Saturday, May 14, 2011

DIY Saturday: Weird Automotive Smells and What They Mean

Diagnosis is usually the first step to solving any problem in your vehicle. And if you want to save on auto repair costs by doing a repair the DIY way, then you must learn techniques to doing diagnosis. As I have already mentioned in this blog, diagnosing a car problem means using all your senses to find the culprit behind that problem. And when it comes to your senses, one of the most important senses that you have to use would be your nose, your sense of smell.

Weird odors are among the most common culprits behind a problem, and there can be a variety of odors depending on the issue. Below, we look at the three common odors that you need to pay attention to:

1. Gasoline smell
Needless to say, this is a dangerous smell. And, the most common reason behind this is a leak of your car fuel. It could be a leak on the fuel lines, the fuel pump, or even on the fuel cap. This problem should be attended to at once. Otherwise, a fire could always result, and the worst this could lead to is an explosion, something you sure don’t want in your car.

2. Rotten egg smell
This is a common smell that indicates a problem with the catalytic converter or the exhaust assembly. This means that you’re having an emissions trouble, and your car’s exhaust components need replacing or fixing. Attend to this at once before the problem gets more serious.

3. Burning smell
This could mean a problem in your car’s electrical system—a burnt out fuse or switch, or a shorted component. Like all the problems mentioned above, this also demands attention and must not be neglected.

If you notice any of the smells discussed, be sure that you do the necessary diagnosis to find the problem, address it, and prevent further troubles.

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