My 2003 Passat has a noxious smell when I pull up to a parking space or sometimes when I stop at a light. It smells like burning oil or exhaust, but not all the time. The repair shop has replaced the oil pan, which was dented (by my 18-year-old son), replaced axle seal, and have replaced a broken and leaking PCV hose, but that has not solved the problem, and the don't know what else to do.
View 7 RepliesCEL came on. No performance issues or noises coming from the car this time around. I did notice that after parking and killing engine, there is a faint exhaust-type smell though. I took the car to my local Advance Auto Parts and had them hook the car up to their computer for a diagnostic. Two codes came up.
1: P0431, warm-up catalyst efficiency bank 2 below threshold pending
2: P0431, warm-up catalyst efficiency bank 2 below threshold confirmed
The AAP employee didn't have anything to add to the code readouts. I'm concerned that this is a catalytic converter issue, and if that's the case, a repair would likely cost more than I'm willing to put into the car at this point. It has just over 125K miles on it.
Last night I was driving in my 2003 jetta on the intersate at 65mph with the cruise control on. As I came into a turn I had to tap the brakes. As soon as I did the check engine light came on. The car was doing fine so I drove home from school. Today I drove the car to work which is a five minute drive, and back with no problem. I later went to grab lunch and bring it home and then I noticed the check engine light started flashing. I then felt the engine start to stutter, as if it was misfiring. We had the windshield defrost when we started to smell a rotten egg smell. Luckily we were pulling into our drive when we smelled the odor. I immediately turned off the car and got out. I couldn't smell the rotten egg smell, but I did smell burning plastic. I didn't see any smoke and could not pinpoint the cause of the smell.
View 4 RepliesOk, here's the situation... (Elantra GLS - Automatic)
I was at a 4-way stop sign. No other cars were around so I accelerated. Then suddenly, I hear and see a car coming at me REALLY fast, and well, I panicked. I floored the throttle (almost literally), and I heard something popping or maybe it was a farting sound... It happened so fast that I don't remember clearly...
Then behind me was a HUGE cloud of smoke behind me. I mean really, it covered up the whole street. It was 10 PM, so I couldn't really tell what color it was, but it seemed to be white... So I turned off my car. Checked the engine, no smoke from the engine. I started it up again, and instead to revving to about 2000 rpm at start up like it always does, it only went to about 1000, and more smoke was flushed out the exhaust.
I was close to home, and with no 24-hour mechanic shop around me, I drove home. As I drove home, I had quite a bit of smoke trail behind me which scared me through out the whole 2 minutes of driving. I got home, and I checked the exhaust again, but there was no more smoke. However, a burning smell lingered around the exhaust.
1992 toyota previa Le.. This safe too be driven I bough as second car drive but now I'm scared be driven hear that may caught fire what do need get fixed on it stop dripping is valve cover gaskets I was toll were replace two yrs. ago I don't know what need be replace is valve covers,or O-ring and disturber assembly or what is the issue? I'm at end my rope it fun drive don't want sell it off I payed $1,000 for month ago was what should I do should sell it or try fix just want oil stay in engine and stop dripping and burn oil smell too stop
View 6 RepliesI have a 99 volkswagon passat. I've replaced the alternator once a month for the last three months. Other than the belt, what could cause me to go through alternators so quickly. Also, this may or may not be related but as the alternator deteriorates my drivers side window which is automatic becomes more difficult to roll down. Then works perfectly after the alternator is replaced.
View 12 RepliesSo i had a burning oil smell for 2 years. I finally brought it to the shop and had the valve cover gasket changed as well as the chain tensioner gasket. I now have a constant burn smell. It cannot be burn off because when i open the hood i see it dripping on the cat. converter i just cannot see from where. I seems to be right behind the heat shield that covers the edge of the valvle cover. What else could be wrong here?
View 7 RepliesA 2000 Passat with the 6 cylinder and automatic transmission. 95,000 miles has a burning smell...especially with the heater on...Changed the oil about two weeks agao ...and now with the heater on the car smells like its burning... You can see smoke coming off the rear of the motor when the engine cover is pulled off. .
Could it be a head gasket?
Could it be a rear seal?
Could it be a valve cover gasket?
Could it be the tranny leaking?
Anything typical of these V6's that might give possible insight? Local car mechanic was looking at the car and said "take it to the dealer" ....
I recently noticed that my car was starting to smell like oil burning off. Soon i realized that from time to time there would be a bit of smoke form under the hood I looked under the car and noticed that oil is dripping onto the cat but i am not sure from where. There is not alot of room in the back of these engines to see.
