Help! - Engine fumes getting into the car & causing health problems

Mr_Bean · 7th January 2010, 14:10

I am at a situation where I don't feel like driving my baleno anymore.. The problem goes like the following:

About a month back, I start experiencing stinging eyes & loss of concentration when driving. I got a terrible throat infection & it took me close to 20 days for that to subside, thanks to the problem in the car.

1.) The stinging eyes are experienced when I enter the car (e.g.) parked after a drive the previous day & also when I rev the car upto 5000-6000rpm.
2.) Even more when the AC was on as it kept recirculating the fumes. The problem would subside when I lower the windows down or put the AC to external mode. External mode clogged my AC system with leaves and had to shell out 1500/- for the cleaning and refill of gas..
3.) Last trip to Bangalore, I was not able to concentrate during my drive, had to lower my rear window glass for fresh air.

What all has been done?
1.) Got all the Air freshners removed
2.) Got the interior cleaning done & carpet dried up by parking the vehicle in the sun
3.) Got the complete AC system checked. Cooling coil cleaning, evaporator and condensor..
4.) Mechanic observed the exhaust was emanating a rotten egg smell, the honey comb on the baleno (primary and secondary) was completely non-functioning due to bad fuel & it was removed. This reduced the problem to an extent.
5.) checked for an entry point through which the fumes could enter.

Currently:
The problem has reduced 80%, but still the root cause has not been found. I have also understood that it can be leaky exhaust but no one seems to point to the problem area. Also there is no weird sound coming from the exhaust. I am not sure what would be the effect of this on my health in the long run, currently I plan to stop using the car.

My baleno has driven 42k kms & it is 2005 BSII model.

Appreciate your help.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 7th January 2010, 15:05

Did you look at the running engine with the hood up?

vigsom · 7th January 2010, 15:36

Mr Bean,

1.Compare your Baleno's exhaust note with that of any other Baleno and see if you notice some abnormal noise.If the exhaust has developed a leak it would obviously sound noisier

2.If it is an exhaust leak, check with teh engine running,if you can smell some exhaust gas in your rear seat area(you might have to become a sniffer doggie for sometime)

3.It appears that this problem is because of smog - you drive for extended periods with the windows rolled up - all the O2 you breathe gets converted to CO2 and that's why the discomfort.Since you've de-activated the fresh air intake,suggest you roll the window an inch down every 30 minutes for 2 minutes and then roll up again.Then see

Mr_Bean · 7th January 2010, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigsom

Mr Bean,

1.Compare your Baleno's exhaust note with that of any other Baleno and see if you notice some abnormal noise.If the exhaust has developed a leak it would obviously sound noisier

If there is a leak from the exhaust manifold gasket, will there be a sound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigsom

Mr Bean,

2.If it is an exhaust leak, check with teh engine running,if you can smell some exhaust gas in your rear seat area(you might have to become a sniffer doggie for sometime)

Tell you, it used to smell odd earlier but now I got used to it that I am not able to differentiate.

vigsom · 7th January 2010, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Bean

If there is a leak from the exhaust manifold gasket, will there be a sound.

Yes,but you got to be an engine audiophile to notice that

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Bean

Tell you, it used to smell odd earlier but now I got used to it that I am not able to differentiate.

what is your driving style?

just saw your garage

port polishing +FFE=Racehorse

amitoj · 7th January 2010, 16:49

Mr Bean, when you got your car's AC system checked, did they check whether the switch between recirculation and fresh intake is working properly? Could be that that part is not working properly and your ac is always in fresh-intake mode? See this thread:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...-into-car.html

It showed up in "Similar Threads" at the bottom of yoru thread.

Mr_Bean · 7th January 2010, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigsom

how old is your gaddi,how many kms have you covered ,and what is your driving style?

It has run 42k kms, sedate driving with occasional revving to around 5-6k.
I would need a exhaust fix expert, also read on the google that leaky ones are diff to fix.

anandpadhye · 7th January 2010, 21:16

Did you check the battery?
My NHC is 5 years old and I can smell fumes coming from the battery after I switch off the engine after even a 10km drive...

Gansan · 7th January 2010, 21:24

Where did you get the car checked? I would suggest you to take it to MSM once and have it checked by a senior technician.

Mr_Bean · 8th January 2010, 11:57

I will take it to MSM this saturday. Have you googled about leaky exhaust on the net? There is a lot more to it than what the mechanic looks in..

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 8th January 2010, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by anandpadhye

Did you check the battery?
My NHC is 5 years old and I can smell fumes coming from the battery after I switch off the engine after even a 10km drive...

In which caseyou should check the alternator's circuitry ASAP. There is a fault somewhere, and the battery is gettign overcharged and over heated.

Jaggu · 8th January 2010, 12:13

Check if the recirculation vent is closing fully, i had faced similar problem with the altura, which used to pop open the vent at higher speed.

Choke the exhaust tip and careful inspection will reveal if you have leak at the exhaust or manifolds. Ideally engine should die when chocked at idle.

CAUTION: Ensure that proper caution and protection is taken while blocking exhaust, since exhaust can be very hot and can cause burns!

