Fumes / Toxic Smell in Disco cabin after driving...

boonespooner

Member
Sep 5, 2019
11
0
San Francisco
Fairly new disco owner here. Have a 99 Disco I – love the truck overall.

I've been noticing a toxicy, fumey smell in the cabin. I recently had the valve cover gasket replaced because of some oil leakage on the exhaust manifold (hoping that this would reduce the smell) but I still smell it…

In addition, I've noticed that right under the dash, below the AC / heater controls, it just feels “hot” all the time. Is this normal?

I'm wondering if there is some leak coming through the back of the engine somehow? I'm looking for guidance on where to start or what might be wrong.

Thank you!
 

Toran

Well-known member
Feb 3, 2017
416
48
Ohio
Could be a bad fuel injector.
As a side note make sure your cabin air filter is good.
 

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
Check for an exhaust leak? If it’s hot chances are you’ve already identified where in the exhaust the leak might be located.

Look for the black sooty stuff along the exhaust and the y-pipe coming off the engine.
 
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Toran

Well-known member
Feb 3, 2017
416
48
Ohio

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Toran

Well-known member
Feb 3, 2017
416
48
Ohio
Your very welcome.
I'm here to learn about keeping our trucks safely on the road and passing that info to others.
 

pdogg

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2005
1,216
29
Phoenix, AZ
I can't imagine this cabin filter is doing much, the D2 filters are a joke compared to the modern pleated HEPA filters we have now..
 
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boonespooner

Member
Sep 5, 2019
11
0
San Francisco
No check engine light - runs great. Recently had it in the shop for inspection and decided to replace the valve cover gasket as it was leaking a bit. It was clearly very well maintained before I bought it 1+ year ago. Overall great great truck IMO.
 

boonespooner

Member
Sep 5, 2019
11
0
San Francisco
Yes - all the lights are functioning in that state (I assume some sort of "check" state for the bulbs to make sure they are working). Once I turn the key all dash warning lights turn off.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
If you don't have an exhaust leak and you say it runs good with no codes then it's probably got good converters in it. If it smells like rotten eggs then you have raw fuel in your converters. Maybe pull the vacuum line off your fuel pressure regulator and see if it has fuel in it. If so you need a fuel pressure regulator.
The other thing I would look at is the tailpipe. If its missing you might not hear any leak but the fumes go up into the cabin instead of out past the bumper like it should.
 

boonespooner

Member
Sep 5, 2019
11
0
San Francisco
Thanks - will check all that out. For what it's worth, doesn't smell like rotten eggs. Best way to describe is kinda "toxic" - kinda exhaust like, or even oily. My gut instinct is that it would be a loose gasket in the cabin, or something similar, but I haven't been able to find that. I replaced the valve cover gasket because it was clearly leaking oil on the exhaust manifold, which definitely was adding to the issue - and it's better now - but not gone.

The possible melting wire thing I hadn't considered, but will try to look at this weekend (have a thermo gun now).

I am concerned by the heat coming from under the dash - near the tranny cavity bump etc - it seems excessive and I dont know where else it could come from.
 

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
Thanks for looking and updating. I’m not the best at diagnosis, but a smell like you described is usually always an exhaust leak of some kind from my experience. If it’s bad enough you can sometimes hear it, too.
 

ocarlo

Active member
Oct 30, 2017
31
0
NY, NJ
Hi all - could I possibly have the brand/part number of that filter material from Home Depot?
Our HD here is a giant cavern with staff who have lost all power of speech...

Boonespooner - any update on the heat coming in? I have intermittent "heat waves" coming in from under
driver side dash, or from the shifter area....