Hi all, tried the search function but this one is a little bit different.

Got a 2013 1.4 8V (77bhp) Punto GBT (so it comes with the dual climate control)

When I’ve got the climate control on higher than half way I’m getting a horrible stink coming through the vents into the cabin, this disappears when the recirc is on and also if the engine is off there is no smell.

However I have checked and replaced the breather hose going from the intake to the rocker, apart from it being a little sludged up (which I clean out regularly) I’m still getting that horrible stench coming into the cab. I’m not losing coolant so I don’t believe the heater core/matrix is shot. However I’m at a loss now as to what to do. There is a little bit of oil around the throttle body but that’s it. I’ve already changed the pollen filter and it doesn’t make a difference unfortunately.

Anyone have an alternative idea that I can look into? We are wanting to trade the car in to get something bigger. However I’m not comfortable trading in a car that smells as bad as that.

Thanks in advance all.

Hi

Not brakes..or clutch.. slipping drive belt

These all are noisy though..

I commiserate.. Ive got a diesel which fills the cabin too

Check battery voltage.. off vs running

IF the alternator is overcharging.. the battery will offgas

You said "burning smell" in the title, then "hoeeible stink". If it's not so much a burning smell, it is comming from bacteria and fungi inside the air vents. I had the same after I bought my Punto and got rid of it using "Disinfectant spray for car air conditioning". It was a canned foam, I sprayed that into the vents, left it about 25 mins, then started the engine, all windows down, ventilation on max and got out of the car. I left the ventilation on, that way for about 15-20 mins, commuting the air pipes, to vent them all. After that the bad stink gone away and I had the foam smell for a little while untill that gone away as well and the air remained clean and fresh. That was 5 years ago, still no problems.

If it is a burning smell, I had that too and it was comming from a broken seal on the gearbox. The oil got out through the broken seal and got "burn" on hot engine and gearbox. The smell was more intense on riding up or down a hill. Changed the seal, but for that you got to open up the gearbox. I did that with the help of Mr. Wild in this good post:
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-ii/158346-input-shaft-bearing-renewal.html

Jasey12 said:

Hi all,
I’m getting a horrible stink coming through the vents into the cabin, this disappears when the recirc is on and also if the engine is off there is no smell.

Thanks in advance all.

Click to expand...

Good point about Bacteria.. Mikealike

But that would be constant..

OP says only happens when 'driving'

varesecrazy said:

Good point about Bacteria.. Mike
But that would be constant..
OP says only happens when 'driving'

Click to expand...

Strange enough, even with the bacteria, smell was not constant, just when ac was on (or simple ventilation on), that is why I've mentioned it.

Removed the panel over the windshield wipers. You can now access the area where you vents are fed from. I found dead leaves leaves, sludge, mouse droppings, plastic trash from the road. That stuff accumulates along with water and can go straight into your blower motor. Mine looked like mud, and smelled awful.

Also check the drainage hole. Mine was plugged with gunk... Afterwards it was much better.

The smoke is coming from an oil/ lube that's coming out of your motor/gearbox. That needs to be fixed to make the smoke go away. Because you vents feed from the windshield wiper.

Good luck.

dsuguitan05 said:

Removed the panel over the windshield wipers. You can now access the area where you vents are fed from. I found dead leaves leaves, sludge, mouse droppings, plastic trash from the road. That stuff accumulates along with water and can go straight into your blower motor. Mine looked like mud, and smelled awful.

Also check the drainage hole. Mine was plugged with gunk...

Click to expand...

You dont NEED to remove the 'scuttle' cover to drain it.. the rubber tubes ( duckbills) are accessible behind the engine

In the UK we do have people suffer from this..
and sometimes wish we lived in a dry and warm climate..like Italy

Correct, however the whole cavity was filled with junk. Large debris and leaves and mud that couldn't be forced through the little duckbill tube. I just removed the panel to get many hand-fulls of trash out.

Also that area has a long skinny oval shaped duct that leads into the blower motor assembly. Do you know if there should be a pre screen cover on it? It's just strange how they designed it to where big leaves, and plastic trash bags could get sucked into the bulkhead wrapping itself around the blower motor. Thank you for any assist.

Also It may be relatively dry here in Italy however the amount of trash in the streets that find it's way into the engine compartment is absurd.

First place to check is of course the chamber below the screen, as described above.

The comments about oil leaks are also good. As well as checking the breather and the cam cover gasket, also check the drive shaft seals. On the Panda, the right hand seal gets cooked by the exhaust, then leaks onto the exhaust. Causes a burning oil smell when driving, but never a drip, as it only leaks when moving, and the hot exhaust catches it.