Stinky Del Sol

Discussion in 'Del Sol' started by mychihoang, Sep 26, 2008.

  1. mychihoang

    mychihoang Guest

    My '93 Del Sol emitted a sulfurish smell for about a week... I've
    noticed that it also stinks when I go uphill in the past. The smell is
    now disappearing but yesterday when I started my car in the morning,
    it turned on and shut off. The same thing happened later in the late
    afternoon. I had to gas it a little to get it going.

    Anyone have any idea what the problem(s) could be? Thanks!
     
    mychihoang, Sep 26, 2008
    #1
  2. mychihoang

    Elle Guest

    http://www.autoupkeep.com/QAexhaust.htm
     
    Elle, Sep 26, 2008
    #2
  3. mychihoang

    Tegger Guest

    wrote in @b2g2000prf.googlegroups.com:


    Did you just get a new catalytic converter?
     
    Tegger, Sep 26, 2008
    #3
  4. mychihoang

    mychihoang Guest

    Thanks for responding. No, I didn't get a new catalytic converter. A
    friend of mine suggested I get a new one, but wanted to research
    further. Does it help to know that I had replaced my battery right
    before it started smelling. I doubt that that has anything to do with
    it, but just a FYI.
     
    mychihoang, Sep 26, 2008
    #4
  5. mychihoang

    mychihoang Guest

    Elle, thanks for the link!
     
    mychihoang, Sep 26, 2008
    #5
  6. mychihoang

    Tegger Guest

    wrote in @g17g2000prg.googlegroups.com:


    As far as I know there are only three things that will cause a sulfur
    smell:
    1) A new cat
    2) Gas with lots of sulfur in it
    3) Possibly an overcharging battery.
     
    Tegger, Sep 26, 2008
    #6

  7. And I'd lean towards #3... Don't ask me how I know!

    <G>

    JT
     
    Grumpy AuContraire, Sep 26, 2008
    #7
  8. mychihoang

    mychihoang Guest

    So how do I get rid of the smell if #1 is ruled out? Thanks.
     
    mychihoang, Sep 29, 2008
    #8
  9. mychihoang

    mychihoang Guest

    Okay, I won't ask how you know, but would overcharging occur even if
    it's a brand new battery?
     
    mychihoang, Sep 29, 2008
    #9

  10. Sure could.

    JT
     
    Grumpy AuContraire, Sep 29, 2008
    #10
  11. mychihoang

    Tegger Guest

    wrote in


    Overcharging is a function of the alternator, not the battery.

    Get the running voltage checked ASAP before you bake all your car's
    electrics. If the voltage is OK, then you are using gas with high sulfur
    content and need to switch brands.
     
    Tegger, Sep 30, 2008
    #11

  12. Uh, don'tcha mean regulator?

    JT
     
    Grumpy AuContraire, Oct 1, 2008
    #12
  13. mychihoang

    Tegger Guest



    Yep, but since the regulator is inside the alternator, and since the
    alternator is essentially a "no user serviceable parts inside" kinda deal
    for your average driver, I thought it was more descriptive to simply say
    "alternator".
     
    Tegger, Oct 2, 2008
    #13
  14. Ah yes... My old relic Civics still have a mechanical regulator.

    As an aside, I long ago converted my Studebaker daily drivers to GM
    internal regulated alternators using a single wire. Cheap and widely
    available.

    JT
     
    Grumpy AuContraire, Oct 2, 2008
    #14
  15. mychihoang

    Tegger Guest



    My '75 Corolla also had a separate mechanical regulator. This setup had the
    nasty characteristic of allowing one certain wire to corrode off almost
    every winter, which resulted in battery-boiling overcharging, and me having
    to freeze my fingers off repairing the break each time.

    The '82 Corolla I owned later on had a greatly improved system with an IC
    regulator that was integral to the alternator. I could actually make it
    through an entire winter without having to fix the charging system. Imagine
    that.



    And WAY better than the old external type...
     
    Tegger, Oct 3, 2008
    #15
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