a funny smell, like something's heating up but not burning, gets into the cabin when i drive fast going up hill....like 70mph+. any idea what this is? if anyone's familiar with the steep part of the 101 freeway near camarillo, CA, that's one place where it happens.

 

If it's a 2002 or a new 2003, it could be the break in smell.

 

nah, it's a 2k with 47k on it. but the smell's happened b4 then.

 

Could be a bad case of B.O.

Seriously.. do you usually have the A/c on when this is happening?

 

If it's manual, it could be cluch.

 

chipmunk sweat?

 

Drive up a hill requires more gas.
More gas means the Cat has to work harder.
When the car works harder to convert mover catalysts, it emmits an odor. You may even be smelling the cars cat thats in front of you.

 

or one that died in front of u.

 

When was the last time you changed your air filter? If it's been a while this can cause some odor on hard acceleration.

 

Mine does this too. It's like a sulphur smell, burnt eggs. I assumed it was normal cat conv smell. Sometimes a rich fuel mixture will cause it. Next time you're at a repair shop check with them.

 

hey...thanks for all the help. the a/c isn't on, the vent is closed, the air filter is relatively clean, and there's no car in front of me when the smell happens. and it does smell like sulfer! but shouldn't the air flow blow the smell away anyway?

 

possible CLUTCH!

 

I find freakin acorns under my hood all the freakin time from those basterds.

 

Its definatley 100% your cats... The rotten egg or sulpher smell diagnoses it right there... Either your cats are shot (clogged) or your running rich!

Have you noticed a decrease in milage???

 

nah, gas mileage is as good as ever. talked to a few friends and they also say it's the cat and normal. if the cat's clogged, wouldn't the oxygen sensors diagnose something?

 

Hi guys,



I know what this guy is talking about. It is not a sulphur smell, or like rotten eggs. I have had this happen to me once before. Driving along and get on it alittle and there it was, smelled more like a warm brake smell, not so much burning, just something was getting alittle hot. Checked the ebrake, totally off and check all the gauges (temp was fine) I also have 47K miles on it. My advise to you: fuggit, just drive it.

 

Keep your eggs in the fridge and they won't rot.