smells like S*#T

[padrickz88]

hey everyone i dont ask for help in this forum coz u'z have everythin i really need already and i havnt found 1 thing.... wen i start my car it runs normal.... no running like crap or anything, jus that after a while the fumes r really noticeable..... and im not in an inclosed area... my sister has a series 1 same as me and mine runs just as good except mine smells like its just throwing the petrol out of the exaust.... and its not the eggy smell either haha.... anyway thanks in anvance...... and fantastic site got alot of good idea'z and keep up d good work:thumbsup

[1991_Vn2nV]

You mean IN the cabin? Or outside with exhaust?

[diagonal sleeper]

envious vn means: if in cabin could be boot seals or maybe a fuel leak? if outside could be an air leak or bad mixture cause by a malfunctioning eng managment sys? is it a general complaint of smell? or fumes coming into or trapped in cabin?

[Stevob]

First thing I'd check is the condition of the high pressure flexible fuel hose near the rear of the engine, just as it connects to the EFI system.

[padrickz88]

ummm its outside. cant notice it inside the car 2 b honest :S..... but i fort coz it waz running like crap a while ago.... i dun a service and now it runs alo better but jus that smell of fumes is bad... the car isnt on the road obviously... i wanna eliminate that problem before i put it on the road.... and it doesnt smoke alot so i dunno...

[padrickz88]

envious vn means: if in cabin could be boot seals or maybe a fuel leak? if outside could be an air leak or bad mixture cause by a malfunctioning eng managment sys? is it a general complaint of smell? or fumes coming into or trapped in cabin?

but the thing is its not like d smell of just petrol... its d smell of the normal fumes that would come out of your exaust... just that its more harsher.... i dun think that makes sense but yer.. do series 1'z have this problem often? and i run 94ron in it so like yer sum1 told me its not good 4 old engines but i havnt heard people complain bout it with their vn'z but..... so dunno how it would effect mine....... and if it waz a eng managment... wouldnt it run alot rougher? because it feels like its running normal jus has a prob wen u get out and thanks for your replys....

[PaRaDoX]

but the thing is its not like d smell of just petrol... its d smell of the normal fumes that would come out of your exaust... just that its more harsher.... i dun think that makes sense but yer.. do series 1'z have this problem often? and i run 94ron in it so like yer sum1 told me its not good 4 old engines but i havnt heard people complain bout it with their vn'z but..... so dunno how it would effect mine....... and if it waz a eng managment... wouldnt it run alot rougher? because it feels like its running normal jus has a prob wen u get out and thanks for your replys....

where are you getting your fuel from??? i wasnt aware of 94RON fuel, only 95RON which is the lead replacement and i run it all the time

ok, put your hand over the exhust, then smell it... is it water based????
if it is then it may be something like a blown headgasket, or even a thermostat thats jammed its self open/closes, which can cause the thermo fan not to come on and the coolant to cook but it shouldnt be comming out the exhust in that case

if its polution based emmisions id take a stab and say the engines running too lean due to a dead o2 sensor

id reccomend running 1 tank of BP ultimate (98RON) through the car, and some injector cleaner couldnt hurt, and run a self diagnostic
for a self diagnostic you'll find under the glove box there is a connector, grab a paperclip, unfold it.. and use it to bridge the black/white wire on one end,
this will cause the engine light to flash when turned to 2nd ignition, the flashes represent a code which is a self diagnostic of errors, just a very basic one
it is comprised of 2 lots of flashes, ie 1 flash, pause, 3 flashes = code 13, 2 flashes pause, 4 flashes = code 24 here is a self diag list

