Weird sound and sometimes smell...

[jrhaile]

Been noticing a weird smell but only for a REAL short period of time when idling in traffic.. almost like rotten cheese smell... this has been happening for 2-3 months now

Now when I'm backing out and turning at the same time, I hear a weird kind of grinding/light metal rubbing sound coming from underneath... only happens when turning and backing up.. not sure when going forward...

I used to have a problem with sharp turning in both directions and the car would almost die but that hasn't happened in months... any suggestions?

I do have new brakes too so it's not them...

[camnipotent]

Check you CAT coverter. A sure sign is the smell.

[infared21]

ya i had that same sound when i reversed into my car port and any other parking space.. at the time this was happening i needed new brakes... so i replaced them and the sound is gone. After about a few weeks or so it came back so i decided to take my car in to get the tires rotated and balanced ( car needed it ) and now the sound is totally gone.

It could be because the brakes need to be worn in, which is usually the case when you get new brakes...

[jrhaile]

brakes are about 3 weeks old now...

Could the sound be caused by the water pump or something?

Also how much is a cat converter to fix and is it important to get it done asap or can I wait for a while?

thanks for the responses..

[BeemerMan]

It could be the chili cheeseburger with jalepenos you ate. That can cause a stinker!

[jrhaile]

Naw, I hung my ass out the window :P

[TeeUp]

Originally posted by jrhaile@May 11 2004, 02:08 AM

Also how much is a cat converter to fix and is it important to get it done asap or can I wait for a while?

the bimmer cat is an expensive pussy - maybe 700 without labor...

ouch!

if it has gone bad, you might want to do it asap.... i believe having bad cats send wrong signals to your car's mainbrain that decides the air-fuel mixture and thus costing more gas and more often result in power loss....

can someone please call on cisco to explain this?

by the way,,, if its your cat, you must have at least your check engine light on... unless you got a busted fuse.

[Furious]

sounds like a cat problem,