Exhaust fumes entering cabin while stationary

ianckt739 · Post by **ianckt739** » 30 Sep 2009, 16:30

Hello all, just wondered if anyone knows any likely causes, other than the obvious hole in the exhaust.

Bit of a concern given the toxic nature of fumes so I have booked the car in first thing tomorrow to have the exhaust checked.

Having lifted the car up and given it a once over myself though, I can't see any obvoius holes/splits, the cat appears to be hole-free and all joins seem OK. Has anyone come accross any other sources for this at all? Exhaust manifold springs to mind but I guess I'll find out tomorrow...

Ian

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 30 Sep 2009, 16:34

Being a 1.4 HDi I'd put money on a leaking injector fire washer. Can you hear a kind of 'chugging' noise under the bonnet when the engine is running at idle ?

ianckt739 · Post by **ianckt739** » 30 Sep 2009, 17:53

I haven't noticed one, but that's not to say there isn't! I have noticed a whistle though which I have read is associated with a hole somewhere.

I'll take a look this evening... am I right in thinking there will be soot/staining around the injector if that's the case?

Thanks
Ian

VertVega · Post by **VertVega** » 30 Sep 2009, 18:39

Hi, Exhaust smell in the cabin is not a nice experience

I had it once after exhaust replacement caused by the loose clamp (cataly. converter <-> central pipe). Easy to fix but difficult to locate the leak

I guess C3 has also exhaust pipe in 3 parts as in Xantia and most probably the leak is in the front section from where it is sucked inside the car through the air intake.

When it is dark (evening, night) you can use a torch which shows smoke and you can trace the source (as I did).
Edit: Did I mention that the engine must be running for search & locate

...

Good luck

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 30 Sep 2009, 19:04

ianckt739 wrote:I haven't noticed one, but that's not to say there isn't! I have noticed a whistle though which I have read is associated with a hole somewhere.

I'll take a look this evening... am I right in thinking there will be soot/staining around the injector if that's the case?

Thanks
Ian

Yes you will see a black carbon type build up around the injector(s) if the fire seals are leaking.

citrov6 · Post by **citrov6** » 30 Sep 2009, 19:14

mine did it with a leaky exhaust manifold gasket once

ianckt739 · Post by **ianckt739** » 30 Sep 2009, 19:18

Good idea about the torch, just got in from work and decided it was too dark to locate anything by eye... got a few funny looks stood outside inspecting my engine bay with my nose! Will dig out a torch and take a look.

The smell is quite strong around the injectors but I can't see any soot build up or hear any noises. While driving the turbo seems to have a slight delay, again perhaps indicative of a leak somewhere. Vacuum hoses are all fine they were all checked and some replaced a few months ago.

So out with the torch... after some food!

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 30 Sep 2009, 19:45

is the tailgate seal in good order or is the tailgate shut tight,

as gases can come in that way

regards malcolm

ianckt739 · Post by **ianckt739** » 30 Sep 2009, 20:08

Well I've had a look with the torch and unfortunately I'm no further forward really! I can see small amounts of smoke under the bonnet but I can't locate it's source - can't see any around the injectors, nor the cat and it's too windy now to be able to see if it's coming out of the join between the flexible part and the rigid part of the exhaust, tho that is my main suspect.

I think it's most likely coming from the front end rather than the tailgate as it's coming from the air vents in the cabin - without them or with the hvac set to 'recirculate' the odour stops. Don't want to risk driving round like that though with Carbon Monoxide being odourless, just in case.

As I say, booked into a local garage tomorrow so hopefully I'll have the answer by then... and probably a dent in my wallet too!

George · Post by **George** » 30 Sep 2009, 20:36

Is the boot/tailgate shutting proper?

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 30 Sep 2009, 21:04

I don't know if HDI's use them but I had a leak from the "brillo pad" type, spring-loaded, flexing gasket that joins the manifold to the exhaust pipe. About £15 for the kit from Citroen.

But could the EGR also leak somewhere? Just a thought.

ianckt739 · Post by **ianckt739** » 30 Sep 2009, 21:16

Yes that's the bit I suspect is playing up, where it joins onto the straight section to the back box. I just can't trace the exact spot to confirm my suspicions...

I may well be wrong though, it might be more sinister!

ianckt739 · Post by **ianckt739** » 01 Oct 2009, 10:09

Well they've looked at it and it is, as I suspected, where the rigid straight section meets the flexible ('brillo-pad') bit at the front.

Getting it and the back-box replaced this afternoon so hopefully will become a bit more pleasant to drive... certainly explains all the headaches I've been getting! Risky business this motoring lark!

andydykes · Post by **andydykes** » 10 Oct 2009, 17:38

Citroen C5 1.8LX Petrol 2002 model

I am getting exhaust fumes into the car. Don't think its the exhaust leaking but coming from the rocker cover.

I had to remove when changing the cambelt sometime back and didn't replace the gasget on the cover. Is it possible that fumes are coming from here?

Any ideas to check? More noticable driving round town than on the motorway

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 10 Oct 2009, 17:45

I was going to suggest it could have been the EGR valve or connections to it.