Help please

[Chris65]

We are on holiday in Cornwall and on our way to Dartmoor tomorrow, and we have a problem with the van. In the cab area we are getting a terrible sulphur smell. We have had the batteries checked and have been told they are fine. We have been told it could be the catalytic converter. Any ideas? Is there anywhere in this area where we can take the van to be checked over? The smell is becoming unbearable and embarassing :Blush:
Also, we are concerned that to carry on driving it may damage something further or be detrimental to our health. Please help :Sad:

 

[Phill D]

sounds like the CAT if batteries are ok and not overcharging... google a local exhaust / mot garage they should be able to check it out.....

be warned CATs are expensive..:Sad:

 

[Popeye]

Got to be the Cat, I've never had a sulphur smell from batteries but every time a car is in our workshop for a Cat change that is the rotten eggs smell of sulphur.

......... Geez Chris I can smell it from here, no wonder you're embarrassed.

 

[Chris65]

Thanks for your replies. Luckily the van is still under warranty.

Popeye - When you have vans in your garage, how long does it to take to change and how much (just incase we have to claim it back)?

 

[simsy56]

Just a warning on batteries, I have had a battery literally explode under a bonnet once, it destroyed the battery, and put a dent in the bonnet as well.

Craig

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[pappajohn]

you shouldn't be able to smell the cat converter when driving...even a new one....the car behind you gets that pleasure.

batteries, on the other hand, are generally inside the vans bodywork or under the bonnet and the fumes have nowhere to go.

I would get a second opinion on the battery condition.

 

[tofo]

you shouldn't be able to smell the cat converter when driving...even a new one....the car behind you gets that pleasure.

batteries, on the other hand, are generally inside the vans bodywork or under the bonnet and the fumes have nowhere to go.

I would get a second opinion on the battery condition.

I have had two work vans where the slave battery
Has gassed on both occasions it was unpleasant in the cab
Both batteries were housed under the drivers seat

Both were transit vans
The slave battery was the culprit both times it was also
The battery that you could see from the front of the seat
and both times they were very hot
So maybe when you get the smell fell the batteries and see if they are hot:thumb:

 

[pudseykeith]

Hi I agree with papajohn. get the batterys checked before you drive any distance. Q/ are you in the RAC or AA ?. Get them to call before you leave the camp site
PK :thumb:

 

[Popeye]

The difference in smell between a gassing battery and a buggered Cat is humongous.

A gassing battery is a bloody awful smell but could not be described as Sulphur surely.oh:

 

[Popeye]

Thanks for your replies. Luckily the van is still under warranty.

Popeye - When you have vans in your garage, [HI]how long does it to take to change and how much[/HI] (just incase we have to claim it back)?

It varies between 400 - 700 depending on model. VW have always been dear.

I'm not on the tools these days so might be a bit out of touch. Should be able to change it inside a couple of hours.:thumb:

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[Chris65]

Thanks for all your replies.

We are home now and the fault was ........................ drum roll ...............battery
Apparently our van hasnt got a catalytic converter because of its age. You are such a knowledgable bunch

 

[pappajohn]

The difference in smell between a gassing battery and a buggered Cat is humongous.

A gassing battery is a bloody awful smell but could not be described as Sulphur surely.oh:

hydrogen sulfide is released from a cooking battery and smells like rotten eggs.

 

[Pigwam]

hydrogen sulfide is released from a cooking battery and smells like rotten eggs.

I agree.

Although I thought that in a MH the battery had to be fitted in a separate compartment so any gasses produced by the battery vented out side the van to reduce the risk of an explosion etc.

The battery manufacturer will always recommend that batteries are charged in a well ventilated area which a MH is not.

 

[Chris65]

hydrogen sulfide is released from a cooking battery and smells like rotten eggs.

Apologies, I thought it was called sulpher, didnt want to post 'farty' smell Just goes to show even with ill given info you still got the advice right :thumb:

The battery is located under the drivers seat so no special compartment for us. What we did notice was even after the battery was replaced it took a while for the smell to dissipate. When we dropped the onboard waste water the smell was extremely strong so the smell appears to have got into other parts.

 

[Chris65]

Just a note of warning. Our van is under a years warranty and when touring we didnt take the paperwork with us. On returning home and phoning the company they will not pay out because we didnt run the repair past them so in future we should carry on driving and gassing ourselves, not knowing if we are doing any damage to our health or futher damage to the van or we could remember to take the policy docs with us oh:

Lesson learned I suppose :Sad:

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