engine smell in cabin at idle

vovlofromHell · Post by **vovlofromHell** » 31 May 2003, 23:00

We have an '95 850 GLT with the same problem. One thing I would suggest is to have the cabin filter changed. It is located on the driver's side of the engine compartment. It did make some difference but I am still searching like everyone else for a complete resolution. I happened to be searching this site for anyone experiencing the same problem. I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents of what I know thus far. We have had the 850 into a shop that specializes in Volvo repair and they have come up with the cabin filter replacement. We are going to take it back to see if we can get a more through inspection. If I get it completely fixed, I will post the information.

anothervolvofromhell · Post by **anothervolvofromhell** » 01 Jun 2003, 15:34

I have a 1994 855 Turbo and had the same problem. Mine got so bad I could hardly stand to be in the car at stoplights. What I found was that a hard plastic hose that runs along the driver's side of the engine was cracked. Someone had tried to patch it with a hose clamp which had slipped from all the oil inside the hose. What I did was just cut the hose off from just behind the cracked section to where it attaches to the intake hose (right in front of the turbo) and replaced it with a piece of radiator hose. I just hose clamped it to the remaining piece of the original hose until I can find the factory part. The hose runs from the intake hose by the turbo, then travels very close to the engine under the throttle body and then under the intake manifold (maybe part of the PCV system?). I don't know if this is what is wrong with yours but maybe it will help.

VolvoFromHell! · Post by **VolvoFromHell!** » 02 Jun 2003, 21:23

Sounds like good place to start. The engine smell that we are getting is also at a stoplight like you . Guess when you are driving there is enough air intake to keep the smell out of the passenger area. Will give it a shot and report back if it that fixes it. Appreciate the post. My userid is "VolvoFromHell" due to the many problems with my '97 960 not the 850. I have had the secondary air pump (twice), cd player, power steering rack, sun roof gates (twice), air conditioning belos, trasmission switch (twice) defected rotors, and radiator replaced before 100,000 miles. Thank G-d I had enough sense to buy an extended warranty. Still like to drive the 960 around town and on the open road. I have a "love/hate relationship with my car. Thanks to all the other persons who took time to post their suggestions and comments.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 05 Jun 2003, 00:11

there are some vent tubes for the cowl drain make sure they are connected properly the hood seal that runs along the cowl on the plastic is in place the plastic cowl is sitting flat and not leaking air through and their is a slight poss. that the ac drain is allowing the smell through

VolvofromHell · Post by **VolvofromHell** » 05 Jun 2003, 23:04

Thanks. I will check all the suggestions possibly this weekend or next. Appreciate it!!!

VolvofromHell · Post by **VolvofromHell** » 20 Jun 2003, 22:17

Ok, here's the scoop. Looked again for any signs of leaking gases in the engine compartment . Saw white smoke coming from the area near the distributor cap and camshaft position sensor. Took our 850 into the shop and watched the mechanic diagnose the smoke problem. Turns out that the Flame trap was missing an "O" ring seal. Engine gases was leaking from the flame trap and being sucked into the air conditioning vents when the car was stopped at a light. When we first got the car a year ago there was no white smoke. Apparently the flame trap problem just got worst. Thanks for all the suggestions on where to look.

AutoX47 · Post by **AutoX47** » 20 Jun 2003, 22:33

when volvo owners unite, everyone is happy!

jsst5 · Post by **jsst5** » 01 Jan 2005, 14:06

I had this problem the smell of hot oil would come into the cabin at a stop
i found it ti be the oil seals on the oil return pipe from the turbo to the sump. They were leaking a little and the oil was burning on the hot turbo costs very little to sort out!!

johndreyer · Post by **johndreyer** » 10 Nov 2006, 21:16

Maybe your gas cap was lose and that caused the CEL.

Post by **mwy** » 20 Jan 2007, 23:01

I was getting a smell like burnt clutch inside my car sometimes while stopped, and definitely noticed it outside the car after driving. Today I looked in the engine compartment and noticed that the EGR metal flex hose from the exhaust manifold to the intake had worked its way a little loose. I slid it into place and the smell seems to have disappeared. Is there supposed to be a clamp on this thing to hold it in place?

Thanks - Matt