How to get rid of rotten fruit smell in car

Spill something in your car—say, coffee or soup—and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what’s causing any strange scents. (Here’s how to get rid of those car smells.) But if the origin of an odd odor isn’t clear, chances are it’s coming from the engine, says Jill Trotta, vice president, industry advocacy and sales at RepairPal and an ASE-certified technician—and it’s not a good sign.

Table of Contents Show

If Your Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs
What it might be: Catalytic converter
If Your Car Smells Like Mold Or Mildew
What it might be: Air-conditioning
If Your Car Smells Like Maple Syrup Or Fruity Candy
What it might be: Coolant
If Your Car Smells Like Acrid Smoke Or Burning Oil
What it might be: Oil leak
If Your Car Smells Like Burnt Carpet
What it might be: Overheated rotors or brake pads
If Your Car Smells Like Exhaust Or Fumes
What it might be: Exhaust leak
If Your Car Smells Like Burnt Rubber
What it might be: Slipping belts or overheating rubber
If Your Car Smells Like Burning Plastic
What it might be: A short circuit in the wiring
If Your Car Smells Like Gas
What it might be: Gas leak
Tips to Eliminate Exterior Car Odors

“Car smells are a clear indicator that’s something wrong,” says Trotta. “So you never want to ignore a strange smell when you’re driving.” Here are some of the most common car odors, she says, and what to do if you pick up their scent.

If Your Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs

What it might be: Catalytic converter

“A sulfur smell could indicate an imbalance in your engine’s air-to-fuel ratio,” says Trotta. If you have fuel-injection problems, the unburned fuel can plug your catalytic convertor, and the exhaust will have nowhere to go. End result? Your car won’t run.

What to do: Have a mechanic look at your car immediately. You can save the catalytic converter if you catch the problem early enough.

If Your Car Smells Like Mold Or Mildew

What it might be: Air-conditioning

Your car’s air-conditioning works by pulling moisture out of the air; the extracted water goes into a box behind the dashboard, which has a drain. Leaves or papers can work their way into that box and block the drain. The standing water will eventually get moldy, which is a costly problem to repair. (Plus, the water will often find another way out of the box—usually onto the carpets and floor mats.) Mold-spawning moisture can also build up in your duct system unless you regularly run your A/C.

What to do: If you smell mold, have it checked out. To help prevent moisture buildup, run your A/C every month or two for a few minutes—even if you don’t need to cool off. This also helps lubricate oil seals and bearings in the compressor, which will make it last longer.

If Your Car Smells Like Maple Syrup Or Fruity Candy

What it might be: Coolant

A sweet smell coming from your engine is probably coolant escaping from the cooling system, which means you probably have a leak. That could wreak havoc on your car, including causing your vehicle to overheat.

What to do: If coolant is leaking, you could damage the engine by driving. Have your vehicle towed to the nearest repair facility.

If Your Car Smells Like Acrid Smoke Or Burning Oil

What it might be: Oil leak

An oil leak is dangerous for two reasons. First, if it hits the exhaust, a fire could result. Also, a low oil level could damage the engine. If you notice the smell not long after an oil change, the leak might be caused by a loose drain plug or filter that wasn’t properly attached—or an oil cap that wasn’t screwed on tightly enough. An oil leak from a bad gasket or seal can cause problems, such as oil dripping on the timing belt or the crankshaft seal. Either way, it’s not something to ignore. “It could totally take your engine out,” says Trotta.

What to do: Take your car back to the mechanic and have the oil level checked.

If Your Car Smells Like Burnt Carpet

What it might be: Overheated rotors or brake pads

If you’re going down a steep hill and keeping your foot on the brake, even lightly, this smell may indicate that the brake pads or rotors are overheating. This can cause premature brake wear or, in extreme cases, brake failure. (Here are 5 signs you need new brake pads.) The smell could also be caused by dragging or sticking brake calipers, or brake pads that are too thin (in which case you may feel like the brakes are “spongy”). If the smell persists and you haven’t been driving in stop-and-go traffic or on long downgrades, have your brakes inspected ASAP. Also, be aware that if you’ve just replaced your brake pads, it’s normal for them to release a scent for the first couple hundred miles.

