Smell Fuel/exhaust Fumes In The Car

[min]

Hi Folks

I've recently over the last couple of days noticed a strong odour of a fuelly nature when I first enter the car. I think it might be due to the Auxiliary heater? Is this a common fault and can I service the item/cause? All feedback welcome

[chrispb123456]

Hi there

Is the booster heater working normally, loud roaring sound after a few minutes of engine running? and no visible smoke from heater exhaust.

If above is normal are you doing an excess of short start stop journeys lately, ideally the booster heater needs to run at least half an hour to burn off deposits, short journeys lead to sooty oily deposits in the heater unit and exhaust.

 

The air intake to the heater is via the n/s chassis member so any wet oily deposits left in the heater unit could find there way into the chassis member and into the car when the heater/car engine is switched off.

[min]

Hi Chris

The last time i heard the 'jet engine' running was on Friday when I cleared all the snow off my car that had been standing since Tuesday evening in sub zero temps.

It kept running though intermitently starting then stopping then starting again. I have never noticed any exhaust fumes when the unit is running (not sure whether that is good or bad!!)

Then yesterday morning I noticed the pervading odour when I entered the car, but I haven't heard the Aux heater starting up since that time on Friday in the snow, but that maybe because of the higher ambient temp.

Any ideas?

Edited December 5, 2010 by min

[chrispb123456]

Hi again

Intermittent stopping and starting of the heater is usually caused by the coolant run on pump not working, this causes the heater to reach a very high temperature very quickly 5 successive overheats will cause the heater to be locked out and will need fault codes cleared before it will run again.

 

The run on pump is located behind the fuel filter on the bulkhead behind engine, will require removal of bulkhead extension (scuttle plate) to access it.

 

The pump should run all the time ignition is on or engine running regardless of engine temperature or outside air temperature and will continue to run 2/3 minutes after engines turned off.

 

Try just turning ignition key on without starting engine, you should hear a humming from the pump, + vibration if touched.

 

If you are mechanically competent they can be repaired usually just requiring new brushes (Instructions in FAQ section) if not

[min]

Hi again

Intermittent stopping and starting of the heater is usually caused by the coolant run on pump not working, this causes the heater to reach a very high temperature very quickly 5 successive overheats will cause the heater to be locked out and will need fault codes cleared before it will run again.

 

The run on pump is located behind the fuel filter on the bulkhead behind engine, will require removal of bulkhead extension (scuttle plate) to access it.

 

The pump should run all the time ignition is on or engine running regardless of engine temperature or outside air temperature and will continue to run 2/3 minutes after engines turned off.

 

Try just turning ignition key on without starting engine, you should hear a humming from the pump, + vibration if touched.

 

If you are mechanically competent they can be repaired usually just requiring new brushes (Instructions in FAQ section) if not

[min]

Hi Chris

I have an 06 Mark 2 Galaxy 1.9TDDi 115BHP.

I'm back to work tomorrow so probably won't get to look at it till next weekend. I'd imagine that it will lock out

and I'll need someone with a VAG-COM or similar to remove the error code.

I work in the engineering section at the college and believe we've a 'MODUS' that might be able to do the trick.

Edited December 5, 2010 by min

[chrispb123456]

Hi Chris

I have an 06 Mark 2 Galaxy 1.9TDDi 115BHP.

I'm back to work tomorrow so probably won't get to look at it till next weekend. I'd imagine that it will lock out

and I'll need someone with a VAG-COM or similar to remove the error code.

I work in the engineering section at the college and believe we've a 'MODUS' that might be able to do the trick.

Hi Again

You could remove fuse number 12 that will disable heater till you can check out the pump

[min]

Hi Chris

Bit of a dumb question and I suppose I could look it up, where is the fuse box? and will the No 12 fuse removal cut into any other systems?

 

On the matter of the run on pump, turned all the fans off, can hear hum when ignition is on and engine not running. Opened bonnet and can feel pump vibration on cooling pipe by diesel filter. So, if feel that the pump is running ok.

