i just got done driving my s4 TII and when i stepped out of the car there was this horrible smell. it smelled like burnt... uh.. like really bad meat that was burnt. hard to explain. well, i walked around the car poking my head around and the exhaust seemed normal, but when i popped the hood, the smell came from the engine bay. not sure where specifically but for sure from around there. i thought it was radiator fluid but i know that it doesn't smell like the way it just did. any ideas?
oh yeah, i think a rat used to live in my car where the battery is located. i found traces of food and bits of carbage the way i used to when i had a hamster. don't think its there anymore. or maybe...

 

maybe the rat made a nest on top of the turbo.

 

u murderer!!!

 

heh, funny.. but any ideas though? what if i get pulled over and arrested for killing a rat. or worse, get attacked by animal rights activists...

well, if there were leaks, would they have caused any sort of odor?
thanks,
sodara

 

maybe the rat ripped a sick one after you turned off your car.....lol


:AA:

 

great, this is gonna stick with me all over the forum... might as well call my car Rat-7

 

maybe i'll start a new thread about a smelly rx7 and mention nothing of rats... if this gets nowhere.

 

Yea, My car had sat in a barn for a few(3) years. It had a nasty smell, but a bunch of mice had made their home in the vents where the water drains off the windshield and theyre were a bunch of dead baby mice in there, and they sure did stink! But I pulled them little buggers out and stuck an air freshener in there and no more stink, but the exhaust leak gives you a head ache...

 

possiably coolent? check for leaks around the bottom of the Water Pump (almost typoed Pimp)

and also the bottom inlet from the rad to the engine block.

 

let the idle or take it out for a ride, then pop the hood and see of you can find smoke or the apparent source. then fix or get rid of it.

 

I dont see how evaporating coolant could smell like burnt meat...

 

evaporating coolant would smell sweet.

 

everytime i drive it, it feels like everyone outside is wondering what the smell is and where it's comming from... i don't feel as cool anymore driving possibly the only s4 in town.

well, i didn't see any leaks. no smoke other than the usual exhaust. and the smell just seems to come from everywhere on the car. and i only take it out on the weekends. would burnt oil be the cause of this too?
i'm really thinking about trying some febreeze...

 

sounds like that episode of seinfeild.... the stink just stays with the car... he ends up not being able to sell the car, so he gives it away to a bum.... who can't stand the smell also.

 

I found lately that when I find a 7 at a wrecking yard, most on the windshield it says "engine no good", open the oil filler neck and smell it, it smells that something dead pretty bad too. I use to work on a ranch moving cattle, pulling dead ones out of muddy ponds, I mean very ripe cows, but smoking that oil is worst.

 

are you sure its not your clutch? A slipping clutch would smell something like that. Maybe your cat is no good, which would smell like rotten eggs...

just start the car up and let it idle, if it doesn't stink, it might be what i said.

 

yeah, i've had the same episode too... bad smell when u stop on a stop light or a stop sign... i was PEELING my clutch! not slipping heheh (according to some people). maybe time for a new one.

 

that's interesting, never expected a clutch to smell... the cat converter maybe the issue tho. thx dothack, i'll check that out.
well, the car has only 59K miles on it, everything still looks pretty mint. the clutch still feels nice and responsive. and the last time i was under the car the exhaust barely had any rust.

 

You just need to stop by the Grocery store and buy some of those Shiskabob sticks. The 7 running at the higher temps is just right for cooking the Rats during a short 30 minute cruise

 

fixed