This is a really weird one inside of the car smells like onions. Seems to be coming from the vents but as soon as you turn it on it goes.

Had a look online and with other cars people say change the cabin filter but its a classic so no cabin filter to change.

Any ideas

 

My old XR3 used to smell of curry.Nice

 

Thats because your intake was pretty much straight in the cabin, and we used to put pepper/curry powder and the like down mates grilles, so when they turned in their blowers they got it all over them,
modern cars have far too much duct/tract and the odd cabin filter to stop this prank.

 

Is it definitely onions - could it be a bad egg smell ?

faulty CAT or even smelly screen wash....

 

Small Frenchman hiding in the air vents fearing what brexit might mean for this poor soul

Or maybe just aircon?

 

Small Japanese man in air box? Could be resistor for heater, are all your heater settings working ok? There's a panel under the glove box that you can put a cabin filter in. Check it just to make sure there's no onions in there. You never know, I found a t shirt in my air box once.

 

Any dampness inside the car, especially the front?

If the carpets are at all damp, taste it...I'm serious, a sweet taste means your heater matrix has gone.

 

Deffo onions like make your eyes water. However is there any way to check the cat or will it be an emission test. Screenwash was empty so have ruled that one out.

I thought A/C as well but checked it and it blows cold air.

All settings seem to work ok but where is the resistor located might have a look into that


As soon as you put that I knew what you meant lol but carpets are completely dry. Heater matrix was changed.

Also just for future reference if the heater matrix was to go do you go used item knowing how these cars are getting on a bit or do you refurb them if that is even possible.

Its getting to the point where you can't drive with it off, it either needs to be on or have the windows open. Car isn't a daily but even so.

 

Bacteria in the washer lines. The smell must surely be organic in origin, therefore it's going to be eminating from somewhere with access to liqud.

How long do you need to leave the car until returns? Can you switch everything offf and it immediately becomes apparent or does it return over a few days/hours?

 

When you say washer lines are you talking about lines that go from the washer bottle to the jets.

Like I said its a weekend car so can't remember the last time I used them so that could well be it.

Thinking about it I can't remember when I noticed it but its one of those where you don't give it much thought and assume its just a random smell that will go. But this is continuous and hasn't really gone. As soon as you put the heaters on the smell goes.

 

do you just have water in the bottle, or is it screen wash

 

When you say heaters - is it hot air, cold air or air con? Is it simply the fan blowing that clears the smell?

Does the car steam up easily or does it appear to have internal condensation when left parked and you return to the car?

 

Did have a Porsche that smelt of manky chip shop oil (if you've ever been to a badly run chips shop where fryer oil is overdue for changing and extractors need cleaning, you'll know that smell )...turns out the alternator was putting out 16volts, boiling the battery, which then vented acid all over the battery tray and chassis leg and reacted with the paint and under seal.

 

Looks like the washer bottle has a massive crack and there is nothing in there

Its when you turn the fan on so regardless of hot, cold or A/C. It doesn't steam up more than usual and as you would expect with the warmer weather the windows are clear.

Thats an interesting one. Battery has been replaced but alternator was working when last checked so could rule that one out.

 

Found out what was causing it

The gearbox was on its way out and it was the smell of cooked gearbox oil

 

weirdly enough mine smells of Korma. even though i have stripped out the carpets and everything. Think i spilled a ready meal in there one night years ago

 

onion, curry powder smell - Coolant dripping onto a hot surface.

 

Mine smelt of wet dog until I changed the cabin filter.