I used to have a Nissan truck and it wall turning into a regular bucket piece of s..t and someone told me it was the catalytic convertor(got rid of the truck and never fixed it to find out) now I have a ford explorer and just changed the radiator water with antifreeze, plus my power steering pump is going out so I think it is putting a drag on my fan belt a little. So we have had temps outside between 75-102 and I notice my temp gage going a little over the C line then drops a little and goes back up. I have already replaced my water pump, thermostat and radiator. I'm thinking the ammonia smell might be coming from the cooling system is this at all possible. Please only real answers of people who know what they are talking about. I really appreciate the help.
2006-06-21 17:10:09 · 13 answers · asked by Tazbunny 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
it is the exhaust for sure .
2006-06-21 17:37:42 · answer #1 · answered by timbob 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've never heard of an ammonia smell coming from a car, simply because I don't think there are any components or lubricants that should smell that way, even when they're going south.
The cooling system I can help you troubleshoot. What kind of antifreeze did you put in your car? Look on the bottle (or if you didn't keep it, I hope you remember), and see whether it says something along the line of "pre-mixed" or "50/50 mix antifreeze and water" somewhere on the label. If it doesn't, odds are you've added pure, undiluted antifreeze to your cooling system.
Undiluted antifreeze is too thick to circulate through the lines and engine properly. Therefore, it doesn't warm the engine at the correct rate and it stays cold for a longer than usual time, which is I think the symptom you're describing. (The temperature gauge should be reading somewhere in the middle, and it should do so about 10-15 minutes after you've started the car.)
If this is the case, you'll need to flush your cooling system and re-fill it with a 50% antifreeze/50% water mixture. This should solve your problem...and if it's coming from the cooling system, the smell should go away.
2006-06-21 17:20:45 · answer #2 · answered by bracken46 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're all wrong. My Nissan Frontier (in excellent condition) often puts out exhaust that smells strongly and unmistakably of ammonia. I'm a chemist, so I know the smell. It's nothing like actual cat piss (which also stinks of urea and other amines), or coolant or anything else mentioned in this thread. The smell is coming directly out of the exhaust pipe. According to many discussion on the web, this is very common with all kinds of vehicles, but I have yet to hear a scientifically plausible theory about why.
2016-08-02 16:53:57 · answer #3 · answered by Kellie Y 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The smell is probally coming from the cooling system, meaning there's a leak and there are many variables involved. To find out for sure, locate a reputable servicing company and ask to check the system. Make sure you elaborate that you only want it "checked out" and give you a "quote" before you make any decisions. The cost should average around $45.00.
2006-06-21 17:30:54 · answer #4 · answered by brian s 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
do you really mean ammonia smell?if so it could be cat urine-pull out the CABIN AIR FILTER (this is the filter for the air YOU breath not the engine air filter) if it smells like pee you have found your problem,if not find a muffler shop that will test the actual flow of your catalytic converter,but they usually smell like rotten eggs,still no luck ,try the heater core ,but they have a sweet smell cause anti freeze is sweet (keep coolant sealed and away from all kids and pets its TASTY and DEADLY)
2006-06-21 18:03:40 · answer #5 · answered by badmts 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put the exhaust pipe back on! You are smelling emissions fumes inside the vehicle. Not good! They contain noxious gasses which can be deadly in a concentrated area, such as an enclosed car!
2016-05-20 10:27:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
that ammonia smell may be coming from your heater i know your not using your heater right bit the coolant is still there and may be leaking into your heater/ a/c housing being atomized by the fun look for puddles on the passenger side floor of fogging of the windshield
2006-06-21 18:30:51 · answer #7 · answered by cutchant9 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it smells like hot coolant, check under the dash on the passenger side for leaks or wet carpet. It could be hole in your heater core.
2006-06-21 17:16:57 · answer #8 · answered by jml3148 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it sounds like you may have had a rodent in the vehicle at one time and maybe chewed on your heater hoses and defecated(shat) around your heater core or ductwork and now you are smelling it i would start by checking the heater core and maybe pull the fan motor and squirrel cage out and check for a nest or turds
2006-07-02 05:01:05 · answer #9 · answered by AARON M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
first are you losing any coolent?. if you are did you check your hoses? the cooling systems in cars are a pressurized system. if the is a leak somewhere then your system isn't pressurized like it should be which would result in improper coolent distribution...you might want to have the Head's checked to see if they are cracked also.
2006-06-21 17:18:07 · answer #10 · answered by gamesageps2 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go to CAR Facts . com and run your Vin # sounds like ( or smells like ) some one sold you a FLOOD car.
2006-06-21 17:16:40 · answer #11 · answered by Sam S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