What to do: Pump the brakes on and off when going down hills.

If Your Car Smells Like Exhaust Or Fumes

What it might be: Exhaust leak

Leaky exhaust that gets into the car’s interior can quickly raise the amount of carbon monoxide to dangerous levels.

What to do: Roll the windows down immediately and pull over to the side of the road when you can do so safely. Turn the engine off. Have the car towed to your repair shop.

If Your Car Smells Like Burnt Rubber

What it might be: Slipping belts or overheating rubber

This may be the result of an engine belt that’s slipped. It could also be a hose from the cooling or power steering system that’s rubbing on a belt and has started to melt.

What to do: Wait until your car cools down, then open the hood and inspect your belts and hoses. If the smell persists, take the car in to be checked out.

If Your Car Smells Like Burning Plastic

What it might be: A short circuit in the wiring

When the plastic insulation has worn down (or been chewed off by an animal that’s gotten into the engine), the exposed wires can rub together and produce a short, which could cause a fire. Other types of shorts can melt or burn the plastic away directly. However, it may be as simple as a plastic bag that’s landed on the exhaust and melted from the heat.

What to do: Pull over safely. If the problem is a bag or some other plastic on the exhaust, don’t grab it, as it’s likely very hot. If you can’t locate the smell, or it persists, take your vehicle in for diagnosis and repair.

If Your Car Smells Like Gas

What it might be: Gas leak

This is one of the most dangerous smells and could mean that something is leaking in the engine or near the exhaust, like a fuel line. A fire could start if the raw fuel comes in contact with the hot exhaust system or rotating engine components. If you have a car from the 1970s or earlier, a lingering fuel odor after you turn off the engine might be normal; if that odor is strong, however, don’t wait to get it checked out.

What to do: Pull over safely and turn off the engine immediately. Get your car towed to the auto shop.

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Read more: Winter’s coming—help prepare with our extreme weather driving guide.

By Ellise Pierce

Follow these six tips to eliminate car odors for good:

Identify the Odor

Because odors can originate from a variety of sources, it is important that you eliminate car odors by first searching for the source of the odor. Once you are able to identify what is causing the smell, you can then decide the best way to restore your car to a clean and odorless state.

Some of the most common causes of odor in vehicles include food, drinks, smoke or mildew. Over time, a spilled drink or long-forgotten food may have settled in the crevices of your car, creating an unpleasant odor.

Begin by adjusting the seats in your car and looking for any stains or remnants of food. Use a flashlight to see beneath your car seats, and check in between seat cushions and on the floor. Be sure to inspect your car’s trunk for any stains or odors as well.

Another possible source of odor could be a cabin air filter. Depending on the year and model of your car, you may have this removable filter installed. The filter traps debris, preventing it from entering your car through the air conditioning system. It is often found in a car’s passenger side, near the glove compartment, or under the hood. Locate your car’s cabin air filter by taking a look at your owner’s manual, or by consulting with an auto care specialist.
Clean Your Car

One of the easiest tips to eliminate car odor is a simple one – clean your car. Start by removing trash from your seats and floor. Check for any trash that may have fallen in hard-to-reach spaces and take a look in all compartments, including your trunk.

When you’re done removing trash from your car, treat your car’s upholstery with a stain remover. If you find any visible stains, saturate the area – allowing the substance to set into the stain – and then use cleaning tools to loosen dirt, such as a scrub brush. After removing the stain, vacuum the area to remove dirt and help dry the upholstery. For leather upholstery, clean seats with a mild cleanser and a soft-bristled scrub brush, and dry leather seats with a microfiber cloth.