View 3 Repliesnewly purchased 99 everytime i turn on the heat i get a burning smell out of the vents.
View 4 RepliesI let my engine oil get way low, got an oil change - fresh new synthetic and filter, now engine gives off burning oil smell after driving. Re-checked oil level several times and it shows "full". Temp never gets over 200 per gauge. What did I do to my engine? and what should Ido to minimize damage?
View 1 RepliesI started noticing a burning oil smell a few weeks ago after driving to and from work. Then I noticed drops of oil on the floor in the garage. I wanted to start a consumption test so I scheduled an appointment at my dealer and asked them to look at the leak.
The invoice says they replaced some screws and a bolt near the turbo and cleaned the area. That was Monday. Today there are a few fresh drops and the burning oil smell is back as I drove to work. I made another appointment for Friday. What this could be.?
I'm at 53k miles and glad it's still covered. Just hope they get to the bottom of it.
Having burning oil smell coming from the V6. Took it to the dealership and they tole me it has an oil leak on the the header then it burns off. It seems to get much worse when the RPM's are some what high. Only 70,000 miles too. Guess its getting to stay that way for a while.
View 9 RepliesI have a 99 B5 v6 Passat TIP. Was doing a lot of driving around today, in & out of stores. Last store of the day go get in the Passat and now it wont start. I did smell a brief electrical burn but was unable to locate the source.
When I try & start the car nothing happens, no crank. The windows locks radio all function.
I am able to lock the car and unlock the car with the key in the door. The alarm arms & disarms without issue.
I have checked the fuses as well as the relays and they seem fine. I have replaced the ignition switch and still the same issue.
I have tried starting the car in neutral as well and no luck there either.
What is the best way to test the switch to make sure my new one isnt bad. Any way to use a jumper wire to attempt to start the car?
So i am going to drive to school and going up the hill on my street to turn on the road and i give the car some power as i usually flore it up the hill but suddenly the check engine light pops up and the car doesn't want to go. My foot was all the way down on the gas and i was getting like 3-4 rpm and the car wouldn't even get up to 30mph. so i go around the block trying new things turn off the car and restart it and the same happens so i go back home and park it in my driveway and i turn the car off and get out. I smell something burning from the car so i pop the hood and check underneath the car but no smoke just and intense burning smell. I don't know what is wrong the car just had the recalls done a week ago and this is the first thing that ever happened like this to the car. Has this ever happened to you? What do you think is wrong with the car?
View 4 RepliesMy 2002 1.8 t has a leaky camshaft seal. The shop where I take the care insists that I should take care of it since it can cause some damage to other components. Another very trusted mechanic has told me that it is only a nuisance and the worst thing that can happen is that I would occasionally smell some burning oil inside the car when the HVAC is not in recirculating model. He also suggests using some engine cleaner and degreaser and that would take care of the problem. I think the seal leaks less than a teaspoon a year. The engine uses ZERO oil in between changes.
View 8 RepliesToday was the first day I notice smoke from the wheel well, it wasn't heavy smoke but enough to caught my eye. The past few days I been smelling burning oil from that side of the car. I am not leaking oil from the motor because I check it everyday. Why it would smell and be smoking from the wheel well?
View 3 RepliesVW Passat Wagon - When I drive, every once in a while, I get a smell like burning rubber that last for about 2 minutes and goes away....what's the symptom? Is my exhaust system starting to go?
View 1 Replies'05 1.8T with 30K miles: Sometimes, when the car is stopped and idling, an oil burning kind of smell comes in through the ventilation system. I can also smell it outside. I had the dealer (a good one) check it out. Couldn't find anything. No sign of leakage anywhere. Where I or they should be looking? When I open the hood during these smell events, I can't see any smoke or tell exactly where it's coming from. It seems to be around the driver's side of the engine, but all the heat is on the other side around the exhaust and turbo. Weird. It's really starting to annoy me.
View 3 RepliesWhen stopped at lights I start to smell burning oil coming from the vents when I have the heat on. It only happens every now and then and only when you are stopped at a light. I tried letting the engine idle after driving once and I can't smell it when i open the hood. I do synthetic oil changes every 5,000 since the car was new. I don't know what it could be? My last oil change was about 2,000 miles ago so I can't see it being burn off from the last change still.
View 4 RepliesOkay so I changed my rear brakes, disc and pads on March 18th. The change went okay. Now I'm getting a burning smell from the front pad, specifically the passenger side.
View 1 Replies