Skip to main content

Best Auto Repair, Kingwood

CONTACT US

Sniffing Out a Problem

Posted October 27, 2019 11:03 AM

Your parents probably taught you to have common sense. When it comes to your vehicle, common scents can also come in handy. Different smells may tell you about some conditions in your vehicle that need attention.

For example, you know what rotten eggs smell like.  If you smell them around your vehicle, it means sulfur can't be far away. Here's a surprising fact: Gasoline has a little sulfur in it.  There's a device in your exhaust system that's supposed to convert it to something that doesn't pollute the atmosphere. That device is a catalytic converter.  If you are smelling rotten eggs, maybe your catalytic converter is wearing out.  But it could also be a problem with your fuel injectors.  Either way, something's rotten that should be repaired.

Ever smell something sweet around your vehicle, maybe a little like pancake syrup? If you sniff out a little sweetness just when your engine is warming up or after you shut off your engine, you might be smelling some coolant (anti-freeze).  If it's leaking, then you may be getting a whiff of ethylene glycol, one of the coolant's components.  If the odor is strong inside the car, it could be a leaky heater core. This is important to get checked out because a leak in your vehicle's cooling system can eventually cause expensive damage.

How about that distinctive smell of gasoline? You could have a leak in your gas tank, a hose that vents your gas tank or a leak in a fuel injector line.  A gasoline leak needs to be tracked down since it could catch fire.  It can also be bad for your health if you breathe it in all the time.

When you step hard on the brakes, ever smell something like a rug's in fire? That could mean you've just overheated your brake pads.  If you detect that smell just driving around town, one of the brake calipers could be stuck.  To figure out which wheel has the problem, get out of your vehicle and smell each wheel.  It will likely be obvious where the problem is.

Here's one last smell.  Ever had your oil changed and right after you picked up your vehicle it smells like something's burning around the engine? That's because sometimes a little oil leaks onto the metal when the filter is changed or the oil is poured in.  It's a useful smell to know.  Because of you smell burning oil and you haven't had your oil changed recently, that could mean you have a leak in your engine.  It could be a gasket or a seal, but it also could mean the start of more serious issues. 

All of these things are signals that you should discuss with your service advisor to get them checked out.

Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323



Search



Archive

April 2016 (16)
May 2016 (5)
June 2016 (4)
July 2016 (4)
August 2016 (5)
September 2016 (4)
October 2016 (5)
November 2016 (4)
December 2016 (4)
January 2017 (5)
February 2017 (4)
March 2017 (4)
April 2017 (5)
May 2017 (4)
June 2017 (4)
July 2017 (4)
August 2017 (4)
September 2017 (3)
October 2017 (4)
November 2017 (5)
December 2017 (3)
January 2018 (5)
February 2018 (4)
March 2018 (4)
April 2018 (5)
May 2018 (4)
June 2018 (4)
July 2018 (5)
August 2018 (4)
September 2018 (5)
October 2018 (4)
November 2018 (4)
December 2018 (5)
January 2019 (5)
February 2019 (4)
March 2019 (4)
April 2019 (4)
May 2019 (4)
June 2019 (5)
July 2019 (4)
August 2019 (4)
September 2019 (5)
October 2019 (4)
November 2019 (4)
December 2019 (5)
January 2020 (5)
February 2020 (4)
March 2020 (5)
April 2020 (4)
May 2020 (5)
June 2020 (4)
July 2020 (4)
August 2020 (5)
September 2020 (4)
October 2020 (4)
November 2020 (5)
December 2020 (4)
January 2021 (6)
February 2021 (4)
March 2021 (4)
April 2021 (4)
May 2021 (5)
June 2021 (4)
July 2021 (4)
August 2021 (5)
September 2021 (4)
October 2021 (5)
November 2021 (4)
December 2021 (4)
January 2022 (6)
February 2022 (4)
March 2022 (4)
April 2022 (4)
May 2022 (5)
June 2022 (4)
July 2022 (5)
August 2022 (4)
September 2022 (4)
October 2022 (5)
November 2022 (4)
December 2022 (4)
January 2023 (5)
February 2023 (4)
March 2023 (4)
April 2023 (5)
May 2023 (4)
June 2023 (4)
July 2023 (5)
August 2023 (4)
September 2023 (4)
October 2023 (5)
November 2023 (4)
December 2023 (5)
January 2024 (5)
February 2024 (4)
March 2024 (5)
April 2024 (4)
May 2024 (4)
June 2024 (5)
July 2024 (4)
August 2024 (4)
September 2024 (5)
October 2024 (4)
November 2024 (1)

Categories

Exhaust (7)Fuel Economy (7)Maintenance (7)Timing Belt (1)Fluids (6)Auto Safety (3)Battery (8)Air Conditioning (6)Fuel System (5)Alignment (5)Safety (1)What Customers Should Know (54)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (2)Steering (8)Headlamps (4)Brakes (10)Service Intervals (2)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (2)Service Standards (3)Check Engine Light (2)Drive Train (1)Tires and Wheels (2)Cooling System (7)Oil Change (5)Customer Detective Work (1)Alternator (4)Older Vehicles (1)Safe Driving (1)Windshield Wipers (2)Tires (9)Winter Tires (1)Winter Prep (2)Spark Plugs (2)Inspection (2)Transmission (2)Wheel Bearings (1)Automotive News (1)TPMS (2)Cabin Air Filter (1)Suspension (1)Tire Rotation and Balancing (1)Water Pump (2)Trip Inspection (2)Transfer Case Service (1)Engine Air Filter (1)Brake Service (2)

Partners

ASE Master Technician
ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)
ACDelco
BG Products
Car Care Aware

What our clients are saying about us

We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!

Kingwood Service Center notified me it was time on 04 Nov 24 for certain maintenance on my 2017 Toyota Sienna according to the recommended warranty plan. The work was performed in a very timely and excellent manner. They continie to do an excellent job keeping my 8 year old Toyota Sienna in great shape and I intend to use them for the life of the vehicle following their maintenance plan. They also alerted me to some upcoming work on the Sienna in several months quotes-image
, 11/07/2024
reviewicon
We have been going to KSC for over 25+ years. They are by far the best repair shop in the area. They are quick and efficient for oil changes as well. I have had many vehicles brought to them over the 25+ years and this shop has always been fair in their pricing for their work, reliable and trustworthy in all they do. Believe me, I wouldn’t be going back to them over these past 25 years if they didn’t do good work. If you want proof of their customer commitment as a testament of their work, just look at the parking lot where you will see cars lined up waiting to be worked on. The folks who work @KSC are diligent and hard working. Make them your “go to” guys if you want reliable repairs and services. Dan Zottiquotes-image
, 11/06/2024
reviewicon