Mr_Bean · 13th January 2010, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Choke the exhaust tip and careful inspection will reveal if you have leak at the exhaust or manifolds. Ideally engine should die when chocked at idle.

thkz, I tried blocking the exhaust but wasn't able to completely block it. How do you do it at idle?

Btw how long it will take for a AC to lose its effect if the AC refrigerant start leaking?

vigsom · 13th January 2010, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Bean

Btw how long it will take for a AC to lose its effect if the AC refrigerant start leaking?

That depends on how najot the leak is?

Since only a few hundred gms of refrigerant gets charged,even a very minor leak(one bubble every five secs with soap solution on the filling valve) would mean effect gone in say 4-5 months

If the compressor seal leaks,then it is immediate

Mr_Bean · 13th January 2010, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigsom

That depends on how najot the leak is?

Since only a few hundred gms of refrigerant gets charged,even a very minor leak(one bubble every five secs with soap solution on the filling valve) would mean effect gone in say 4-5 months

If the compressor seal leaks,then it is immediate

If the refrigerant leaks, can it come through the AC vents?

7th January 2010, 14:10	#1
Mr_Bean BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 891 Thanked: 241 Times View My Garage	Help! - Engine fumes getting into the car & causing health problems I am at a situation where I don't feel like driving my baleno anymore.. The problem goes like the following: About a month back, I start experiencing stinging eyes & loss of concentration when driving. I got a terrible throat infection & it took me close to 20 days for that to subside, thanks to the problem in the car. 1.) The stinging eyes are experienced when I enter the car (e.g.) parked after a drive the previous day & also when I rev the car upto 5000-6000rpm. 2.) Even more when the AC was on as it kept recirculating the fumes. The problem would subside when I lower the windows down or put the AC to external mode. External mode clogged my AC system with leaves and had to shell out 1500/- for the cleaning and refill of gas.. 3.) Last trip to Bangalore, I was not able to concentrate during my drive, had to lower my rear window glass for fresh air. What all has been done? 1.) Got all the Air freshners removed 2.) Got the interior cleaning done & carpet dried up by parking the vehicle in the sun 3.) Got the complete AC system checked. Cooling coil cleaning, evaporator and condensor.. 4.) Mechanic observed the exhaust was emanating a rotten egg smell, the honey comb on the baleno (primary and secondary) was completely non-functioning due to bad fuel & it was removed. This reduced the problem to an extent. 5.) checked for an entry point through which the fumes could enter. Currently: The problem has reduced 80%, but still the root cause has not been found. I have also understood that it can be leaky exhaust but no one seems to point to the problem area. Also there is no weird sound coming from the exhaust. I am not sure what would be the effect of this on my health in the long run, currently I plan to stop using the car. My baleno has driven 42k kms & it is 2005 BSII model. Appreciate your help. Last edited by Mr_Bean : 7th January 2010 at 14:12.
	() Thanks

7th January 2010, 15:05	#2
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,522 Thanked: 752 Times	Did you look at the running engine with the hood up?
	() Thanks

7th January 2010, 15:36	#3
vigsom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NSEW Posts: 3,760 Thanked: 25,462 Times	Mr Bean, 1.Compare your Baleno's exhaust note with that of any other Baleno and see if you notice some abnormal noise.If the exhaust has developed a leak it would obviously sound noisier 2.If it is an exhaust leak, check with teh engine running,if you can smell some exhaust gas in your rear seat area(you might have to become a sniffer doggie for sometime) 3.It appears that this problem is because of smog - you drive for extended periods with the windows rolled up - all the O2 you breathe gets converted to CO2 and that's why the discomfort.Since you've de-activated the fresh air intake,suggest you roll the window an inch down every 30 minutes for 2 minutes and then roll up again.Then see
	() Thanks

7th January 2010, 16:49	#6
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,348 Thanked: 3,100 Times View My Garage	Mr Bean, when you got your car's AC system checked, did they check whether the switch between recirculation and fresh intake is working properly? Could be that that part is not working properly and your ac is always in fresh-intake mode? See this thread: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...-into-car.html It showed up in "Similar Threads" at the bottom of yoru thread.
	() Thanks

7th January 2010, 21:16	#8
anandpadhye Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 3,054 Thanked: 3,313 Times	Did you check the battery? My NHC is 5 years old and I can smell fumes coming from the battery after I switch off the engine after even a 10km drive...
	() Thanks

7th January 2010, 21:24	#9
Gansan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,535 Thanked: 5,548 Times	Where did you get the car checked? I would suggest you to take it to MSM once and have it checked by a senior technician.
	() Thanks

8th January 2010, 11:57	#10
Mr_Bean BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 891 Thanked: 241 Times View My Garage	I will take it to MSM this saturday. Have you googled about leaky exhaust on the net? There is a lot more to it than what the mechanic looks in..
	() Thanks

8th January 2010, 12:13	#12
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,906 Times	Check if the recirculation vent is closing fully, i had faced similar problem with the altura, which used to pop open the vent at higher speed. Choke the exhaust tip and careful inspection will reveal if you have leak at the exhaust or manifolds. Ideally engine should die when chocked at idle. CAUTION: Ensure that proper caution and protection is taken while blocking exhaust, since exhaust can be very hot and can cause burns!
	() Thanks