Fumes from air vents

[Fez887]

After a winter tucked up, I booked my S into a Cheshire TVR specialist for a list of works. On the way to dropping off the vehicle I noticed that while sat stationary at traffic lights fumes came into the cabin through the vents opposite the windscreen. Got a little concerned but then took comfort from the fact I was on my way to a repeatable TVR repair shop. After a chat with the specialist, it was discovered that the exhaust manifold had a number of perforations so was considered as the the likely issue. However before any major repairs could take place we were all placed into lock down and works stopped to the car.

Question is, after reading this months sprint magazine article re 3000m, I got a little concerned about a potential electrical issue/fire. Does this sound like a possible electrical issue or would the damaged manifold be the likely source? Strange thing is when the fumes appeared they would disappear when the car moved forward or if I turned on the window dimister fan?

TVR specialist is currently following guidelines and staying home so I know obvious answer is to get him to check but he currently can’t and just thought I would ask the question in the interim?

[v8s4me]

Do you mean the oblong vents on top of the dash or the circular ones in the foot well? Exhaust fumes or petrol fumes, or hot engine type smell?

Edited by v8s4me on Sunday 12th April 22:53

[Fez887]

Vents on top of dash, and initial assumption was exhaust fumes but personally couldn’t be sure hence this post. Just not sure how exhaust fumes would find themselves in the vent system, even with the manifold blowing?

[Bercilac]

Do you still have the long flexi pipes in place in the engine bay? Mine were cracked so I discarded them and made rubber plugs for the holes and glued them in place. The silver tape is belt and braces.

[RayTVR]

I used to get this when I had a leak at the heater matrix - vents would start b;owing out steam (with a bit of an oily smell) when the car warmed up. Check to see if its wet in the drivers footwell.

[Fez887]

Yep still have the flexible pipes, but they seemed (last I checked) to be in good nick, but once it comes out the shop will have a closer look. Heater matrix could be a shout, will suggest a check while other works are being carried out- thanks

[Penelope Stopit]

Smell the coolant then smell the fumes at the vents, antifreeze can't be mistaken for anything else

[v8s4me]

The dash vents are fed with air that's been drawn from inside the car so if you think the smell is coming from there then you'll need to see what's going on around the fan box. The long hoses that draw air from the front of the bonnet feed air to the "eye-ball" vents in the centre console so any engine fumes which might be getting into the hoses would come out of there. I'm afraid that until you can get back in the car there's very little you can do to work out what's going on. In the meantime, if you want to know what overheating electrical wire smells like, all you need to do is coil up a length of wire and heat it with a heat gun until it smolders and take a good sniff. Enjoy

[Fez887]

might work!

A potential electrical issue is my real concern, but to be honest I don’t especially remember the fumes being particularly pungent! If this was the issue it would be strange for it disappear when the car was moving, this is what made me think exhaust as the air flow while car was in transit would push any escaping exhaust fumes away.

Agree though, best to wait until car returns, but will get all these suggestions checked while in shop and let you know (if anyone is still interested? )