Test drove and the car smells really bad

mmmm....odd <_< Maybe your olfactory nerves pick up on something that most of us don't. At first I was thinking of the new car smell - but you'd know that one for sure.

On many new cars that I've had, there is a peculiar toxic odor that comes from the car as the "shipping coating" on the engine and exhaust burns off. That is, of course, what I've been told and may not be true at all. It usually went away in the first 200 miles.

The wierd thing is that you sat in 3 different Pri and smelled the same thing. If it were 1, there could be a plausable explanation.

 

Maybe it was the valet? (Sorry, vague Seinfeld reference)

 

:lol:

 

is this coming from the vents? does it smell like mold?

 

We have two Priuses. When we bought my Prius, I didn't notice any unusual smell.

However, my wife's Prius, bought in early December, smelled to me like burning plastic spoons. You can't be a boy scout without having burned at least one plastic spoon in a camp fire, and I burned quite a few, so I know that smell well. I suppose it could have been a glue smell.

The smell was very strong and didn't occur until the car was started and the A/C (heater) fan came on. I assumed that some plastic bits fell into the ceramic disk cabin heaters that the Prius supposedly has. I had planned to take it in for service if it continued for long, but after a week or two, it went away.

 

All Toyotas that go overseas have their exhaust systems sprayed with a coating. This coating must burn off. The Prius generates very little heat, and in the winter, the exhaust does not get very hot, so it takes a long time to burn off (a month or so).

The way to determine if the smell is indeed from the exhaust, start the car, and put the A/C to recirc. Then, get on the highway. Set the A/C to fresh. See if the smell goes away.

If the smell bothers you, ask the dealer to wipe the exhaust system with brake cleaner or some other solvent. Also, buy your car in summer, and drive it around on the highway with the A/C on recirc. It will go away faster.

Note that this smell will not be found on US produced vehicles; Camry, Avalon, Tundra, Matrix, Sequoia, Sienna, and some Corollas.

Nate

 

Here is another topic about a new Prius with an odor, maybe not the same as yours?

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=14404&hl=smell&st=0

 

Dave,

My car had an odor, too. The salesman said it was burning off something in the engine or catalytic converter (I can't remember what he called it.) He said it would go away in about 50-75 miles. He was right. The smell totally left the car. Toyota puts on some kind of protective oil for shipment. Hopes this helps.

 

except that he stated that the car had 1500 miles on it

 

why do those new cars have 1500 miles on them?

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: I are only several thousands of miles away from me, so by the time you get here the smell might be gone, Sorry

 

My 06 had a pretty strong smell but at 600 miles it is still there, but much weaker. I think it will gradually go away.

 

So all the Priuii had the same smell and it does not seem to be a problem for the rest of us......hmmmmm? Did you check your shoes for doggie do? <_<

 

I was just hearing about a similar thing on the news. Apparently, the current version of "new car smell" is glue curing and the stuff that they use to "soften plastic" (that's what the announcer said). I noticed this sort of smell in my car when I got it, and there is still some left (not as bad as when I got it). They also added that breathing these vapors isn't good for you. However, if they gave a solution, I didn't catch that part. It might be enough to just drive around for a while with the fan on, bringing in outside air. Opening the windows at this time of year is optional, but seems like it would help.

But this may be something that we're all stuck with, until it dissipates.

-Roger

 

Yes, I have it. It's not from outside, nor the vent. Of four new Priuses, this is the first one I've had it with. Melting plastic spoons might be close. It's (words fail) acrid, pungent, whatever.