Be sure to completely dry your car’s upholstery. A damp carpet can promote the growth of mold, making an already smelly car even worse. You can also use an all-purpose cleaner to remove dirt and stains from your dashboard and other similar surfaces.
Choose an Odor Removal Method

Using stain-fighting products to clean your car’s interior is a great way to eliminate car odors. However, some scents will remain, despite the area being cleaned! Further your efforts by using affordable household products to absorb unpleasant scents, leaving you with a car that is free of hard-to-bear odors.

Our car odor elimination tips include:
- Dryer sheets – Eliminate car odors with dryer sheets, which are an easy way to absorb the offending odor inside your car. Try leaving an open container of these laundry sheets beneath the seat of your car, filling the car with an aromatic freshness, while providing instant relief from faint odors.
- White wine vinegar – Just as you would clean your car using a stain remover, apply a mixture of white wine vinegar and water to your upholstery. White wine vinegar is often used as a cleaning agent, in addition to helping to eliminate car odor.
- Coffee beans – Leaving coffee beans in your car is an effective way to absorb odors. All you’ll need is a container with about seven ounces of coffee beans. You can also opt to use coffee grounds, but beans will help you to avoid the hassle of cleaning up any unnecessary mess.
- Baking soda – Many people find that sprinkling baking soda on their upholstery helps to eliminate car odors. After sprinkling the baking soda, allow it to sit on the upholstery and slowly absorb the unwanted odor. Use a vacuum to collect the substance, as well as any dirt that may be left behind.
- Charcoal briquettes – Use charcoal, the same substance you’d typically use for grilling, to absorb the unpleasant smell in your car. A simple way to use the briquettes is to purchase a bag of charcoal and to place it inside your car. Cut a hole in the top of the bag and allow the charcoal to absorb the odors of the car as you drive.
- AC system cleaner – One of many tips to eliminate car odors is to spray an AC system cleaner into your car’s exterior air intake vents. Turn the air conditioner or heater on, and the cleaner will travel through the car’s interior vents, deodorizing your car.
Take Preventative Measures

Now that you have identified the cause of the unpleasant smell and worked to eliminate the car odor from your vehicle for good, be sure to avoid any practices that could contribute to stains and foul odors in the future. If you choose to eat in your car, remember to remove any leftovers and avoid leaving behind containers. When a spill occurs, clean it up right away in order to avoid sticky residue that can build up over time.
Consider the Role Weather Plays

By paying close attention to the weather and how it can affect your car, you can avoid the need to eliminate car odors. Practice habits, such as ensuring that your car windows are up when rainy weather occurs. This will ensure that your car’s interior remains dry, preventing your car from developing mold and mildew. A pungent odor also typically accompanies the growth of mold and mildew.

On warm days, avoid leaving items in your car that may melt in direct sunlight. This includes perishable items that could cause an unusual scent to linger in your car after being exposed to high levels of heat.
Learn How Odor Can Affect Your Health

Discovering an offensive odor while driving your vehicle, or more embarrassingly, with a passenger riding along, can prove to be an awful experience that fails to reflect the time and effort you place into caring for your automobile. Not only can car odors be embarrassing, they can have an effect on you and your passenger’s well-being.

Many individuals suffer from sensitivities to a variety of odors – even suffering from a headache or nausea as a result of exposure to a smell. If mold or mildew is growing in your car, it can trigger an allergic reaction in anyone with sensitivities to the bacteria. For your own health, as well as the well-being of others, you should take steps to eliminate the car odors that you experience.

Tips to Eliminate Exterior Car Odors

An odor that is coming from the exterior of your car could indicate a serious problem. If you notice that your car is emitting an unidentifiable smell from beneath the hood, contact a professional automobile expert to identify the cause of the odor.

Auto care experts, such as those employed by motor clubs, are trained to resolve a variety of vehicle problems that customers encounter. Encore Protection is an affordable motor club program that provides consumer roadside assistance from a fast-acting emergency dispatch system nationwide.

To learn more about how our comprehensive motor club can assist you with emergency roadside assistance, contact us at 1-844-6ENCORE. You can also browse our site, where you can conveniently complete a roadside assistance application within minutes, leaving you time to work on eliminating your car odors and enjoying your ride.