Rotten Egg Smell in the car

robhamster · 07-12-2007, 06:10 PM

Driving home tonight I was three miles home and started to notice a rotten egg smell inside the car. Top was up and windows closed. By the time I got home it filled the car and the garage. After about 10 minutes I opened the front hood and smelled it strongly. I felt warmth around the carpet covering the battery. I felt the battery, which was very warm. I quickly disconnected the battery and am waiting for it to cool down before I do anything else.

What should I check. I have a rebuilt alternator with about 5K mi. on it. Could the regulator have failed and I am overcharging? Could someone have put a smoke bomb in my car?

Help! It stinks!

Bearded Viking · 07-12-2007, 06:18 PM

Have you seen your hamster lately? Sorry, couldn't resist.

Rot 911 · 07-12-2007, 06:25 PM

Your battery is being overcharged. Regulator probably went bad.

WolfeMacleod · 07-12-2007, 10:58 PM

Yep, oveercharging battey.

I had that happen once in an old Toyota Celica I owned.

Battery blew up, sprayed acid all over the engine compartment.

Get it fixed.

JCF · 07-13-2007, 01:58 AM

The Devil was driving your car.

robhamster · 07-13-2007, 05:56 AM

Thanks guys. No sign of the devil in the car though a few more miles could have yielded some serious hell if that battery blew up! It is running 16.5 volts so the regulator is gone.

I had bought an Autolite rebuilt in December 06 and this is how long it lasted. Fortunately, a lifetime warranty has another POS Autolite rebuilt on its way.

Ken911 · 07-13-2007, 06:26 AM

go easy on the boiled eggs and beer next time,...lol good that you caught it a blown battery would have really screwed things up with the body tub.

scottb · 07-13-2007, 06:36 AM

To be on the safe side, I'd replace the battery, too. No sense risking a leak later on that will cause serious damage to the car.

01sport · 07-13-2007, 04:26 PM

Did your headlights seem brighter than usual last night? When my regulator went bad the voltage would jump from 14v to 17v causing the headlights to brighten.

Rodsrsr · Rodsrsr's Garage

A rotten egg smell is almost always an indication of the catalytic converter going bad.

Rot 911 · 07-13-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rodsrsr
A rotten egg smell is almost always an indication of the catalytic converter going bad.

Or in this case an overcharged battery. I'm with Scott B. Get a new battery.

robhamster · 07-14-2007, 08:02 AM

Yes I had brighter headlights, though I drove it home and noticed the smell during the day, I started it up last night and lights are bright. 16.5V at 2000 rpm. Catalytic converter is fine. Smell came from the trunk. I will carefully survey the battery for leaks. I hope not as I just bought it three months ago.

Thank you all.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

16.5V sounds too high. What is it at idle?

robhamster · 07-15-2007, 05:20 AM

At idle it is around 13.8 to 14.2. The regulator is definitely a goner.

rnln · 07-15-2007, 03:07 PM

16.5v at the batery definitely indicate the problem of alternator charge the batery too much. I had this same problem on several cars. Same fixes for any car are rebuilding/replacing alternator/voltage regulator. Then try the batery, if you don't want to replace. Sometimes, the batery is gone too.

groovin911 · 07-15-2007, 09:02 PM

I just had this happen to me. My battery leaked a little bit of acid but fortunately did not explode. I rinsed the area under the battery with water and baking soda to neutralize the acid.

Any other suggestions on cleaning up acid? would this suffice?

911nut · 911nut's Garage

Rob, make sure that your battery is vented. Otherwise, you will catch a wiff of it from time to time as it charges normally. All of our cars came with a battery vent but most are discarded over the years.

alniki · 07-16-2007, 05:15 AM

Excuse me for a sidebar question...
I once rinsed my Targa's battery box and surrounding with baking soda water after removing some white powder/precipitate (presumed to be acid) from there. The next day, the area rinsed turned into a light rusty color, is this you would expect from an effective neutralization?

robhamster · 07-21-2007, 07:27 PM

I seem to have a new problem associated with this. I replaced the alternator the other day (warranty) and it works fine now. Runs about 13.2 v all the time. I just took the car for a run tonight and the battery would not start the car. I had to jump start it. Once it was started, all was good. I have a trickle charger on it right now.

It is a 10 month old Sears Diehard. My question is: COuld I have fried the battery when the overcharging occurred? Is there a way to test if I have fried the battery?

Help

futuresoptions · 07-21-2007, 07:43 PM

It may be fried or you just boiled all the water out of it do to the overcharging. I would add water if needed. If not take it in for replacement. I am guessing though that you ran with your lights on tonight and drained your battery down to where the new alternator could not revive it. If I were you I would check the water level of the battery. Try and recharge or jump start the car and verify if the battery has gone bad or if the alternator just isn't charging. that 13.2v may have been the charge of the battery before you drained it by running the car.