Code Explanation
12 No spark pulses at CPU or else good system, no codes
13 Oxygen sensor output remained at .35-.55 volts for more than one
minute after warmup. Possible open circuit.
14 Coolant sensor indicated a temperature above 130C for 3 seconds
after engine ran for 20 seconds. Probably a short
15 Coolant sensor indicated a temperature below -30C for 3 seconds
when MAT > - 13 or engine running over 1 minute. Probably open
circuit
21 Throttle pos sensor above 2.5 volts for 2 seconds when engine
speed below 1600 rpm
22 Throttle pos sensor below .2 volt for 2 seconds while engine running
23 MAT sensor shows < -30 degrees C for 3 seconds after engine
running 1 minute or coolant > 30C. Probably an open circuit.
24 No speed sensor pulses when engine between 2000-4000 rpm,
throttle closed, high vacuum, not in neutral and all for 5
seconds
25 MAT sensor showed above 145 degrees C for 2 seconds after
engine ran for over 1 minute. Possible short circuit.
31 Unknown Error Code
32 Unknown Error Code
33 MAP sensor voltage too high (> 4.00 v). Possible vacuum leak to
sensor or faulty sensor.
34 MAP sensor voltage too low (< 0.25 v) with ignition on or
engine running >1200 rpm and throttle open >20%
35 Closed throttle idle speed is more than 75 rpm above or
below correct value for more than 45 seconds
41 No Crankshaft reference pulses. Ignition voltage < 11 volts etc.
42 Open or short on EST or BYPASS line to ignition module.
43 Engine Knock Sensor open or shorted.
44 O2 sensor showed < 0.250 volt for over 20 seconds while
operating closed loop
45 O2 sensor showed > 0.550 volt for over 50 seconds while in
closed loop with engine running over 1 minute and throttle open
more than 2%
51 Check insertion of MEMCAL in socket and bent pins.
52 Check that CALPAK is in place, fully inserted, and no bent pins
53 Car's alternator has produced >17.1 volts for over 2 seconds.
Check charging system
54 Unknown error code
55 ECU A to D error. Check ECU grounds, or excessive input voltage

also whats your fuel ecconomy like??

but it dosnt sound like the engine is burning the fuel correctly, noticed any power loss?? would you go so far to say that, unburnt fuel is being passed through the exhust? because it may also be the spark plugs

soo possible causes
---------------------
if exhust smells like petrol = probbly spark plugs
if exhust smells like water = probbly headgasket/thermostat
if exhust smells like ass = probbly o2 sensor

does it blow smoke (ie white/black/blue smoke)????

note: error codes taken from
http://www.techedge.com.au/vehicle/aldl160/vn_aldl.htm

[SweetWagon]

I think i know what you mean, my car sorta does it, but only when you start it up when its cold. This is becuase the motor runs richer until it get's up to running temp. So yeah mainly on a short 5 min trip when you get out of the car the strong exhaust fumes may be more noticable, this is of-course unless it does it all the time.

[PaRaDoX]

yeah mine does it aswell, right up untill i get in it and give it a good drive for the o2 sensor to ajust

[greenfoam]

Your catalytic converter is probably broken, 90%

[PaRaDoX]

hehe foam or it might be empty like yours

[SweetWagon]

Your catalytic converter is probably broken, 90%

Is that a good thing or a bad thing

[HoZy]

Cat converter..... Whats a cat converter *shifty eyes*

Cheers
MaT

[PaRaDoX]

Cat converter..... Whats a cat converter *shifty eyes*

Cheers
MaT

and some people wonder why we have a hole in the o-zone layer hehehe

Is that a good thing or a bad thing

bad thing, if the cat converter is clogged it would cause limited flow

[HoZy]

and some people wonder why we have a hole in the o-zone layer hehehe



bad thing, if the cat converter is clogged it would cause limited flow

After i get my p's , car gets back onto 95% Driving on gas....... So no cat converter doesnt matter.........

Cheers
MaT

[SweetWagon]

After i get my p's , car gets back onto 95% Driving on gas....... So no cat converter doesnt matter.........

Cheers
MaT

When do you turn 18 mate?

[SweetWagon]

When do you turn 18 mate?

Iam the biggest idiot. I Why didnt I just look at your profile?
Happy birthday for saturday mate

[VN_Luke]

hey dude

how long has it been since you done your plugs and leads?

does the car drive fine? or does it stutter it's way around?

what's the idle like? is it an irregular erratic idle? or smooth? or is it a regular

"BRRPR*pop*RR*pop*RRRRRRRR*pop*RR*pop*RRR" ?

we'll fix it right up, you just have to do these things:

1) check your error codes, see what the computer spits out, if you get an error code post it up and well work from there.

2) if you get no error codes (code 12), play around with your spark plug leads and see if it fixes it, also check all the fuel lines around the engine bay to make sure they are not leaking

3) pull out your spark plugs and note the colour (and where they came from), if they all look the same bar 1 or 2 that are black/moist then you have an ignition issue (spark plugs/leads/ignition coil)

4) check your exhaust after your car has been running for a little bit, see if the zorst before the cat is considerably different temperature to the zorst after the cat.

blah blah blah
try a few of those and let us know mate!

