What's that smell??

[flying stoat]

Hi All,

Firstly, I'm a newb on this forum so hello.. I am not a fiat owner, but I need some advice on Fiat 500 related topic, I hope someone can help.

My sister bought a new 500 1.4 last year, and has had no problems with it... until last night, when I got a phone call. She sounded worried and claimed she could smell a "faint chemical smell"..

She told me that she had encountered it before whilst out a few days ago, and assumed it was the car in front, as the smell quickly passed.. But she had the same smell twice yesterday..

I took a look at the car yesterday evening, and we took it out for a short drive, but I couldn't see any signs of leaks, and I didn't get to experience the smell for myself...

My first thoughts were that this was possibly an aircon leak, but my sister said the smell wasn't overpowering in anyway.. (and the aircon still works, so there must still be some gas in it).......

I've had a quick shuffle through some old posts with the search engine, but can't find anything that looks similar...

I appreciate a smell is not going to be easy to identify on a forum.. but has anyone experienced anything similar to this?? or has anyone got any suggestions what this might be?

Thanks
Martin

 

[T14086]

Aircon gas, R134a, has no odour.

Check the 2 breather pipes under the airbox, common problem and mentioned over & over again on the forum in the 500 section (or GP section)

 

[flying stoat]

Oh.. OK, well it's not that then.. I'll check the pipes to start with then.

Thanks
Martin

 

[T14086]

R134a is heavier than air so is found around floor level if released, breathe it in and it's unlikely you would be here typing

Look here for breather pipe info;
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/295237-breather-pipe-again.html