Ford KA (2006) STINKS of urine when driving

[Becksy]

Hi, just bought my son a cheap run around except since getting it home (no warranty as only paid £500) by the time we got there there was a terrible strong smell of urine! Not the usual smell you'd get when the CAT goes but now I have the feeling it's going to end up costing him (me!) a fortune so would appreciate anybody giving any advice as to what it could be. Many thanks in advance

[InfamousK]

Could it be the screen wash?

[Scrump]

Previous owner was an old person?

[anonymous-user]

InfamousK said:

Could it be the screen wash?

Recently was at my mechanics garage and he was draining the screenwash from a car. It seemed like they had never used the washers and the fluid literally stank of excrement and urine.

Stagnant screenwash could well be the culprit.

[OldGermanHeaps]

coming from the exhaust, or from the interior and ventillation?
how old was the previous keeper or do they look like the sort who likes watersports?

[Becksy]

Thanks for all your replies I really appreciate it! Gona get him to go and wash the hell out of the windscreen now so fingers crossed!!

[Becksy]

And to be honest the seller looked pretty 'continent' to be honest!

[Poppiecock]

Could be in the ventilation system. Particularly if it has air-con.

Replace pollen filter and get one of the air-con 'bombs' from Halfords to see if that makes any difference.

(You can probably use these without air-con, too, if you set the system to recirculate)

[Becksy]

Thank you for all your replies. We have just emptied and changed the screen wash however this hasn't improved things. We have noticed however that the smell is worse when putting the car in reverse ????

[OldGermanHeaps]

maybe running a bit rich, coolant temp sensor, a slight misfire overworking the cat?
would be worth checking for codes and looking at the fuel trims.

[Novexx]

Seen a few Ka's that have had a coolant leak in the interior from the area behind the passenger side dash / L/H bulkhead maybe about 2 inches down from the winscreen edge.

The coolant leaks down behind the fibrous insulation, soaking it & causing a rotten sock sort of smell....

[Becksy]

Brilliant thanks everyone! Trip to the garage then.....