# Odd smell when driving

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** civic, honda\
**Created:** [October 6, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048 "2010-10-06T20:43:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Samwise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Samwise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Samwise)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048/1 "2010-10-06T20:43:41Z")

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Hi,  
  
 I have noticed an odd smell while driving my 2002 honda civic for the last couple of days. 2 things that i observed, 1. when I start the car and then turn on the a/c for a few minutes after that there is an odd smell which goes away 2. the same smell was observed when I had not turned on the a/c.  
  
  
  
 My car has 106000 miles on it and it does require a timing belt change and has some leak in the rack and pinion column too…  
  
  
  
 Thanks

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048/2 "2010-10-06T20:57:49Z")

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You’ll have to describe the smell better. Otherwise, there’s no way we can guess.

If you don’t change the timing belt soon, the next thing you smell may be the $2000 or so that you burn needlessly.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048/3 "2010-10-06T22:29:42Z")

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If it’s sweet, then it’s probably anti-freeze from a leaking heater core. This is a health hazard, both for you and your car.  
If it’s moldy, then it’s probably mold on the AC evaporator.

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**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048/4 "2010-10-06T22:53:45Z")

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Start simple with a cabin filter and blow out the drain hose for the ac. If you are loosing coolant see above.

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**Author:** ![Samwise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Samwise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Samwise)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048/5 "2010-10-07T02:56:48Z")

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Hi Tardis,

It’s not sweet at all, Its like a burnt smell but for a short period of time. I will have to get it checked out soon…

Thanks,

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048/6 "2010-10-07T03:00:41Z")

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It’s probably a minor oil leak.

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**Author:** ![whoit32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@whoit32](https://community.cartalk.com/u/whoit32)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odd-smell-when-driving/56048/7 "2010-10-07T03:04:50Z")

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Could be a caliper starting to freeze up