Had my Fab about 2 months now and since day one I've noticed a weird chemical / wee-like smell around the rear end. (Yes I know ...!!) :confused:

At first I thought it was due to the rear door seals leaking and carpet getting all smelly and soggy but I've fixed that, and the smell is definitely only really evident outside the car -particularly around the rear wheel-wells.

Is it possible that I've got particularly stinky brake pads?

If it was leaking / burning smelly gearbox oil I would have expected to sniff that round the front?

Any ideas? Or is my car just incontinent?

Or cats have been spraying or dogs scenting???

Maybe the Honda owners spotted it in a car park and thought "well we sure as hell can't match it in levels of torque...."

Maybe the Honda owners spotted it in a car park and thought "well we sure as hell can't match it in levels of torque...."

My car seems to keep getting sprayed behind the back wheels recently. I'd presume it was cats taking a leak on the car.

Although i cant smell it on my car, just see the trails down the rear bumper splitter.

Either that or are there any old people in the boot?

Edited 24 August, 200916 yr by Browny_37

What you need to work out is if it is **** or ammonia. There is a chance there is a problem with the exhaust system, be careful tho, there could be increased levels of carbon monoxide (sometimes gives off an amminia like smell when mixed with other gasses coming from it. Check out the cat, im some cases there it is normal (weirdly common with german cars iirc)

Either that or any old people in the boot?

heheh... very good.

Its not the rear washer pipe problem letting screenwash seep into your carpets is it?

Try using 1001 carpet cleaner on your carpets, it worked a treat on a large spill of cider (0,5 gallon!), I just took it out, put it in the bath soaked it with warm water & used 1001 on it, it came up beautifully & no more nasty smell of stale cider/alcohol.

If it works on that there's no reason why it shouldn't on that smell.

1001 is pretty cheap at £2 a big bottle, just make sure that you test it in a discrete place first.

My money's on cats too (well, toms to be completely accurate!) We found some rubber grass-snakes on the drive got rid of them, but they have to be realistic.

If it's a wash-water leak there are details of the likely leak spots here.

You should try ours ....

Took our cats to the vet for their annual check-up vaccinations etc. and the boy Maine **** decided he didn't like the trip - and accordingly sprayed in the car. Still smells inside a week later ! Little s*d, bless 'im :thumbdwn:

I would say the rear wash pipe might be worth a look.

I would say the rear wash pipe might be worth a look.

+ 1 & See if the smell gets worse when you use the windscreen washers as the water in the washer bottle may be the cause. Regards Jason.

I can offer a tip from "Granny Grumps Guide to Everything Useless" from 1922; now surprisingly out of print !!

"For unpleasant type whiffs, try either ...coffee, white vinegar, or charcoal, left overnight in a bowl adjacent to the offending area.

Has the car been laid up recently?

If it is the washer bottle, I would perhaps drain the screen wash and then stick a fresh lot in the bottle.

How old are you ???

It's quite possible one of your rear calipers is binding - that would give you a hot brake pad smell which can smell a bit wee-like.

After a drive carefully touch the rear wheels, if one of them is considerably hotter than the other then you've got a binding caliper on that side.