Tech / General EngineIs your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
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I have a fumes smell in my 1986 trans am. it is a v8 automatic and i tihnk it may be transmission related but not sure at all.
I figured this is the place to figure out what other people think.
If the transmission has old or little fluid would it burn up? the connections to the radiator seem fine.
I installed a new radiator right after i purchase it from the previous owner.
I took out the transmisson plugs so i can screw in the coolent lines for the transmission fluid. It was a deep dirt red color.
I'm going to get the transmission fluid drained and refilled soon but i also have a slight oil leak on teh valve gaskets but i'm just unsure of what i smell.
I have to drive with the windows down to get any fresh air. its not smoking just the odor of fumes.
can it be exhaust fumes if there was a rust hole possibly in the y-pipe?
can it be transmission fluid burn smell coming up from the shifter assembly or up from the ac vents?
or can it just be the old oil burning off the engine coming in through the AC vents?
or soemthing i havent thought of?
The transmission fluid will be flussed and changed soon since it is dark red.
the y-pipes and cat converter r being replaced from the cat being broken and y-pipe being rusted.
hopefully that will rule out my current ideas
if it is the oil leak i dont smell it with the hood open and working on the engine after driving it.
Is your PCV functioning correctly? If the valve is stuck or not connected you can experience blow-by gasses under the bonnet which make their way into the cockpit.
You still have the rubber gasket attached to the underside of the hood, by the cowl? If not your heater assembly will suck in fumes while driving. I have had that before. Instant headache. -Nick.
the pcv has a vacuum. but i definately woulldn't have thought of that.
I think the y-pipe or oil on engine is my best bet at the moment i no longer thinkits the transmission fluid.
but any other ideas of what it could be keep them coming. just incase its not either of the two
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really? i'll check. I believe its still there. are you talking about regular oil fumes or exhaust?
Last edited by Bobby_80s; 12-12-2006 at 11:40 AM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Could be a rust hole in the spare tire area or under the back seat sucking fumes.
opening a window wont help forver, it may seem like it but your still breathing that stuff.
Put your slider on max AC, that will close your fresh air vents.
[works on all GM cars]
AC wont run if temp slider is set on warm.
That will stop fumes from coming into the car like you want until you find what is making the smell. With window open your getting fresh air but still sucking fumes. CO fumes can build up in your system, very bad after some time.
Yep check your hatch seal. It will suck fumes through it also. Why trucks with a cap or station wagons has the exhaust exit on the sides. As if they dump straight out. When the back is open it will pull fumes right from the exhaust into the truck/wagon......
Same thing, if you hatch seal leaks, it will suck fumes right from your exhaust into the car.
Temp fix for leaking seal if your low on funds.
Buy some of that peel n stick weather stripping they sell this time of year. Get 1/4in thick for doors, and 1/2in thick for hatch.
I did just that to my car about 3 years ago. Wasn't from fumes but I was tired of cold air blowing right through the car in the winter. It was a cheap temp fix that has lasted. Just peel n stick over top of the stock seals.
The car jsut passed emmisions with excellent results. But The smell isn't as bad after i had a new y-pipe and cat installed. It only happened when i had the heat on. I believe there might have been a small leak in the yipie under ther heater core or blower. But i also suspect the heater core is dirty and is fuming the burnt dirt or oil or whatever got stuck on it sometime in the past 20 yrs. If nto teh nits jsut old oil smell which some degreaser should cure after i change my valve gaskets.
