

If it is check under your carpet in the boot, especially in the spare tyre bay. If there is water, that will be your smell.

You will then need to track where the water ingress is coming from.

Hope this helps you.

Marama

[zdrav]

Hi,

Is it a musty smell?

If it is check under your carpet in the boot, especially in the spare tyre bay. If there is water, that will be your smell.

You will then need to track where the water ingress is coming from.

Hope this helps you.

Marama

Hi Marama,

Thanks for your reply. It is not a musty smell but I've checked all of suggested, it is all dry.

The smell is coming from the air con, so somewhere from the engine or heat exchangers...

Regards,

Zdravko

[caveman_si]

Hi Marama,

Thanks for your reply. It is not a musty smell but I've checked all of suggested, it is all dry.

The smell is coming from the air con, so somewhere from the engine or heat exchangers...

Regards,

Zdravko

Have you checked the skuttle where the air comes into the car to check that its not blocked up with leaves dead things etc? An old escort i used to drive used to be terrible for getting leaves in it.