CAR SMELLS AND WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE

   

Although unexpected breakdowns happen, your car will often give you clues that something is going wrong before failing. Odors are one of these clues. Never ignore strange smells in your car, since they're likely trying to tell you something.

Burned Rubber

There's nothing cryptic about this one. If you smell burned rubber in your car, burning rubber is likely the problem. Have your mechanic check all of your rubber belts beneath the hood for signs of wear or overheating. Oil leaks can also cause a potent burning smell.

Burned Carpet

Overheating brake pads tend to smell like burning carpet. The odor may seem especially potent if you've just had to hit the brakes hard or spent a lot of time riding them in bumper to bumper traffic. If you suspect brake problems, have your car checked as soon as possible.

Gym Clothes

If your car smells like you're driving the soccer team around, even when you're alone, you may have mildew growing in your air conditioner evaporator. Try turning off the air conditioner while running the fan on high to dry things out. If this fails, it's time for a trip to the mechanic.

Syrup

If your car smells like pancakes and syrup, you may have a coolant leak. Coolant smells sweet and produces an odor, much like maple syrup. If the smell is strongest inside the cabin of your car, it may be indicating a bad heater core.

Rotten Eggs

During combustion, your car produces exhaust that contains hydrogen sulfide. Your car's catalytic converter should convert this gas into sulfur dioxide before sending it out through your tailpipe. If it doesn't, you'll notice a strong sulfur smell in the car.

If you notice these or other unusual odors in your car, please contact our Chevrolet dealership for proper diagnosis or servicing. If you act quickly, our technicians should be able to handle the problem before it becomes a big one.