Thread: Strong sulphur smell in TD5 ventilation system

Originally Posted by johntins

I take it you aren't constantly following a new car around?

No Mate, I usually get a whiff as they overtake me

Originally Posted by Bohica

The only source of sulphur that I can think of is the battery, and that is in the sulphuric acid. Is it more of a rotten egg smell?

Yes, like rotten eggs.

Originally Posted by trout1105

I noticed that cars with catalytic converters tend to stink like rotten eggs when they are passing on the road.
I don't know if this is confined to petrol engines and not diesels But I did notice it when cars first started to be fitted with cat converters.
That's why I asked if the smell was associated with acceleration
.

I am pretty sure there's no catalytic converter in my car.

It's intermittent and stays for up to 15 mins, and if anything I notice it most when idling, possibly due to reduced airflow through the HVAC?

I am hoping it's just something dead in the HVAC system, I don't know how that would be intermittent though.

Originally Posted by akula

Yes, like rotten eggs.

Overcharging of a battery can produce hydrogen sulphide ie rotten egg gas.
Can you check the charging?

Originally Posted by Bohica

Overcharging of a battery can produce hydrogen sulphide ie rotten egg gas.
Can you check the charging?

I am crap with electronic stuff, how do you do that? My Nanocom gives batt volts I think.

I also have a duel battery system to confuse the matter.

Hi Akula,

I don't agree with Bohica that overcharging a battery will produce Hydrogen Sulphide.
I think it will produce both Hydrogen and Oxygen (at alternating plates within the battery).
Both of those gasses are odourless, so they simply cannot be the source of your smell.
I think that Tim Sanderson (Traxide Electronics) would know the answer to this, so it might pay to ask him (he's on this forum quite often).

As far as a catalytic converter is concerned, if your TD5 has one it is located roughly under the passenger-side floor, too far back to make a smell that would be likely to be drawn into the cabin air-intake. Especially while the car is in forward motion.

If you really want to check out the battery-overcharging idea, I suggest that you take the car to an auto-electrician, and ask him to tell you whether or not that is actually happening. If it's not, then it just doesn't have anything to do with your issue.

Cheers, Andrew

thought I remember reading same problem a while back.... might be the same


bad smell

Originally Posted by AndrewMilne

Hi Akula,

I don't agree with Bohica that overcharging a battery will produce Hydrogen Sulphide.
I think it will produce both Hydrogen and Oxygen (at alternating plates within the battery).
Both of those gasses are odourless, so they simply cannot be the source of your smell.
I think that Tim Sanderson (Traxide Electronics) would know the answer to this, so it might pay to ask him (he's on this forum quite often).

As far as a catalytic converter is concerned, if your TD5 has one it is located roughly under the passenger-side floor, too far back to make a smell that would be likely to be drawn into the cabin air-intake. Especially while the car is in forward motion.

If you really want to check out the battery-overcharging idea, I suggest that you take the car to an auto-electrician, and ask him to tell you whether or not that is actually happening. If it's not, then it just doesn't have anything to do with your issue.

Cheers, Andrew

You have your opinion and I have science. Overcharging a battery can produce H2S. Google it.