sulfur smell

[Pomorza]

Hey guys.

This evening when I was back home and got out of the ol' gal I started smelling a rather potent smell of sulfur (rotten egg type smell). Any ideas?

Jan

[d240zx2]

That's typical of a catalytic converter being fed an overly rich mixture.

[sblake01]

That's typical of a catalytic converter being fed an overly rich mixture.

As it's slowly self-destructing.......

[Marty Rogan]

Hey guys.

This evening when I was back home and got out of the ol' gal I started smelling a rather potent smell of sulfur (rotten egg type smell). Any ideas?

Jan

I had that happen to my '70 once. A wire going into the voltage regulator corroded and it over-charged the battery. That is what I would suspect happened to yours.

Marty

[sblake01]

I don't know, Marty. I've been through both scenarios they are two different smells. On a car with a catalytic converter, the description "rather potent smell of sulfur (rotten egg type smell)" would lead me to Frank's conclusion....

[Marty Rogan]

I don't know, Marty. I've been through both scenarios they are two different smells. On a car with a catalytic converter, the description "rather potent smell of sulfur (rotten egg type smell)" would lead me to Frank's conclusion....

When it happened to my car, I was away from home and had to drive it for a while. It brought tears to my eyes, so I would call that a "rather potent smell", ! Besides, how many 240Z's have you seen with a catalytic converter installed?

[Pomorza]

My first conclusion last night (at 3 am) was that the catalytic converter on my 280z was dying. I've had the same smell on my 96' Grand Cherokee when it cat was about to give. I'm pretty sure that the catalytic converter on my car is more than likely at least 10 years old if not older as its pretty much rusted to the rest of the exhaust.

I'll check the battery in a second but the volt gauge never exceeded the normal range when I drove. The car didn't run any different or any richer that I could tell but then again it was late so it is possible.

I only drove about 2 miles and the engine temp just hit the normal temp when I got home if that makes a difference.

Thanks all

Jan

[sblake01]

When it happened to my car, I was away from home and had to drive it for a while. It brought tears to my eyes, so I would call that a "rather potent smell", ! Besides, how many 240Z's have you seen with a catalytic converter installed?

True but his is a 280Z....

[Walter Moore]

If it has a converter, then I vote for that being the source of the smell.

I remember that the rotten egg smell was actually very common on the 75 - 79 models of American Cars when they were new, because they all ran carbs and tended to run rich.

(Also, the EPA allowed a lot more sulfur in gasoline back then then the do today.)

[Marty Rogan]

True but his is a 280Z....

Sorry, missed that on the first post.

[Z train]

Jan-time to see Leon.$360.00 for a complete system with a hi-flow cat.