QuestionQUESTION: I've been noticing this really strange smell coming through my vents. It smells alot like natural gas for some reason.
I only really notice it when the vent is on and/or I'm running my A/C. This leads me to believe it may be coming from the engine, but when I pop the hook I can bearly make out the smell, if I can at all.
Any help would be great. Thanks
ANSWER: Angel: That would be your catalytic converter, I would think as it makes that kind of smell when getting to hot. Sometimes on a hot day, if you got your car windows open and in a long line of cars; you will smell that because the cars have been idling along time and so the catalytic converters are getting hot. In your case you need to take the car to a shop and gets your's checked out. Your car is not that old but yet, there is a problem there. Could be something is leaking where it shouldn't be. Could be there is a hole in your exhaust so that the catalytic converter is not working like is should. But either way you need to get this fixed. As you can get into a lot of trouble with the law if you take the catalytic converter off your car, or it is not working right. Don't let some shop tell you, that you really don't need one either. Because I think it is something like a $10,000.00 fine if found without one. I had a lady write the other day, and the shop where she took her car told her; she really did not need one of those. So just letting you know where are places out there like that. Still your car would run better and get better fuel mileage once you get this problem fixed. Hope this helps and God bless: Linda
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QUESTION: Thanks for the speady/detailed advice! Your comments sound like they make ALOT more sense than what the Mitsubishi stealership (Wildcat Mitsubishi Tucson, AZ) told me when I took it in today (since it's still under warranty)
They told me it was more than likely the A/C cabin filter. They wanted to charge me $105 to get it fixed since it was a maintainance problem and not a manufacturer problem! I asked them if what would happen if the problem continued after changing the filter and they had no clear answer for me. The car will only be 3 years old in Jan!!
Do you think a dirty/old cabin filter would cause the smell from outside to come in? After less than 3 yrs already? Thanks for the advice!!!
Angel
AnswerAngel: How about you tell the dealership that you want the catalytic converter checked first before you are going to pay out $105.00 when they are not really sure that is the problem anyway. The smell has to start someplace to be sucked up into your vent or ac. Sure maybe that filter needs changing and to be honest here. I am not so sure. But I do work mostly on older cars and so I could be wrong. I really don't think so. Maybe you need to put your foot down and get them to check out the catalytic converter which would be covered under your warranty. Or you could hunt up a shop to get a second idea from someone else. Other than me, because again I do work mostly on older cars and oh dear I am after all just a woman.... lol. I don't think the filter is causing the smell. It might be letting the smell come in but still you need to find out what is causing that smell and get it fixed. Wish I could help you more and God bless: Linda
