noahprtlnd

For the past several months there has been a smell in my car that is similar to propane - it seems to be worse after it's been sitting for awhile (overnight), and the air from the A/C smells normal.

The smell started after a fiasco several months ago where my car kept stalling. I would get towed to the dealer, they'd say they found nothing wrong, send me home, and the car would stall on my way home from the dealer. This happened 4 times before they replaced the MAF after which there were no problems. This smell seemed to start then though, and seems to be getting worse all the time. Incidentally, my car has been idling roughly again as it was doing before it started stalling back then.

I told the dealer about the smell last time I got an oil change, and the idiot service guy said he didn't smell anything. They're full of sh*t as usual, everyone that gets in my car says it stinks. I have cleaned the whole car out in case there was something in it making it smell like this.

I read something about a bad cat converter producing a gaseous smell? When the car was first having problems the dealer said they checked the cat and it was ok, but they're incompetent.

What do you guys think, any idea what could cause this smell, and maybe be related to the engine problems as well?

Nubo

Could well be the Catalytic converter. Most people report a sulphur or "rotten egg" smell. The odorant added to Propane has a similar smell.

Have you taken it in for the recall yet? Some folks are coming away with new converters.

Other things that can give a sulphury smell are transmission oil, or an overcharging battery.

noahprtlnd

I never received anything about a recall - where can I get a copy of that? Thanks.

Nubo

Lol, you may be the only one

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ins_index.html

(emmissions recall)

But you don't really need to have received a letter. Just call a dealer and say you need to schedule the recall work. Give them the history and symptoms too.

MadRonin

Good luck. I've been having the same problem since June and the dealership can't figure out what's wrong. I have an '04 so it's not that new car cosmoline smell, there's no plastic on the exhaust, and I only ever burned the clutch once.

The smell is definitely worse after the car has been sitting. I've thought about getting the aldehyde cabin filter to see if that gets rid of the smell in the cabin, but it doesn't solve the problem.

Also I had the recall done and they said my cat was fine. So like I said, good luck and report back if they find the cause.

rotarygod

There have been several people who have had dealerships tell them their cat was good only to find that upon replacing it anyways their problems went away. I don't trust anything a dealership says. They just don't know anything.

I do have to comment that if any other auto repair shop (non Mazda) offered to replace a part under warranty but you knew them to be terrible at what they did, would you still allow them to work on your car? Something to think about.

no dice

Transmission fluid smells like propane.. take the boot off and see for yourself

MadRonin

I get what you're saying but Mazda is obligated to replace the faulty cat under warranty. If they're telling me it's fine, but I'm having problems that were cured for other by replacing the cat, how do I go about proving them wrong? I don't want to shell out money for something I shouldn't have to pay for.

MadRonin

Which boot? The shift boot? Forgive my auto-mechanical ignorance.

I did have my mechanic check for leaks (specifically around the transmission) the last time I was there and he saw no signs of anything.

no dice

yeah, the shift boot. unscrew the shift ****, take off the plastic cover and the leather boot and under it should be a thick rubber boot. Sniff around there and see if you smell something familiar. If so, its 4 nuts and the rubber boot will come off too. Check for leaks. When i dropped synthetics in mine it somehow worked up the shiftknob and into that leather boot. Smelled exactly like propane.

MadRonin

Thanks for the info; I'll check it out this weekend. Out of curiosity, what did you do to resolve the problem?

MadRonin

Bump

rotarygod

I still think the main issue was a dumb dealership!