Smell in 2011

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Deleted member 176300, Jul 9, 2019.

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  1. Deleted member 176300

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    So I spent alot of time reviewing Priuschat and I could not find an answer. So I am having a sulfur smell appear in my car. I did the AC refresh kit and the smell is still around. I have cleaned the car/carpet. I have noticed:

    The smell goes away going 55-60 mph or more.
    The smell goes away during and after turns
    The smell is not coming out of AC unit.

    Any thoughts?
     
    #1 Deleted member 176300, Jul 9, 2019
  2. Deleted member 176300

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    Smell is less potent while the car is sitting in the sun.
     
    #2 Deleted member 176300, Jul 9, 2019
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just a guess, could be the vent tubes for the hybrid battery, but that may have only been gen2, i'm not sure.

    can't understand the turning thing though
     
    #3 bisco, Jul 9, 2019
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  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Are you the original owner?
    Check the 12v battery. Make sure it's AGM battery, not a standard car battery.
    Check the vent tube also.
     
    #4 ASRDogman, Jul 9, 2019
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  5. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Those are some strange symptoms. Agreeing and adding to what has already been suggested, maybe the disappearance at 55-60 mph is because it induces sufficient Bernoulli extraction from the vents at the rear of the vehicle to withdraw the pollutant from the rear hatch area. If you inspect and find that your 12 V battery in the right rear corner of the car is missing its vent tube, or it isn't properly connected, that could be the source of the smell. I propose the odor could be hydrogen sulfide gas. I can't understand the turning either, unless it temporarily rotates the air mass within the vehicle allowing an unpolluted parcel to arrive at your nose.
     
    #5 AzWxGuy, Jul 10, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2019
  6. Deleted member 176300

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    So I did the AC refresh on Monday and the 12v battery was replaced by the dealer yesterday (I am assuming they correctly installed the hose, haven't double checked). Since I completed these items the smell is not apparent during the day, just when I start the car in the morning. The smell goes away when the AC is on. At this point the smell is just coming out when the car is sitting from long periods of time. The smell tends to linger in the headspace of the car, I cannot find a specific place that the smell is coming from.

    From looking on this forum, I am seeing that in the majority of cases it is either the AC, the 12v battery, or the tubes. Since I have crossed out the first two, any resources on replacing the tubes? Is it the tubes to the 12v or hybrid battery that are known to smell. Any ballpark figures on the cost associated with the tube replacement?
     
    #6 Deleted member 176300, Jul 10, 2019
  7. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    Charging a lead-acid battery generates hydrogen, not hydrogen sulfide.
     
    #7 NewHybridOwner, Jul 10, 2019
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  8. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    This.
    A true sulfur smell usually only comes from two things:
    The sulfuric acid in the 12 V battery OR a failing catalytic converter.

    Depends on the heath of the battery and the rate of charging.
    You are more likely to smell sulfuric acid fumes than hydrogen sulfide.
     
    #8 sam spade 2, Jul 10, 2019
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  9. Deleted member 176300

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    So I am going to hit every inch of the car with a mold remover. Any good brands that are car safe?

    What are some typical dead animal hiding locations in the 3rd gen?
     
    #9 Deleted member 176300, Jul 11, 2019
  10. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Mold does NOT smell like sulfur.
    Neither does a dead animal.

    Sometimes an exhaust leak will though and that can be bad for your health.

    I strongly suspect that you are wasting your time.......IF your description of the odor as "sulfur" is accurate.
     
    #10 sam spade 2, Jul 11, 2019
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  11. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Time for an experiment. Add some gasoline treatment such as Techron or STP. Take the car for a spin at highway speed for a couple hours and probably half a tank. See if the problem persists. It's more likely this is an engine exhaust issue, more I think about it.
     
    #11 AzWxGuy, Jul 11, 2019
  12. Deleted member 176300

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    If it is an exhaust leak shouldn't I be able to smell it when the idles? The smell doesn't appear until the car has been sitting for 4+ hours.
     
    #12 Deleted member 176300, Jul 11, 2019
  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Sam spade 2 is right: sulfur smell is either from battery leaking or catalytic converter.

    Mold and sulfur are 2 different things. I used to explain water on under passenger carpet was AC drain, after 3 people ignored it and came back months later after all the guessing & checking, said it was AC drain after all, so I just gave up explaining it.
     
    #13 Grit, Jul 11, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2019
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Check the air filter box and cabin filter
     
    #14 bisco, Jul 11, 2019
  15. Deleted member 176300

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    How do you check the catalytic converter? Any DIY's?
     
    #15 Deleted member 176300, Jul 11, 2019
  16. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Dealer schmealer.
     
    #16 Grit, Jul 11, 2019
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you would have trouble codes
     
    #17 bisco, Jul 11, 2019
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