Sulfer smell......nobody go in the garage for 25-35 minutes.

[Puckaveli]

For the last two or three weeks. My car has had a strong sulfer smell after I shut it off. I know what clutch, antifreeze, and rubber smell like and it's not any of those. It's a MY00 with 11,000 miles and no performance mods so this is a problem. Can anybody shed some light on this for me?

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[ColinL]

What brand or brands of gas do you purchase?

[8Complex]

How about brake smells? Just adding to the list.

I thought that sulfur smells usually came from your cat. and running too rich, but not sure if this could be your problem or not...

[FargoRS]

My 2001 Forester started smelling like sulfer at 4500 miles...the dealer scoped it and everything checks out. I read a service bulletin that says it could be the brand of gas, but I haven't changed since I bought the car and I ran the same gas in my 99 RS with no problems. I changed recently to a different brand and I still have the problem.

I drove in some flood water that was about one foot deep when Fargo ND was flooded bad a few months ago. I think I might have damaged the cat or O2 sensor from doing that. I'm going to insist they get replaced because the smell is more frequent and getting stinkier. Kind of embarrassing to have an egg fart smelling new car.

Mike



[This message has been edited by FargoRS (edited September 08, 2000).]

[RidinLow]

I had a horrible sulfur smell with my 325i whenever I used Unocal gasoline. Turns out BMW had actually issued a service bulletin stating that their cats were allergic to that particular brand.

So, I'd try switching brands if I were you!

[Snoopy]

You ran over a skunk.

[Reflex-Arc]

I've had a similar problem on occasion,but
I havent been able to figure it out. The RS hasent exploded yet, so I imagine its ok....
-RA

[Big Tee]

Some years ago Chrysler had a tech bulletin out on this symptom and at that time Mobil was the culprit.
I sure think its fuel/cat related and though its annoying, probably not causing any damage.

[munkis]

.......................

[Scooby do]

My car does that stinky smell also, the dealer said it is because I don't let it warm up enough. I already had a fuel thing replaced, they are replacing the fuel control sensor this coming week. I run different gas alot so its hard to say if its a certain one.

Try Beano?

"Say hello to my stinky little friend"

[Puckaveli]

i'm pretty sure it's not the brakes, but i think the gas might be a closer shot. i've been really bad about using the same brand lately because of all of the traveling i've been doing. i'm going to start using just shell and see if it stops. thank you all for your help. i'll keep you posted.

sorry about the no caps i broke both my flippin' shift keys.

[v6scoobie]

I have the same problem sometimes inside my car.usally I smell it in the cold weather with the heat on and windows locked and my family stuck in there with no way to get freash air.then all I hear is ohh dad put the window down.did you eat something dead.

[HondasRslow]

well ive used chevron for a couple of years now and never had that problem, so give chevron a try, its good gas

-Alex

[dandbest]

Puckavelli,
I have a '99 RS with the very same problem. I called SOA and at first they said that it was the gas, but when I told them that I was using Exxon 93, they said "take it to the dealer" I also tried using Amoco 93,Shell 93, but nothing has helped. So now I have an appointment for Sept.21 so I'll let you know then. Until then, be happy that you arent the car behind you...

[ac_gohan]

its could be your catalytic converters if you drive the car a short distance the carbon builds up on your cats. it smells because the water inside the cats are supposed to cycle and when you just turn the car off coming from down the street the water is going to stay in there. So its acts like a distillery in some way. thats how you get the sulfur smell. I had that probelm when i drove my eclipse but i havent experienced that problem with my impreza yet. I solved it by taking a couple laps before i stop. not the most convienient way to do it but it worked for me. Hey who knows i could be completely wrong if so why does it smell?

[brat]

I have had the same problem for about 6 months now. My car is rather sluggish, and when I finally get it going, it seems like I through an anchor overboard and it quickly slows down. My friends tell me to shift at a higher RPM to "clean it out." I do and I get that awful sulfur smell. Could my cat be clogged?
Mara

[pfobrien]

It could be the ECU.
There is a post on the general board about a Subaru recall coming on the ECU !~

[rpone605]

Hey Puck sounds like your trunk monkey has gas!!!

[Puckaveli]

He did eat a few sandwiches from Gyro Bob in the flats on Saturday.

[FargoRS]

I'm curious what year your cars are that have the sulfer smell problem? My 99 didn't have this problem but it had the MAS on the intake. My 2001 Forester does not have a MAS and I wonder if the new configuration is keeping the engine from quickly compensating between rich and lean conditions which makes the CAT load up and stink. I also think most of us drive harder than the average Outback or Legacy owner, that's why we notice the smell. I may have a Forester, but I drive it has hard as my old RS.

Mike

[AndyHidley]

Rotten Egg smell is a clogged cat. Like what was said above, running rich can clog them. Thus short trips with the choke on will be raeally rich. I have 14,000 miles on my 2000 and I buy the cheapest gas I can find, and I've never smelled that. But I drive 45 miles each way to work. Also a bad O2 sensor will cause that, because its telling the ECU to make the mixture richer, thus clogging the cat