Wierd Smell From Car - Eggs?

[Guest Modman08]

Hi

 

The last few days I have noticed a strange smell in and around the car. The best way I can describe it, is that of eggs or something similar. Its mainly towards the engine bay I believe, but in general the engine is running great, recently back from being overhauled.

 

I can't put my finger on exactly whats making it or where its coming from, however I am having a slight braking problem related to a dodgey pedal at the moment - which I think is binding them on as its not releasing properly. Could this be connected to the smell? Maybe something in the pads?

 

Any help appreciated.

 

Cheers

Leigh

[Pugnut 9 1 Cars]

egg smells are usually sulfur from the battery. you could have a dud/dying cell .

 

Al

[Guest Modman08]

egg smells are usually sulfur from the battery. you could have a dud/dying cell .

 

Al

 

Damn thanks mate, that actually makes perfect sense! Yesterday, I noticed a plume coming from a breather port on the battery. Certainly could be on its way out as its a few years old and according to the previous owner was standing for awhile.

I guess I will start there.

 

Many thanks for the super swift reply...

 

Leigh

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

egg smells are usually sulfur from the battery. you could have a dud/dying cell .

 

Al

 

Or a tactically placed box of eggs!

 

Someone snuck a dead congor eel into the boot of my Fiat Panda once, and I drove all the way from East Loo in Cornwall back to Cambridge with a similarly peculiar smell.

 

Try the obvious first; if it smells of eggs, look for the little blighters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Modman08]

Haha I wouldn't put it past the little buggas round my area. I checked the the wheel arches and exhaust first thinking someone was having a giraffe

 

In a way i would have preferred that....rather than a new battery ££££££

[steve@cornwall 100]

Or a tactically placed box of eggs!

 

Someone snuck a dead congor eel into the boot of my Fiat Panda once, and I drove all the way from East Loo in Cornwall back to Cambridge with a similarly peculiar smell.

 

Try the obvious first; if it smells of eggs, look for the little blighters.

 

 

 

that's unusual, It's usually a mackerel on the exh. manifold

[Pugnut 9 1 Cars]

was the battery completely flat at anytime? when a lead acid battery is fully discharged the plates can buckle which leads to shorting of the plates causing hot spots and poor performance of cells and the battery. If a battery has been fully discharged at any point in its life ( below 6 or so volts for any length of time) it should never be trusted and will never return to its full capacity.

 

once a plate is buckled, charging will only increase the warping and while the battery may seem to operate it will continue to degrade.

 

If you take the car to any garage they will use a tester which will apply a heavy load to the battery for a short duration. this will quickly show a dead cell by boiling it up and the battery voltage will drop considerably during this test . Multimeters are handy to check the voltage under no load but doesnt really show up proper battery faults

 

Al

[Guest Modman08]

Yes Pugnut, I believe the battery was certainly dead for around 3-6months. I had always planned on getting it changed, but it looks like it's going to be sooner rather than later.

I had a battery left over from my rallycar, however I can't really trust that either, as that was sat for a period of time without use.

 

Looks like the best course of action is a good quality new battery. May even pop a voltmeter and ammeter in while Im at it, for future ref. I love tarty gauges

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Leigh

[McDude 33]

Dr Sarty suggested the obvious one - eggs.

 

Other eggy smelling car parts are catalysts - if you have a cat model and you are not at lambda=1 then you get an eggy smell from the cat.

 

That's if it isn't eggs or the battery.

 

 

My Passat estate that I use for hauling my windsurfing kit smells like rotting mermaids.

[spikey_richie 0]

Batteries are cheap, it's the extended warranty that costs the ££. Motorworld do batteries for about £20, going up in £20's for each extra year of warranty!

[Edp 67 3 Cars]

off topic, love the avater Sarty. Predator rocks.....

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

off topic, love the avater Sarty. Predator rocks.....

 

Yeah baby. I was quite pleased with it too; fancied a change. Too much muwahahaha........ing.

 

'Stick around!"

 

 

 

P.S. Did the eggs, congor eel or rotting mermaids show up Modman?

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

Aww funnily enough i was following a 306 today that stank of eggs, but I thought that was a sign of a dead cat??

 

I just love Predator. It was the first VHS I bought back in January 1992. Actually it was my nan that got it for me as I was 13. And I called my son Dylan!

[Guest Modman08]

Hi guys, thanks for all the suggestions...

 

I did change the battery and the egg smell vanished in minutes. Thank god, because after a 40mile trip I was ready to puke!

 

The new battery really has made a difference, my lights are all nice and bright and it starts really well.....However, there is still a problem.

 

Even this new battery has began spitting out acid from the breather ports, and its getting too hot. I checked the voltages and according to my readings, I think my alternator is naffed because its kicking back 18volts into the battery. No doubt this is causing it to overheat badly.

The alternator is also boiling hot, which I hadn't noticed before.

 

I've been recommended to change the alternator asap to avoid killing this new battery. Any other thoughts anyone?

 

Leigh

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

No thoughts; just do exactly what you've been advised to do. Hot alternators & 18volts is REALLY BAD!

 

It shouldn't be much more than 14.4volts, 15v tops. You'll keep cooking batteries, wasting your money, breathing in sulphur & running the risk of an engine fire.

 

£60 should see you with a tasty Valeo or similar uprated 70aH jobbie like mine.

[Guest Modman08]

Thanks DrSarty,

The engine fire issue crossed my mind once all these things piled up, so needless to say its sitting in a cold garage now until I get the replacement alternator. You also answered my next question about the expected price of a new one, so thanks!

 

Will replace and update soon! Cheers

 

Leigh

[GLPoomobile 958]

Batteries are cheap, it's the extended warranty that costs the ££. Motorworld do batteries for about £20, going up in £20's for each extra year of warranty!

 

Do you have any more info on these cheap batteries? Motorworld doesn't seem to have any batteries on the website, and I've not found any for a 205 for less than £35, and most seem to be between £45-£50 elsewhere.