 

On the front of the intermittent Aux heater, I might better describe it as it was running flat out when I was defrosting the car whilst stationary on Friday and after about 5-10 minutes it seemed to quieten down as it had finished it cycle. It wasn't until the next day that I smelt the fumes that started all this thread. I think after reading all 36 pages (5 years) on the forum on this matter, that the most common fault is the glow plug maybe?

[gregers]

the heater working flat out then reducing in noise etc is correct afaik.

is there huge ammounts of smoke?

if not then i would say your heater is working ok.

if there is then yes i would suggest the starting point could well be the glow plug.

 

when its working and your in the car do you smell/see any smoke entering the cabin ?

[min]

Hi Gregers

Not vast amounts of of smoke when running (can't remember seeing any actually)

No smoke coming in the car, just the smell of fumes when you first enter the vehicle, once the front fans are working the smell subsides. It seems to build up once the car is left standing.

Edited December 5, 2010 by min

[min]

Hi Chris

Found the location of the fuse box, but still the question of whether removal of fuse 12 will affect any other systems as my Wife drives the car more often than I do.

I wouldn't want anything to cut out whilst I'm not with the vehicle SWMBO would have a few words to say

[gregers]

no im sure it doesnt,ive removed mine about 5 weeks ago,due to the same problem of excess ammounts of smoke,awaiting delivery of new plug.i havnt noticed anything else not working without the fuse in place.

[chrispb123456]

Hi Chris

Bit of a dumb question and I suppose I could look it up, where is the fuse box? and will the No 12 fuse removal cut into any other systems?

 

On the matter of the run on pump, turned all the fans off, can hear hum when ignition is on and engine not running. Opened bonnet and can feel pump vibration on cooling pipe by diesel filter. So, if feel that the pump is running ok.

 

On the front of the intermittent Aux heater, I might better describe it as it was running flat out when I was defrosting the car whilst stationary on Friday and after about 5-10 minutes it seemed to quieten down as it had finished it cycle. It wasn't until the next day that I smelt the fumes that started all this thread. I think after reading all 36 pages (5 years) on the forum on this matter, that the most common fault is the glow plug maybe?

Hi Min

After the 5-10 minutes running at full speed when the heater quietened down was the engine up to the 90 deg on the gauge as that sounds rather quick from cold to be shutting down in the low temps we've had.

All that said your pump may be in the intermittant stage of working they usually fail between 85 to 100,000 miles

 

Keep a listen out for the pump running every time you use the car over the next few days.

 

Fuse 12 is only for the booster heater.

Edited December 5, 2010 by chrispb123456

[min]

Ok Folks

Maybe it was for longer I know my hands were bloody cold by the time I'd finished, and come to think about it might not have shut down. Im just trying to get to the bottom of the smell of fumes in the car.

 

I did run the car today, and the jet pack didn't fire up, even though I'm sure it was below 5 degrees Centigrade.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I'll remove fuse 12 and have look at the unit towards the end of the week or at the weekend and then get back on line. TTFN

Edited December 5, 2010 by min

[gregers]

I did run the car today, and the jet pack didn't fire up, even though I'm sure it was below 5 degrees Centigrade.

 

well it shouldve,mine(when it was working)used to fire up,up to about 11-12 degrees.

 

iirc the mk1 was 5 and below.

[min]

Hi Folks

 

Sorry for the delay. I managed to isolate the No.12 fuse after about 10 minutes trying to get the bloody plastic cover off the fron of the fuse board. Even got an ex AA colleague of mine to help, and he had trouble....bloddy thing). Anyway, the smell is nearly gone now and I'll probably leave fixing it till the new year.

 

What I'm after is where do I go for the glow plug? VW or Mr Fraud?

[XRS]

I'm having this problem with my wife's Galaxy. It's on its third aux heater (one under warranty, one at my considerable expense) and now it smells of paraffin (or similar) after it has stood for a while. I have no doubt that whatever the cure, it will be awkward to fix and expensive!