4Runner Owners... Horrible smell when accelerating while back window is open?

Question

Hi. I'm just curious if anyone else has this problem. When I have the back window down and accelerate there is a HORRIBLE smell that comes inside the vehicle. It's so bad that I don't even open it anymore while driving. I took it into the dealership once and they told me it was something to do w/ a cada-someting convert-something. (I know NOTHING about this kind of stuff.) I guess I was just curious if other owners have this problem.


And if the dealership is right and it's nothing to worry about... WHY do they even have a window if you can't use it?! (The smell is THAT bad!)

Answer 1

If your vehicle has a special spoiler over the back window then you should not get this smell inside. It is engine exhaust and catalytic converter smell. Cars with rear windows such as yours and other station wagons are not designed to drive with the window down without the air deflector on the roof that diverts the air away. What happens is that when you drive the forward motion of the car creates a vacuum at the rear and the exhaust from the engine is simply "sucked inside" the car with the window down. Especially if you have windows open anywhere else in the vehicle. The air deflector on the roof is designed to force air down across the back glass area and stop this similar to the way that big grocery stores and such often have the air blowing down on you when you enter or leave the store tokeep the ac or heat inside and outside air out. If your converter is bad it can put out a rotten egg smell but you should also smell that easily with the car idling and not driving. If you don't then you are possibly smelling just exhaust gas as mentioned above. If the converter is stinking then get it replaced, but that smell "coming inside the car" is a warning to you that exhaust and carbon monoxide is coming in as well. Replacing the converter and getting the smell gone will not stop the exhaust coming in the car and possibly making you sick.

Answer 2

Catalytic converter. I would take it to a Toyota shop (not the dealership, especially if you have an older vehicle) and make sure there aren't any leaks in your exhaust system. You don't want to be breathing large amounts of your exhaust, since it contains high levels of carbon monoxide. People fire up their car in the garage with the door closed to commit suicide.

Answer 3

Dude, that's somewhat severe! once you've exhaust fumes getting nto the cabin, you are able to awaken completely useless! Carbon Monoxide poisoning can positioned you gently, on the instantaneous to sleep - no longer good once you're utilizing! Get a storage to analyze the gaskets on the exhaust manifolds, and examine the exhaust pipes for leaks. once you've airleaks contained in the exhaust, exhaust temperature will upward thrust to some extent that warmth will run lower back to the engine and reason harm. restore this on the instantaneous!

Answer 4

Catalytic converter - they can smell of rotten eggs until warmed up. Don't drive with the window open, it'll be drawing exhaust fumes in even when you can't smell it.

Answer 5

the manual also says do not drive with rear window open as it will draw in exhaust fumes
as for the rotten egg smell,make sure it is tuned up well and try changing fuel brands

Answer 6

Could it be exhaust? The thing the dealer mentioned is a catalylac converter

Answer 7

go to the dealer or another dealer. the cat needs to be reburned.. it happened to me .. i work for toyota for 7 years.. it was free for me and should be free for you. the dealers probably being lazy.. im pretty sure this only happens on the v 6. smells like sulfer right.. i know it sucked but it doesnt happen to me after the reburn

Answer 8

Was the dealer was referring to cadillac converter? If so, I'd get the one where it turns your Toy into an Escalade. Might be expensive though.