Velly Smelly!!

[Mushkin]

Hi Everyone

I am at my wits end - I have a 2007 1.6i Bingo.

There is a terrible smell coming in through the air vents - a bit curry like - and in my entire life have only smelt this once before in a Citroen Xantia a few years back - and I never got to the bottom of that.

Neither the Xantia nor the Bingo have air con and the Bingo does not have a pollen filter (checked this with main dealer)

There are no oil leaks and the whole engine bay is quite clean. The smell is quite strong and is always there whether heater is on hot or cold.

So............all suggestions gratefully received. - Has anyone else experienced similar?

Thanks

Mushkin

[brodfather11]

Heater matrix is leaking coolant , doesn't take much to create a good curry smell.

[Mushkin]

Hi Everyone

I am at my wits end -  I have a 2007 1.6i Bingo.

There is a terrible smell coming in through the air vents - a bit curry like - and in my entire life have only smelt this once before in a Citroen Xantia a few years back - and I never got to the bottom of that.

Neither the Xantia nor the Bingo have air con and the Bingo does not have a pollen filter (checked this with main dealer)

There are no oil leaks and the whole engine bay is quite clean. The smell is quite strong and is always there whether heater is on hot or cold.

So............all suggestions gratefully received. - Has anyone else experienced similar?

Thanks

Mushkin

Hi Brodfather11

Thank you for your quick response. I had not even considered that...............

Would there not be some evidence of a leak inside? Have had my head in the footwells and see no evidence so far?

Radiator water level staying constant also. Is there any way I can find out if there is a leak without ripping out the dash?

Thanks again

Mushkin

[brodfather11]

Its quite a common thing on the berlingos , there are a lot of posts about it .

It does not take a lot of leakage to make the smell., a slight weep is enough as when the air passes over the leak it evaporates the coolant/water and it does not always show as a leak into the footwell but the smell does.
You could try a radiator sealer which if a small weep/leak it should cure it for a while.

[Mushkin]

Its quite a common thing on the berlingos , there are a lot of posts about it .

It does not take a lot of leakage to make the smell., a slight weep is enough as when the air passes over the leak it evaporates the coolant/water and it does not always show as a leak into the footwell  but the smell does.
 You could try a radiator sealer which if a small weep/leak it should cure it for a while.

Hello Again and a BIG thank you - I'll try that for sure.

Mushkin

[andy-womble]

Try a bit of naan bread and basmati rice in the footwell to soak it up ......

[Mushkin]

Try a bit of naan bread and basmati rice in the footwell to soak it up ......

Hi Andy

I was thinking myself along similar lines but would prefer pillau rice - basmati is a little plain. Do you think sag aloo would go with it?

Cheers

Mushkin

[brodfather11]

You might need a Porta Loo after that

[ians_lingo]

Mines a 58 plate 1.6hdi and i had the same problem,easy to check,just turn the heater off and after awhile the smell will go,crack the heating back on and it'll reappear,rather than attempt the job (i gather its a pig) I tried K-seal as a first try as i do 10k per month and was hardly needing to top up so was hoping it was just a weep,touch wood its ok,gives me time to find someone who'll do the job without shafting me with a cactus while drawing breath through their teeth :-)..matrix arn't expensive it's the expected labour :-(
.
.
.Any ideas/recommendations in the w/yorks area or anyone wanting to do it,pm me an idea of the cost....thank you. Ian

[Mushkin]

Mines a 58 plate 1.6hdi and i had the same problem,easy to check,just turn the heater off and after awhile the smell will go,crack the heating back on and it'll reappear,rather than attempt the job (i gather its a pig) I tried K-seal as a first try as i do 10k per month and was hardly needing to top up so was hoping it was just a weep,touch wood its ok,gives me time to find someone who'll do the job without shafting me with a cactus while drawing breath through their teeth :-)..matrix arn't expensive it's the expected labour :-(
.
.
.Any ideas/recommendations in the w/yorks area or anyone wanting to do it,pm me an idea of the cost....thank you. Ian

Hi Ian

The other day, (dare I say ) I sniffed the expansion tank filler cap and lo and behold it smells EXACTLY the same smell as the smell in the car. So I bought some Radweld and am planning on flushing the whole system and giving that a go. If that doesn't work I'll have to reconsider my options!! Thank you for your response and all the others who helped me identify the probable cause. Just knowing what is causing it is a help. My original fear was 'head gasket' with resultant smell - so that is a big relief........

Thanks again