Smell?

[Guest Gary]

We've got a 2001 1.6 Xsara VTR, after it has been driven from cold for 5-10 minutes and warmed up, as long as the fan heater is turned on to heat there is a smell, it doesn't smell like burning more like a sickly sweet smell. It has been doing this for at least a year, after a while it seems less strong, could be because the climate control has turned down the heat? Also less of an issue in the summer. There is a similar mild smell in the engine compartment to the right of the engine (near the battery). My usual garage didn't have much luck locating the source but thought it could be the filter in the air conditioning unit?

 

It doesn't seem to be a show stopping problem but is annoying, has anyone else experienced anything similar? or got any suggestions? is there a filter in the A/C unit? and is it easy to replace?

[kfk]

Sweet sickly smell.........i'd put money on it that either the radiator or the heater matrix is leaking. Suggest you get someone to carry out a cooling system leak test and see where it comes out.

 

I used to have a ZX that had a slight weep under the bonnet that smelt like it was in the car when started from cold.......fortunately for me it was the radiator so it wasnt major cost..........but you want to hope it isnt your heater matrix, i seem to remember its dashboard out to replace it.

[Guest Gary]

Thanks for the reply,

 

I also suspected something like the heater matrix but don't get any dampness in the footwell or excessive condensation etc also it's pretty rarely to have to top up the radiator coolant.

 

While playing yesterday i've noticed that when it's smelling, if I switch on the "recirculate" button, the smell goes, switch it off and it comes back, does this mean it's outside somewhere? Also switching it to "cold" causes the smell to go. After the car has been running for a while it seems to go or at least reduce in strength.

 

I will have a thorough look over the engine to see if I can see any leaks.

 

 

 

Sweet sickly smell.........i'd put money on it that either the radiator or the heater matrix is leaking. Suggest you get someone to carry out a cooling system leak test and see where it comes out.

 

I used to have a ZX that had a slight weep under the bonnet that smelt like it was in the car when started from cold.......fortunately for me it was the radiator so it wasnt major cost..........but you want to hope it isnt your heater matrix, i seem to remember its dashboard out to replace it.