A month ago I bought a high mileage (210k) 405 LXTD estate. Recently I have noticed that I can taste what must be fumes in the cabin. This seems to be getting stronger. I have changed the oil vapour hose as this was worn and leaking slightly. At the same time I was able to check the other hoses - all seem fine. I have replaced the air filter. There don't seem to be any strange smells from the engine under the bonnet. Opening the windows does not seem to make a difference. Nor does closing/opening the vents. Last week I took the car to the garage for them to look underneath. The engineer checked the exhaust and hoses and concluded they were fine.
Can anyone suggest the source of this, as I'm finding it a bit worrying?
Edited by Pugugly on 28/09/2008 at 20:33
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Worth checking pollen filter if fitted (some 405s had them fitted, some didn't). Check that fresh air gets blown in ok through the fresh air vents.
Also worth checking tailgate seal - if this has failed, then exhaust fumes would get sucked into the cabin.
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If its exhaust you can smell, check the seal round the tailgate. As astrabob suggested, make sure your heater air intake is set to exterior.
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Thanks for the help. I tried turning down the rubber stops and checked the rubber, even going round with a cloth and lifting it up. Unfortunately I can still taste this. It makes me wonder whether it is exhaust gas or something else? What else is there?
sq
Edited by Pugugly on 28/09/2008 at 18:28
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One remote possibility not mentioned so far is entry under the rear seats, round the large grommets for getting at the top of the tank. This sounds unlikely but strange suctions occur when windows or sunroofs are open.
I don't think many 97 cars had pollen filters??
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Could it be the exhaust manifold gasket or a leak somewhere in the exhaust sytem? There are 3 joins, one on the front pipe to manifold/turbo, behind the engine, another under the middle of the car and a third just in front of the back box.
Worth checking.
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Somewhere around the back of the boot, to one side, under the trim is a 'flap valve', a plastic vent with a flap of rubber about three inches long and one inch deep IIRC, allowing air to flow out, but not back.
I've seen the tow-bar electrics 7-core routed through here, holding the flap partly open.
Has it got a tow-bar?
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No, it doesn't have a tow bar. I am assuming this should be closed.
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It should be closed at rest. When you've got the heater blowing fresh air into the cabin, air has to exit the cabin. The 'flap valves' allow it out. There's one either side IIRC.
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I have traced the smell in my car to the heating system. In the sun today I turned the heating off and the smell went away. There is no water on the carpet. Where should I look and what should I look for? Thanks in advance for any help.
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Did you just turn the heat off, or shut the air intake?
tacked onto the existing thread rather than start a new one
Edited by Pugugly on 29/09/2008 at 23:57
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I just turned the heat off.
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Strange, seems like you may have some foriegn matter/body on the heater matrix
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Perhaps you have a small leak in the heater radiator & you are smelling the vapourising chemically anti-freeze smell.
If so, try some Radweld or similar.
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