Funniest Thing

[Bazile]

When I leave my car for a while, say at most , an hour or so and then open the door and go inside ; i'm hit by a particular unpleasant odour - a sort of going off fishy smell

After 5-10 seconds or so the intensity of the odour reduces .

Could It have something to do with the CAT , if it is on it's way out ?

[Andyvon]

How old is the car Bazile? If it's fairly new then it could be a glue or sealant that's still releasing vapours.

I presume you mean catalytic converter! That shouldn't be causing a smell. If there's something wrong with it you'll notice the different way the car drives and an emissions test should pick it up. Now, if it was another type of cat of course....!

[chas2008]

that sort of smell is usually associated with anti freeze or possibly air con, CAT is normally an eggy smell but this seems to have been sorted on vehicles over last few years.

[Bazile]

Thanks guys

The car is quite old - sorry , i mean a classic - A Renault Clio 1993 .

[TWR]

Probably laugh at this! but, has anyone that you know dropped a carton of milk in the car? has the car windscreen smashed & letting in water? I once valeted a persons car who said it was not milk, " It was" one hell of a job to clear. has the car just been valeted?

[Bazile]

I have done a search to see if there was anything of last week's shopping left in it .
Nothing found .

I did notice some time ago that a patch of carpet under the passenger seat was a bit wet .
Also the mats got quite wet recently during the snowy weather .
However I only first notice this odour a couple of days ago .

Whats baffling is the fact the intense odour in only there for a few seconds when first opening the door , then it almost dissapears while i'm in the car driving or stationary .

As I say - funniest thing .

[TWR]

Beneath the carpets you have an under felt that acts as a soundproof insulation of the car, should that get wet as you say, that is the course of your problem, water is either running from the under bonnet front of your car due to a blockage of the drain holes beneath the bonnet forward in the well below the windscreen, check that the drain holes are clear, if its only the Passenger side, the problem is there, is the door seal in good order? if the carpet is still wet, draw it out with a wet & dry vac.

[Prudie]

Are you sure you're not just getting used to the smell while in the car? My cat peed on the floor in my car last summer and it still reeks every time I get in it but can't smell it after a couple of minutes because I've got accustomed to it. Still there next time I drive though.

[Bazile]

What do you mean by the ' bonnet forward '

[Hopkirk]

Buy an air freshener and bung it under the passenger seat.

[Hopkirk]

Oh, and try leaving the mats out of the car and see it if it goes.

A fishy smell can sometimes be perishing rubber, and I would suspect the mats first.

[TWR]

Lift up your cars bonnet & look at the area below the windscreen, (Bulkhead) to the Left / right there should be a recess within the recesses there should be drain holes check these out, the Passenger side may have leaves in the drain hole

[derekpara]

I go with TWR on this one. I've had a couple of cars that gave off this fishy smell, but only after or during wet weather. It was always caused by water getting under the carpets.

[Andyvon]

I don't think you can call a 1993 Clio a classic Bazile. I've had my 1984 Golf for 24 years now and I just regard it as an old car. A classic would be a lovely Rover P5 or a Mk2 Jag. Our cars are just old cars!