STRANGE SMELL IN CABIN>>>>>

[85URK]

Hi guys, i have a 95 R33 GTST manual, and after driving the car for a while i can smell an oily type smell that leaks into the cabin. its not engine oil smell, its more like gearbox or power steering fluid smell. now im not sure what the gearbox oil would smell like when it heats up, has any1 ever smelt gearbox oil when its hot??? the reason i think its the gearbox oil is bcoz after driving for a while i think the smell is coming up from the gearbox. and i dont seem to be leaking oil anywhere on the ground. its a really strong smell that wafts through every now and then. any help on what it could be will be much appreciated. i know its a bit hard to explain smells.

[R31 POWER]

Id say it's the rubber boot cracked,the one under your gear stick boot.Common for skylines to do it.I hear a VL boot fits wich is like $15 or something!!

[infected flow]

but does anyone have photo's of this rubber boot near the gear stick because i have a r34 and the same thing

[ed]

I get this smell occasionally.

Might have to get a new rubber boot.

[siksII]

or it may be your heater core leaking small amounts of coolant into the cabin, check the carpet for coolant around the core...

[WiZardOz]

I have this same(?) strange smell .. and it's gear box oil smell in my case

started happening when I had the gearbox oil replaced .. am yet to find the source of this annoying smell, there are no indications at all of a leak from the box

but I suspect it wouldn't be the rubber boot you suggest as there would be no need for this to be disturbed for a simply oil change, I had never had the smell prior to the oil change

I guess the first step would be to try another brand of oil

[85URK]

thanx guys, where is the rubber boot located?? no the leather one tha surrounds the gearstick under where u screw tha gear knob on? or is it under all that?? wouldnt mind knowing where it all is bcoz i will have a look 2moro if i get a chance.

[85URK]

thanx guys, where is the rubber boot located?? not the leather one tha surrounds the gearstick under where u screw tha gear knob on? or is it under all that?? wouldnt mind knowing where it all is bcoz i will have a look 2moro if i get a chance.

[Phat6]

hmmm, funny this ... my car just started leaking coolant into the cabin (near the dash on the passenger side). Has anyone had this problem before ??

[85URK]

and if its the heater core leaking fluid onto my carpet, how do you fix this problem?? replace heater core or somthing else?? and if replacement required how much am i looking at??

[siksII]

hmmm, funny this ... my car just started leaking coolant into the cabin (near the dash on the passenger side).  Has anyone had this problem before ??

this is not uncommon in imports, it is the heater core leaking, you need to replace the heater core, or else bypass it. it would be mostly due to the insides of your cooling system being corroded (like most imports)

[85URK]

and if its the heater core leaking fluid onto my carpet, how do you fix this problem?? replace heater core or somthing else?? and if replacement required how much am i looking at??

can any1 answer these Q's for us.

[Phat6]

yeah, anyone at all ? I am really worried now, cos I think my entire system is corroded ...

[[mez]]

Not a smell like a baseball glove is it?

[darrinspencer]

hmmm, funny this ... my car just started leaking coolant into the cabin (near the dash on the passenger side).  Has anyone had this problem before ??

Mine started about 3 weeks ago

Short term fix is to disconnect the heater hoses in the engine bay where they fix to the heater unit under the dash and fit a short length of 20mm pipe to join the 2 heater hose ends together

A/c will still work but no heater, this way you can still drive the car

I have removed the glove box and it appears you should be able to remove the heater section and replace

If you cannot get thru the glove box area to remove the heater unit, then the dash will need to come out

approx1-2 job to remove dash.

If you do have coolant leaking inside, you will need to lift the carpet up on the passenger side to get the under lay to dry out

Hope this helps.

[dan_the_man]

check ur power steering fluid. sometimes the clamps r lose and it leaks slightly. once its heated up it does tend to smell

[predator]

can any1 answer these Q's for us.

Do a search in maintenance and/or the FAQ section for "heater core".. I posted up a guide on how to replace the whole lot, pull your dash apart, etc.

[85URK]

cool guys, well i had a look today and i cant see any leaks on the passenger side carpet, the smell wasnt that strong today but when u drive for longer i tend to smell it more. will have a look under the engine bay for loose clamps 2moro. the power steering fluid seem to be staying topped up so thats a good sign. maybe the heater core is just leaking every know and then on mine not fully gone yet., also will pull apart the gear boot and have a closer look into tha seal thing. all depends on the time i have to look. thanx pred will do a search and have a read anyway.

[jwah]

haha my car has that smell. Same thing as wizard oz. it only started happening after i had my gearbox fluid changed. Only thing i could think of if the rubber boot thing got broken while doing the change is if they pulled the gear stick out to fill the oil up through there.... if they are really dodgy and you can do that in skylines. I used to do it with my old escort haha...

[benl1981]

take your gear knob off and your ash tray out - there are a couple of bolts there too. then you can take out the interior over the gear stick shaft. If the smell is more eminent then and smeels like the smell you were concerned about then it is from the gearbox.