Exhaust smell inside of car cabin after acceleration?

[Seraphim.312]

Hi all,

Im getting the smell of exhaust in the cabin of my car after accelerating.

Whenever I have the air on I can smell the exhaust and have to roll down the window to air the smell out.

Also im smelling windshield fluid whenever I spray my windshield. Does anyone know what could be the issue? could they both be related?

Please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[Majestic]

First issue might be the PTU. I'm guessing the windshield washer fluid smell is because... it's windshield washer fluid. Try Rain-X.

 

[Seraphim.312]

First issue might be the PTU. I'm guessing the windshield washer fluid smell is because... it's windshield washer fluid. Try Rain-X.

I did some research and a lot of people suggest the PTU as well, it just smells like straight car exhaust. As for the washer fluid, I didn't specify I was smelling it from inside the cabin when spraying, I was wondering if there's a cabin filter that needs to be changed or is it a window seal issue, idk.

 

[Majestic]

I did some research and a lot of people suggest the PTU as well, it just smells like straight car exhaust. As for the washer fluid, I didn't specify I was smelling it from inside the cabin when spraying, I was wondering if there's a cabin filter that needs to be changed or is it a window seal issue, idk.

There is certainly a cabin filter. I've never smelled washer fluid, though.

 

[SeanDev]

There is certainly a cabin filter. I've never smelled washer fluid, though.

If the PTU, it's more than just an exhaust smell, but more of putrid oil burning smell. If exhaust, you might have a leak in the exhaust in the system. Under hard acceleration with window cracked you will get a exhaust smell, especially if you have a window cracked.

 

[SHOdded]

is your exhaust original to the vehicle? how is the flex pipe looking?

have you modified the electronics passthru plug in the firewall near the booster?

cabin filter worth checking of course but oem does not filter smells. you have to get a charcoal impregnated filter or a febreze filter for that.

if you have been rearended then it is possible the exhaust flaps behind the rear bumper are damaged.

 

[Seraphim.312]

If the PTU, it's more than just an exhaust smell, but more of putrid oil burning smell. If exhaust, you might have a leak in the exhaust in the system. Under hard acceleration with window cracked you will get a exhaust smell, especially if you have a window cracked.

This is without the window cracked, so im guessing I'll need to check the exhaust system. the car was rebuilt from a front end accident so im not sure if they touched the exhaust at all.

 

[Seraphim.312]

is your exhaust original to the vehicle? how is the flex pipe looking?

have you modified the electronics passthru plug in the firewall near the booster?

cabin filter worth checking of course but oem does not filter smells. you have to get a charcoal impregnated filter or a febreze filter for that.

if you have been rearended then it is possible the exhaust flaps behind the rear bumper are damaged.

I just have the original exhaust, the car was in a front end accident and has been rebuilt but Im not sure if it affected the exhuast or the manifold in any way. No mods on the passthru plug, just CAI, throttle pipe, and intercooler.

I can upgrade the cabin filter but I guess, I'll need to take a look at the exhaust cus its just the smell of exhaust after hard acceleration.

 

[yaycandy]

What kind of exhaust smell? Pre cats gas exhaust smell? Because the air coming out the rear mufflers with factory cats aint really a gas smell. Its a weird catalyst smell because any hint of gasoline would fail sniffer test for emissions. So if its a gas exhaust smell you would want to look towards the front. A turbo may be leaking on the exhaust side or exhaust manifold gasket and whatnot.
Maybe a cat is burned out and you can smell some exhaust. Which would be normal after hard acceleration on a…performance car…

On the upside, a smell of exhaust means the engine is working

 

[SM105K]

This is without the window cracked, so im guessing I'll need to check the exhaust system. the car was rebuilt from a front end accident so im not sure if they touched the exhaust at all.

I would check to see if the front downpipe from the front turbo is loose. My Focus did the same thing because when I swapped out downpipes I didn't tighten the exhaust clamp down tight.

 

[SHOrod]

Im getting the smell of exhaust in the cabin of my car after accelerating.

Does this smell only happen during WOT acceleration or with mild acceleration too?

-Rod

 

[ShatteredMJ]

If you’ve tried all of the above then check the vents on body chassis in the trunk behind the carpets. They get stuck in one position sometimes and leak exhaust smell into the cabin.

 

[Seraphim.312]

Does this smell only happen during WOT acceleration or with mild acceleration too?

-Rod

mild to WOT acceleration it seems

 

[Seraphim.312]

If you’ve tried all of the above then check the vents on body chassis in the trunk behind the carpets. They get stuck in one position sometimes and leak exhaust smell into the cabin.

Thanks I'll check it out today

 

[SeanDev]

If you can't isolate it, dealer would be able to do a leak test and you'll have a less stressful and faster resolution.

 

[Seraphim.312]

UPDATE: Turns out it was the PTU lmao