Faint smoky smell in car?

[EstherK]

Over the last two days, I've been noticing a faint smoky smell in my car. I'm speculating that it came from the air conditioner/heater. I know that when I first used the heater, there was a burning smell. Then that went away. Am I just imagining things? What does this mean, if anything? I'm also wondering if it's from outside rather than originating in the car. Any help would be much appreciated.

[id3379]

it's really hard to tell when were not there to smell it ourselfs...

Suggestions --> air freshener ?

[nsmitchell]

Look for a small stoned elf in your back seat.

[BailOut]

Have you not had the heater on for a while? If not, it could have been dust settled in the system that cooked off.

[TheSilkySmooth]

This happens more oft than naugt:

Person tosses cigarette butt out of moving car in front of you, butt finds way into ventilation system, car smells like stinky butt. If you are in disbelief there is TSB for Nissan (altima?)which are prone to sucking in discarded cigarettes into the engine intake and starting underhood fire

Open you glovebox and remove all parcels and deritis; push inwards sidewalls of box and jerk downward allowing box to override hinge stops. Now you can view the heater box area, there is gray-white rectangular shape cover with push tabs, you revove this cover and you can see into fan area (centrifugal-styled cage blower) and looking for Mouse and Squirrel nesting or other flotsam and jetsom.

Sonja's Papa

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by TheSilkySmooth

This happens more oft than naugt:

Person tosses cigarette butt out of moving car in front of you, butt finds way into ventilation system, car smells like stinky butt. If you are in disbelief there is TSB for Nissan (altima?)which are prone to sucking in discarded cigarettes into the engine intake and starting underhood fire

Open you glovebox and remove all parcels and deritis; push inwards sidewalls of box and jerk downward allowing box to override hinge stops. Now you can view the heater box area, there is gray-white rectangular shape cover with push tabs, you revove this cover and you can see into fan area (centrifugal-styled cage blower) and looking for Mouse and Squirrel nesting or other flotsam and jetsom.

Sonja's Papa

I don't think anything bigger than an uncooked RICE can find way inside the ventilation system. Not from outside anyways. Bugs and such can get in easy though, because they can crawl through other holes and such.. but if you look carefully. The only place of entry of fresh air is through the holes (with a grill under) right above the top of the hood. From the passenger side to be precise. So no.. a cig butt cannot blow through those holes and get into the system..


it's not like back in the days.. where you can actually get a wood stick through the vents :lol: