Weird smell from heater

[supadave414]

So I just got back in town from being gone a week. It is cold now (around 25 to 35 F) I started my car yesterday and drove it to work and then drove it to pick up my girlfriend. Later that night I forgot something at my house and drove back to get it, while leaving my car idling in my driveway. After I got back into my car I turned the heater on and it gave off some burning smell. After 10 seconds or so I turned it off. This morning I started it up again and when my car was warmed up I turned on the heater and the same smell started up again. Anybody have any ideas? The smell sort of smells like dust burning off of a heater or a furnace that hasn't been turned on in a while. My temp gauge is fine, no overheating. My coolant is a little low but just a little below max. Any ideas?

[AudiA4Turbo22]

let the heater run for a few minutes it happens.

[dmott11]

when you were gone for a week did you have your car? cuz theres always a chance that a mouse or somthing got inside. especially with it getting really cold out and stuff. just a suggestion.

[supadave414]

when you were gone for a week did you have your car? cuz theres always a chance that a mouse or somthing got inside. especially with it getting really cold out and stuff. just a suggestion.

That's a really good point. My car was parked outside and there are a bunch of squirrels and stuff always running around next to my car where I park it. Where should I start looking for signs of the little bastards?

[riot5alex]

youre inhaling burnt rat?... thats a great picture. this happens when i turn on the ac sometimes... i get a weird smell but it goes away after a minute or two.

[fitch303]

Highly unlikely that a mouse or other animal got in your car.

[supadave414]

Highly unlikely that a mouse or other animal got in your car.

I agree that it might not get into the car, but it could be that they build a nest full of dirt, sticks and stuff and that is what I am burning. going to check for that after work. Hopefully that isn't the case and it will just go away after a little bit.

[02SILVANT]

I had a smell come through my heater a while back. But it was from the back of my engine i had a little oil leak that would drop onto my exhaust and as soon as i turn on the climate control the smell would come through. I have a 3.0 V6 and it has this little gasket on the back of the engine that sits over the exhaust. I know you have a 1.8t which is different but check for any oil leaks maybe its that.

Have you changed your cabin air filter ever?

[02B6]

valve cover gasket?

[02SILVANT]

^^^it was a valve gasket at first but then there was still a leak coming from somewhere and it was a sideways "B" shaped metal piece that has a gasket that goes on the backside of the 3.0 engine between engine and firewall and it was leaking as well.

I had them all replaced and its all good now.

[fitch303]

hard coolant lines run through the firewall (sealed), the core, blower, and all components are inside the cabin plus there is a carbon filter. I doubt even if there was a dead animal in the engine bay that you would smell it. I have a slight burn smell but I just convince myself that my heater works so well that my nose hairs are melting idk lol

[02SILVANT]

^^^you crack me up!

[supadave414]

Thanks for your replys! How much did that gasket run you?

[supadave414]

Also, where do I check my cabin air filter and dealer only item?

[02SILVANT]

Ok the cabin filter i recommend changing either way. There like $20. Cabin filter is located under the long cover that runs under the hood that covers the battery. Take it off and inside there on the passenger side under windshield there is a black box. It has two tabs that unclick and you just pull off the cover. I recommend not going the cheap route on the filter. No not dealer item only, you should be able to pick it up at any import auto parts store. I got mine at a local Discount Import parts. They carry high quality aftermarket parts from Germany, Austria and few other places. But none of that China BS.

Are you asking about my valve cover gasket or the one on the back side of the engine?

the valve cover gasket on the passenger side cost me like $100 Parts+Labor.

The one on the back side of the engine was like $230 Parts+Labor. Obivously it took longer to change this one and the gasket was a little big more spendy!

[supadave414]

^^^ Thanks for your help man. I will check out the filter because I know that I haven't even checked that since I got it. As for the valve cover gaskets I will keep a close eye on those.

[02SILVANT]

No problem. I like to help anyone if i can.

[supadave414]

No problem. I like to help anyone if i can.

Well I checked under the hood and there seemed to be no traces of animals or nesting. The cabin filter looked okay and my coolant was fine. My oil however was low. Thus I am thinking it is valve gasket or another leak. Should I take this to Audi or my mechanic? My mechanic is pretty good and he usually (obviously) charges me a 1/4 of what Audi charges. On those things did you take them to Audi? Also what type of oil does Audi use for the 02 1.8T?

[02SILVANT]

I recommend changing the Cabin filter anyways, but again its your choice.

I had my local Audi Mechanic do it. If I had taken it to the dealer i would of been living under the bridge right now. Because they charge you hourly to find any problem. My guy will find the problem and then tell you how much to fix it. Thats what i love about older guys that hold shops, they understand that they cant charge you left and right just to find the problem. Now the dealer dont care because they know you gonna come back to them either way! Plus if you have a mechanic you can trust why dont you rather pay someone you know rather then the stealership. I like to think that way.

Now as for Oil i use Castrol Full Synthetic 5W40. I buy oil and filter from dealer under personal discount and change it myself. So my oil changes come out to be $55.

I dunno about 1.8T oil. Im guessing the same possibly.

[supadave414]

I recommend changing the Cabin filter anyways, but again its your choice.

I had my local Audi Mechanic do it. If I had taken it to the dealer i would of been living under the bridge right now. Because they charge you hourly to find any problem. My guy will find the problem and then tell you how much to fix it. Thats what i love about older guys that hold shops, they understand that they cant charge you left and right just to find the problem. Now the dealer dont care because they know you gonna come back to them either way! Plus if you have a mechanic you can trust why dont you rather pay someone you know rather then the stealership. I like to think that way.

Now as for Oil i use Castrol Full Synthetic 5W40. I buy oil and filter from dealer under personal discount and change it myself. So my oil changes come out to be $55.




I dunno about 1.8T oil. Im guessing the same possibly.

Yeah its definitely a oil leak. A small amount of smoke is coming from the left side of my engine on the down tube going to the cat. There is a wet spot on the right side of the tube opposite of the precat O2 sensor. Is that about where the passenger side gasket is located?

Yeah I would normally take it to my mechanic but he is not an "audi" mechanic for say. The guy there that usually works on it has three Audi's of his own and pretty much knows his stuff. The only concern that I had was that on my 1.8T I have a limited warranty on the engine becasue the oil pan is too small and I have to get all oil changes documented by Audi dealerships. I have heard that this warranty is BS anyways and that they will find a way to get out of honoring it. Either way, I am hesitant about not taking it there because of that. I know though that my guy would be so much cheaper. What are your thoughts? THanks for your time man!

[A4p]

have tried to set the speed to high??

[supadave414]

have tried to set the speed to high??

What do you mean set the speed to high?

[A4p]

you can press the air to high speed, so it can go away.. it is simple

[02SILVANT]

If you have smoke coming out, its definitely oil leaking onto your exhaust and making that smoke. Mine used to do that and people would freak out when i park the car and they be like your car is overheating and im like not its not. thats normal smoke. They would look back at me and think im a freak.

Honestly if you dont know anyone directly at the dealer then they most likely gonna try to take your money but no real solution for your smell/leak/smoke. They first will charge at least a $100 to do a diagnosis and then tell how u how much it is to fix it. If you can get the guy with 3 audis to look at your ride and tell you the truth if its just your gasket or where the oil is coming from then that would be cool. On a side note when i bought my Audi I had no clue where to go with it. Reason is because i have a salvage title and my local Audi Dealer does not accept salvage cars for service and i was in that situation where i dont know where to even go cuz you dont trust anyone because majority of shops you go to all they wanna do is get paid but no one really truly wants to help you get your problem fixed. My parents always taught me, be helpful and honest and it will come back. Well growing up I tried my best doing what they told me and now once i got older and found my Audi mechanic that has been holding a shop for 30 years and Is very honest down to the bone and charges very reasonable prices and he became like an uncle to me. I can always trust him with my car. What goes around comes around!!!!

All i can say is good luck with having someone look at the car and hopefully you can get it fixed asap and for a reasonable price~!

If you were local i would tell you where to go.

Yeah its definitely a oil leak. A small amount of smoke is coming from the left side of my engine on the down tube going to the cat. There is a wet spot on the right side of the tube opposite of the precat O2 sensor. Is that about where the passenger side gasket is located?

Yeah I would normally take it to my mechanic but he is not an "audi" mechanic for say. The guy there that usually works on it has three Audi's of his own and pretty much knows his stuff. The only concern that I had was that on my 1.8T I have a limited warranty on the engine becasue the oil pan is too small and I have to get all oil changes documented by Audi dealerships. I have heard that this warranty is BS anyways and that they will find a way to get out of honoring it. Either way, I am hesitant about not taking it there because of that. I know though that my guy would be so much cheaper. What are your thoughts? THanks for your time man!