[padrickz88]

where are you getting your fuel from??? i wasnt aware of 94RON fuel, only 95RON which is the lead replacement and i run it all the time

Ummmm i got it from united petrol station..... der a pretty gibby place sometimes.... 1 week there gas and petrol is ok and d next it makes ya car run like shit....

ok, put your hand over the exhust, then smell it... is it water based????
if it is then it may be something like a blown headgasket, or even a thermostat thats jammed its self open/closes, which can cause the thermo fan not to come on and the coolant to cook but it shouldnt be comming out the exhust in that case

yer ive dun dat and like no water goes on my hand... but wen i start it water dun come out of the exaust.... but not alot.. and it stopes after like 5 mins.... and it used 2 do dat ever since i got it... and as4 hed gasket or thermostat... my engine doesnt get hot really :S.... it jus stays like average heat and i let it idle 4 like half an hr to an hr... and i do that bout 3 times a week...

id reccomend running 1 tank of BP ultimate (98RON) through the car, and some injector cleaner couldnt hurt, and run a self diagnostic
for a self diagnostic you'll find under the glove box there is a connector, grab a paperclip, unfold it.. and use it to bridge the black/white wire on one end,
this will cause the engine light to flash when turned to 2nd ignition, the flashes represent a code which is a self diagnostic of errors, just a very basic one
it is comprised of 2 lots of flashes, ie 1 flash, pause, 3 flashes = code 13, 2 flashes pause, 4 flashes = code 24 here is a self diag list

yer ill try that as soon as i can... cant really do it now coz its a lil wet outside.... typical melbourne weather haha.... and as soon as i get it registered im ganna put like 20-30 litre'z of high octane... and fill mah gas up...... and btw 98ron wont hurt mah engine will it?

thanx 2 every 4 there replys

[padrickz88]

how long has it been since you done your plugs and leads?

does the car drive fine? or does it stutter it's way around?

what's the idle like? is it an irregular erratic idle? or smooth? or is it a regular

fnx 4 the reply...
plugs and leads= yer i changed the spankplugs this sunday gone... and i no i got d right 1'z coz i double checked and i made d guy double check in his book aswell....

does it drive fine= yes drives fine.... jus like my mums and sis'z car... like exactly the same.....

idle= about average aswell.... its as smooth as im ganna get from a buick engine i guess haha...

so it runs fine.... idles fine.... replaces spark plugs(ganna do a full service wen its registered in the next couple weeks).... and no loss of power and it doesnt overheat either.... dats wat made me wonder wtf is waz because it used 2 run realllly ruff b4 i changed the spark plugs but now it runs fine... jus the very bad fumes smell

[PaRaDoX]

98RON wont hurt your engine, its the ethanol based stuff that isnt so forgiving

ok, probbly cat converter then because if everything else is fine its probbly exhust related, and the cat converter is the thingy that reduces a fair ammount of green house gasses from being released into the atmoshphere....

[Emackulation]

On the topic of weird smells. Whenever Im on my way back from work, dooing 100 all the way, then I slow down to 80 I can smell a weird smell too, Sort of exhaughst/sort of not, hard to pick. But then I also noticed that I can ONLY smell it if my drivers window is down (havn't tryed it with any other windows). When the window is up i cant smell a thing....weird hey.

[jolly_97]

my car smells like arse when i max 1st and 2nd gear out in the auto... like literally, it smells like burnt hair god knows what it is but my car runs fine so ive got no complaints lol... my mates car (daewoo something or rather 1.5L manual) does the same thing, if u do a bad stuttery change the car smells like shit for about 10 mins then it goes away.... cars do some strange things....

i just tell him its gods way of telling him he shouldnt have bought a daewoo :P


cheers
Josh

[padrickz88]

hahahahahaa yer i wouldnt buy a daewoo.... i luv my big6 2 much .... haha and wit d cat? im happy bout that coz i got a series 2 here so im happy...... fnx alot ppl... helped alot

[coolvxss]

My dads got a poster in his shed saying "The only way you can be a bigger idiot is if you buy a daewoo" i thought it was pretty funny.