Bad smell from the A/C vents! (FIXED)

[LatinDragonXJC]

Ok, everytime I open the A/C vents (heat/cold) I get a real bad smell. It smells like a mix of engine/gas/oil. I know our cars does not have a cabin filter, so I can't change that out. But I can't pinpoint exactly why it just started doing this.

Has anyone been through this before?

or

any possible remedy?

[Mole]

ozium...

[PhreakdOut]

Are you driving through Jersey near NYC?

Seriously, try to find the smell outside the car. You may need to use a garage (with the door open of course!) When do you smell it? At idle, at cruise, after you accellerate, when you stop after driving a while...

[LatinDragonXJC]

Are you driving through Jersey near NYC?

Seriously, try to find the smell outside the car. You may need to use a garage (with the door open of course!) When do you smell it? At idle, at cruise, after you accellerate, when you stop after driving a while...

lol I was waiting for that. I know what NJ smells like, I've lived here my whole life. And it doesnt smell like an engine. (smells more like cooked seagull crap). This smell comes through the vents as soon as the car warms up and I open the vents to get heat. And this is while driving anywhere in the tri-state.....My girl rather freeze to death then for me to turn on the heat and allow that smell to come in.


And the Ozium won't help unless it's safe to spray directly into my engine bay. I'ma just try a good cleaning of my engine, might be spilled fluids somewhere burning up.

[Mole]

well...if you REALLY think its the engine farting, check your cat convertor and detail your engine with simple green.

my guess is that it's mold in your vent, which ozium will take care of.

you check under the hood lately? might have something dead inside.

[LatinDragonXJC]

well...if you REALLY think its the engine farting, check your cat convertor and detail your engine with simple green.

my guess is that it's mold in your vent, which ozium will take care of.

you check under the hood lately? might have something dead inside.

Definitely doesn't smell dead, or moldy (I used to live in a basement that always floods, I definitely would recognize that smell)......It is a petrol smell, like somewhere around the firewall is open.

I started getting this smell right after I got all my belts, plugs/wires, done. I'ma buy the Ozium today and spray the crap out my vents to see it works. But the stench only shows up I choose vent from outside, when I choose to circulate (heat/cold) from inside, there is no smell whatsoever.

Another Solara drive with the same issue.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_you_sm ... om_outside

After some more research I found this:
http://www.mombu.com/asian_cars/asianca ... 07893.html

It may be my PCV valve that's clogged, therefor it may be oil fumes that I'm smelling.

Thought I would update for future reference and searches.

[Jackass-Jeff]

A sulfuric/petrol smell from the Cat/Exhaust piping TSB exists EG014-04 for 02-04 2AZ-FE 2.4L engines.

It's covered under the emissions warranty (96 months or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs first).

Worth a shot to take a look at that... but ya, I can't think up anything else besides a leak somewhere.

[LatinDragonXJC]

A sulfuric/petrol smell from the Cat/Exhaust piping TSB exists EG014-04 for 02-04 2AZ-FE 2.4L engines.

It's covered under the emissions warranty (96 months or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs first).

Worth a shot to take a look at that... but ya, I can't think up anything else besides a leak somewhere.

crap, I'm at 89,00+ miles. But thanks for the heads up.

[Jackass-Jeff]

A sulfuric/petrol smell from the Cat/Exhaust piping TSB exists EG014-04 for 02-04 2AZ-FE 2.4L engines.

It's covered under the emissions warranty (96 months or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs first).

Worth a shot to take a look at that... but ya, I can't think up anything else besides a leak somewhere.

crap, I'm at 89,00+ miles. But thanks for the heads up.

Post your exact year and engine so I can do a TSB check =P It may not be covered under warranty, but it may at least lead you in the right direction.

[LatinDragonXJC]

A sulfuric/petrol smell from the Cat/Exhaust piping TSB exists EG014-04 for 02-04 2AZ-FE 2.4L engines.

It's covered under the emissions warranty (96 months or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs first).

Worth a shot to take a look at that... but ya, I can't think up anything else besides a leak somewhere.

crap, I'm at 89,00+ miles. But thanks for the heads up.

Post your exact year and engine so I can do a TSB check =P It may not be covered under warranty, but it may at least lead you in the right direction.

year: 2000
Engine: 1MZFE

by the way, what is a TSB? Thanks

[rcpeng]

im having the exact same issue, 2000 v6. the smell is most noticeable at slow or idle speeds. it goes away when the vent is set to recirculate inside air. it smells like burnt oil but slightly acrid too. its bearable but love to fix the problem.

[Snake2715]

You guys this is most likely the rear or front Valve Cover Gasket on the 1mZE. Do some research for valve cover gasket.

I think they are like $15 dollar parts. You will need a front and rear. Will prrobably want to replace the intake plenum gasket as well.

[LatinDragonXJC]

Fixed Update

I went ahead and checked the PCV valve. It was out of place (popped out). Must of been taken out by the retards who did my plugs and wires. Popped it back in, turned on the car and open the A/C vents.....back to normal. Doesn't smell like my engine bay inside my car anymore.

So those who are having a similar problems, try checking your PCV valve or replacing it. It did the trick for me. Good luck.

[dolansolara]

I have the same problem but can't find the PCV for the life of me. I've even consulted a Chilton's manual. Can anyone direct me or send a photo of where to find it? I've been looking on the valve cover. 2001 Solara SLE V6 auto convertable. Thanks!

[LatinDragonXJC]

I have the same problem but can't find the PCV for the life of me. I've even consulted a Chilton's manual. Can anyone direct me or send a photo of where to find it? I've been looking on the valve cover. 2001 Solara SLE V6 auto convertable. Thanks!

It's on the passenger side, top left under tip corner of your engine valve cover.

Tip: Follow the spark plug wires towards the firewall.

Check Dawgz thread for a picture of its location. (middle of the page)

http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php? ... hlight=pcv