# 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt smells like exhaust when heater is turned on

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevrolet-cobalt-smells-like-exhaust-when-heater-is-turned-on/175845>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, cobalt\
**Created:** [March 27, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevrolet-cobalt-smells-like-exhaust-when-heater-is-turned-on/175845 "2021-03-27T15:11:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CHEVY07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba9def/32.png) [@CHEVY07](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CHEVY07)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevrolet-cobalt-smells-like-exhaust-when-heater-is-turned-on/175845/1 "2021-03-27T15:11:15Z")

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why do I smell exhaust when I turn on the heater

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevrolet-cobalt-smells-like-exhaust-when-heater-is-turned-on/175845/2 "2021-03-27T17:15:19Z")

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Because you have an Exhaust leak and that is dangerous so either find it and fix or have ir repaired .

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevrolet-cobalt-smells-like-exhaust-when-heater-is-turned-on/175845/3 "2021-03-28T14:19:55Z")

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+1 to Volvo V70’s comment.  
Most likely the exhaust leak is under the hood–from the exhaust manifold–but if the manifold/manifold gasket prove to be okay, then further checking of the _entire_ exhaust system is a must.

Ideally, until the source of the exhaust leak has been located, the car shouldn’t be driven. If it must be driven, then it should be done only with all of the windows open.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevrolet-cobalt-smells-like-exhaust-when-heater-is-turned-on/175845/4 "2021-03-28T16:41:45Z")

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Check that the hood seal is intact.

Item 6.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/7/c/7c89a946230ce57a3f521595c5b4f6ee35018412.jpeg)

Tester

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevrolet-cobalt-smells-like-exhaust-when-heater-is-turned-on/175845/5 "2021-03-28T20:19:57Z")

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You could have oil from the valve cover dripping on the exhaust manifold which many people mistake for an exhaust smell