Been about two months, same now as when first noticed. I whiffed it
again today on the way home and by golly, maybe it *could* be the
smell of exhaust. Not a rotten egg odor but I'm thinking it
definitely could just be an exhaust smell. I don't smell it at all
when I pop the hood open, just driving. So perhaps it is somewhere
aft of but close to the engine, where it could make it up to the side
windows but not be in the engine compartment. I'm going to take it to
the dealer and have them take a look, I don't want to get poisoned to
death, if that's what it is.
If it was the exhaust, how far forward would the leak have to be for
it to come in strong thru the windows at speed? I'd think it has to
be a pretty big leak for all the smell I'm getting, but I don't hear
any odd noise like an exhaust hole.

"frenchy" <mf101723 (AT) msn (DOT) com> wrote

-Been about two months, same now as when first noticed. I whiffed it
-again today on the way home and by golly, maybe it *could* be the
-smell of exhaust. Not a rotten egg odor but I'm thinking it
-definitely could just be an exhaust smell. I don't smell it at all
-when I pop the hood open, just driving. So perhaps it is somewhere
-aft of but close to the engine, where it could make it up to the side
-windows but not be in the engine compartment. I'm going to take it to
-the dealer and have them take a look, I don't want to get poisoned to
-death, if that's what it is.
-If it was the exhaust, how far forward would the leak have to be for
-it to come in strong thru the windows at speed? I'd think it has to
-be a pretty big leak for all the smell I'm getting, but I don't hear
-any odd noise like an exhaust hole.

Do you have a camper window? There is usually a positive pressure on the
back window. Other than that I'm not sure. Might be a good idea to let a
muffler shop inspect the exhaust system.

No, solid rear window. Muffler shop is a good idea, since now I'm 90%
sure it is exhaust gas, thanks, will do.
When my a/c system is set to 'fresh air', does it draw the air in from
the vent at the bottom of the windshield, or from somewhere else? I
definitely do not smell anything when using the vents and a/c blower.
Till I get it figured out I have to drive it with the windows up and
the ventilation fan on, or else it's stink-a-rama.

"frenchy" <mf101723 (AT) msn (DOT) com> wrote

As far as I know, all your vent air comes from the base of the windshield.
But you have a rubber strip along the back of the hood, that does a good job
of the keeping engine compartment air from reaching it. All engine air leaks
would be outside that seal. Lift your hood and you can easily inspect it,
and it's length compared to the windshield vent.

Do you have ANY aftermarket equipment installed? Something that might effect
the ventilation of the engine compartment. Maybe an oil cooler or something?

I used to have a car that whistled at highway speeds. You never heard it,
unless you drove under and underpass or something. I never figured out why.