Strange Smell

O

OTR Again

Free Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2019
Posts
11
Likes collected
5
Funster No
63,090
MH
A Class
Exp
Since 2002
Our Fiat Ducato based motorhome is just over a year old and we keep getting a strange smell which seems to come from near the front passenger seat engine area. I can only describe the smell as being like cat pee. It seems to appear after the motorhome has been in use for a week or so and after a few hundred miles and stays for days when parked up. Anyone have any idea what it could be ?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Yikes. Just watching an advert for Always Discreet Boutique.
 
Upvote 0
We sometimes get the same thing and yes the battery is under the passenger seat?
 
Upvote 0
Also may be a local cat visiting whilst parked up. My cat marks my car at the front. Yes I have seen him do it. However, I do get an occasional whiff but certainly doesn’t last for days.
 
Upvote 0
Thanks for replies, leisure battery is not near where smell seems to come from and we have had it tested by the dealer.
Really don’t think it’s a cat as it can start smelling anywhere on the road.
Will investigate AdBlue leak.
 
Upvote 0
Ad blue is my tip. Have you just refilled or have a bottle in the van?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Damp trainers or similar shoes...the adhesive smells like cat per when damp....been a problem for decades...
 
Upvote 0
Some years ago we had a swift sundance, every time we went out in it there was a smell, drains. We found that by putting plugs in the sink waste that cured the problem. Somehow when driving it created a vacuum that sucked up the waste pipes, hence the smell. Try plugs in your sinks. (y)
 
Upvote 0
Front passenger area - could be the main engine battery which is just under the floor there though in theory it should be sealed off from the cab. Does your hab control panel give you any readouts for battery condition? May show a higher than normal voltage on either battery which would indicate battery over-charging.

But I've just thought of something else - doesn't happen on the van but if I've overfilled the washer bottle with antifreeze/cleaner mixture I get a similar pong in the car.
 
Upvote 0
Had a similar problem on a car a few years ago terrible smell of cat wee had it back to dealer a few times but they couldn't find anything ,it was worse when braking I cured it by using a pressure washer on the front caliper and wheel arch , don't forget that a cat sprays upwards .

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Thanks for the replies. Seems strange that we were out for a couple of separate weeks close to Scotland mostly off grid and nothing. Then away for 3 weeks down in Suffolk for a family bereavement, on EHU and the smell returned as we were driving back home. I would assume if it was adblue or cat pee it would be there all the time. Engine battery shows around 12.6v - 12.8v, what would overcharging be ? Would it only happen occasionally after a long drive, confused.com !!
 
Upvote 0
Hi One of my previous cars did this sort of thing when it was re-generating/burning the soot out of the exhaust system. it was a very strange smell and n this case happened quite regularly to the point the I ignored it after a while. May not help but the smell was very much as you describe it.
 
Upvote 0
Reminds me of the time, far too many years ago in my late teens, when as a joke we stuck a kipper down the airvent of a mates car as he was going off on honeymoon...................................

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top