Bad smell in passenger compartment.

[Space Boy Matt]

Hi,

I own a 92' M/T 240sx and I've just noticed a bad smell in the passenger compartment.

The smell can best be described as a sharp burning tire smell. You notice it when you get into the car but then soon after, you barely notice it.

It's faint and not dangerous to breathe, it just like being in a smoker's car.

I've taken a whiff of my exhaust while the car was running and it smelled different than the cabin smell I've noticed.

It's not coming from the engine compartment since I've worked on my engine while it's running and didn't smell anything wrong.

If anyone out there can give me some hints as to what and where to look to solve my problem that would be great!

Thanks.

[themadscientist]

could be the sound deadening on the firewall and or floorboard cooking. look for hotspots. It might build up when you turn off the car and close the windows, when you start driving the incoming fresh air flushes out the fumes. Sound plausable?

[KoukiS14]

Could it be belts? dunno.

My car oftentimes has a bad smell in it too, but that's always my fault.

[WorkinDriver]

I had the same prob, when I got my car. The exhaust was to close to the floor board. It was burnig the rubber sound damp. Fix it soon.... My carpet caught fire.. Good luck... Carry some water.

[Importroller]

stop eating mexican food right before you get out of your car.

[Space Boy Matt]

could be the sound deadening on the firewall and or floorboard cooking. look for hotspots. It might build up when you turn off the car and close the windows, when you start driving the incoming fresh air flushes out the fumes. Sound plausable?

Thanks for your reply.

Actually when I got on the freeway one day with my windows closed I couldn't smell any "fresh discharges" in the cabin.

It's only when I opened the window did I get a strong "fresh discharge".

So I'm thinking it's a bad cat-converter and it's producing the smell and airflow wraps it around up to the windows.

I'm going to have it lifted soon and check it while it's running at a high RPM to confirm it before I replace the cat.

Thanks.

[Space Boy Matt]

Could it be belts? dunno.

My car oftentimes has a bad smell in it too, but that's always my fault.

And nope, it's not the belts.

Thanks for the reply though!

[Space Boy Matt]

I had the same prob, when I got my car. The exhaust was to close to the floor board. It was burnig the rubber sound damp. Fix it soon.... My carpet caught fire.. Good luck... Carry some water.

Thanks for the reply.

Hmm... sounds nasty!

I think my problem is actually from a bad cat-converter. I'm going to focus on that right now but I will keep an eye out for a carpet flame out! :angryfire

I'm going to rip out my carpet soon anyway since it needs to be replaced anyway. (It's so dirty!) I'll check it all out then.

Thanks!