exhaust smell inside giving me a headache

jeremy93ls · 2-1-06, 7:38

Nothing special about my 1993 mx-6 v6.... 170K miles, custom PVC/Ractive shielded filter, empty stock cat converter, standard aftermarket muffler...

I enjoy driving with the empty converter in between annual emission tests, although I've began to notice a strong exhaust smell inside the car while driving. Windows are up, roof closed, ventilation switched to 'fresh' or 'recirculate' - it doesn't matter, still smells bad inside. I know that an unrestricted exhaust flow will produce a stronger smell, that's to be expected. But, inside my car with windows up/roof closed?

My roof is bent a little from an 'incident' when I had to crawl into the car one night when i locked my keys in. It doesn't make a tight seal anymore, and there's constant wind noise from it while driving. Would exhaust fumes get sucked into the car from around the roof while driving/stopping?

I've also removed the drain plug from under the spare tire because I had spilled something in the trunk a few years ago. One tiny hole would'nt cause all this trouble, would it?

Anyone have any ideas? Maybe there's not a tight seal at the converter. Are our cars prone to suck fumes in from under the console at the shifter boot/seal?

It's beginning to give me headaches, and I know something must be done. Swapping the empty converter with my 'good' converter might reduce the amount of exhaust fumes produced, but they'd still enter the cabin somehow.

Anyone else had/solved this problem with their 93-97 mx-6?

jeremy

**Fastest95PGT** · 2-1-06, 8:57

I have exhaust in my car all the time due to an accident a couple/few years ago where some SUV plowed into the rear and totalled my 2g which I had fixed cheap so there's a nice gap between the hatch and the tails.

My resolution is to just keep the vents on blowing in air from the outside. Works great.

**wpendl1** · 2-1-06, 9:43

Right, presurizing the inside of the car should decrees the amount of exhaust sucked in. You may be causing a venturi with the leaking sunroof. The air going across the roof is more than likely sucking air from inside your car causing a slight vacuum. At that point air is sucked into the car thru all the leaks. When My sunroof is tilted up, I can feel the air coming in thru the door, around the speaker, around the window switches...

**haiyter** · 2-1-06, 12:15

what about the gaskets? could have been worn out or so.

**Jimma11** · 2-1-06, 13:07

check your wheel wells mainly the rear ones but check to see if there is any holes from rust etc in behind the tires Im pretty sure if it was comming into the car to the extent of giving you headachs it must be comming from below

**KING6** · 2-1-06, 23:45

You got an exhaust leak. If its a small one that you cannot hear (due to loud motor or exhaust) Get under your car while running with a thing of windex (or spray bottle full of soap and spray it around the exhaust pipeing, manifolds and flanges to source the leak. you will see it mist and/or bubble where the leak is at.
NOTE: Car must be jacked up, supported by stands, wheels blocked front and rear and in nuetral or park. Have some one help.

Exhaust in the cabin isnt good, it makes the interior smell.. and can kill you if its bad enough.

**62sick** · 2-3-06, 0:11

Flex pipe, or manifold to Y-Pipe that is my guess, any bets?

jeremy93ls · 2-3-06, 21:07

Thanks for the responses, that gives me several places to start this weekend.

I pressed my not-so-even roof panel in to make a tighter seal yesterday on my ride home. At steady speed, my passenger and I *clearly* noticed the fumes when swithching from 'fresh' air to 'recirc'. 10-20 seconds after pressing recirc, we would begin smelling the fumes at the same time (good call, wpendl1)

Hmmm, I bet i've swapped cat converters on my mazda 10 times in the last few years. I replace those crummy gaskets when they look bad, but I've never really been satisfied with the seal they make. I'll bet i've beat that exhaust to death...

jeremy*
(still a little high from those fumes)