Smells to Watch Out for After an Accident

Is it supposed to smell weird after an auto accident? Do you know which smells are dangerous after a car crash? When you’re in a car accident, bad smells are probably the farthest thing from your mind. After all, you need to seek medical attention, call law enforcement and exchange insurance information with any other drivers involved in the incident. However, even when you’re in a minor accident, it’s still important to go have your vehicle checked out—especially if you smell one of these odors. They’re a sign of hidden damage to your car.

Here are the smells to watch out for:

• Rotten eggs: This indicates a problem with your exhaust system and catalytic converter. Since the catalytic converter helps get rid of the toxic gases produced by the engine, this odor can indicate that your exhaust system is damaged in some way. It’s also unhealthy for the environment, so make sure to take your vehicle in for repairs as soon as possible.
• Sweet odors: When your car smells oddly sweet, you probably have an issue with the coolant. The engine coolant or antifreeze is crucial to the engine’s operation—it keeps the machinery from overheating. If you let this problem go, you may find yourself on the hook for major and expensive repairs.
• Gasoline: Gas odors are pretty easy to detect. If your vehicle smells more like a gas station than it should, there may be a leak in the gas tank or fuel links. This is a serious hazard. However, if you’ve tried and failed to start the car, you might have just flooded the engine. Wait a few seconds and try again. If the problem persists, have your car taken in right away.
• Burning smells: Burning smells usually mean there’s either an oil leak or an electrical short. Look to see if there’s oil leaking underneath your car after the accident. If you can’t tell what the issue may be, take your car in to the mechanic to figure out what the problem is.
• Burning rubber: Burning odors are a sign of brake problems. There could be issues with the alignment or the tires may be unbalanced. Since brakes are a critical part of your safety features, they need to be repaired as soon as possible.

Now that you know which smells are dangerous to notice after a car crash, you can identify the general problems and take your car in as soon as possible. Remember, hidden damage can lurk inside your vehicle, even if you think you just suffered a few dents and scratches.

Even if you think your car is just fine, it’s still a good idea to have it checked out. S & R Repairs Towing & Recovery Inc. can help by giving your car a thorough inspection and repairing any issues that appear. Be sure to let us know if you’ve smelled any of the odors above—it will help us diagnose the issues with your vehicle. Call today to get started!

Categorised in: Accident Tips