Strong smell of GAS!! (Not fuel - Gas!!)

shaneob · Dec 12, 2009

I'm getting a really strong smell of gas (yes, GAS, as in mains gas) coming into the car from the engine area of my freelander TD4 Auto 2006.

If I close the vents it goes away but if you open the windows or doors you can smell it on the outside.

I've taken it 3 mechanics plus a Land Rover dealership but no one can work out what it is or where its coming from.

Anyone else come across this??

G-man · Dec 12, 2009

by gas do you mean the scent they put in propane cause most gasses are odourless by nature.

Dent · Dec 12, 2009

Battery over charging ?

freebiker · Dec 12, 2009

Stop eating beans!

Greenie · Dec 12, 2009

Uuummmm..... When's the last time yer had a wash!!:croc:

biggeeeee · Dec 12, 2009

Mouldy Air Con - If you have it fitted and don't use it, the system can become mouldy.

shaneob · Dec 12, 2009

All comedians aside - Propane gas smell - as if there's a calor gas tank leaking into the car. The same smell you can smell just before you light the gas on the cooker or when there's a gas leak.

Air con has been playing up a bit from what I remember during the summer.

Is it a DIY job or do I have to take it into LR/aircon specialist?

Greenie · Dec 12, 2009

shaneob said:
All comedians aside - Propane gas smell - as if there's a calor gas tank leaking into the car. The same smell you can smell just before you light the gas on the cooker or when there's a gas leak.

Air con has been playing up a bit from what I remember during the summer.

Is it a DIY job or do I have to take it into LR/aircon specialist?

I would take it to a good aircon specialist, not cheap though, at least
you'd know one way or another! as a guess, i would say it was the a/c.

biggeeeee · Dec 13, 2009

What area do you live?

Don't be tempted by their offers to take it to Kwik Fit and the like

I have used a specialist, all he does is Air Con, he also drives Land Rovers and re builds them so importantly knows them well and also travels (within reason).

Hippo · Dec 13, 2009

I have a similar gas smell on mine. It's either the smell of muck picked off road, or the oil smell from the drive shaft leaking, on mine. Have a look and see if your cars leaking oil. Does the air con produce cold air? If not them the refrigerant may have leaked out. Nasty stuff that. Can turn into mustard gas or something similar if it gets hot. Air specialist will be able to detect an air con leak easily.

HD55 · Dec 13, 2009

Hi

I would bet money that the smell is nothing more than the fumes from the preheater (assuming you have one). Do you have what looks like exhaust clouds coming out from around the engine bay on cold mornings?

I have a preheater in both my Freelander and Defender and they both smell the same, exactly as you describe. Please check this out before spending good money...

This is my first post, having found this site whilst browsing, but I am so certain that this isn't a problem for you I actually registered to say this.

Howard

shaneob · Dec 13, 2009

Howard - not really noticed exhaust clouds on cold mornings - any other signs or tests I can try?

bigeeee - live in upminster, Essex. But air con seems to be working ok??

Hippo - no oil leaks from the car and air con is pumping out cold air.

Thanks for the replies, hope we can solve it

HD55 · Dec 13, 2009

Ok. Do you have a preheater? It sounds very much like the smell of the fumes coming from this. Dont worry whether you can see the exhaust I mentioned. Check to see if its the preheater.

shaneob · Dec 16, 2009

HD55 - Thanks, how do I check this?
Do you know where it is? What it looks like?

lespaul · Dec 16, 2009

shaneob said:
HD55 - Thanks, how do I check this?
Do you know where it is? What it looks like?

Looking at the Freelander from the front, have a look under the bumper in front of the passenger wheel, if you have a pre-heater there will be a small exhaust there.

Darren

HD55 · Dec 16, 2009

You should also hear it working if you start the car on a cold morning then, after a few minutes, turn the ignition off. The pre heater will probably continue to run for a bit. You may also see exhaust coming from the area that Darren mentions. I am convinced that this is what you can smell as for some reason the fumes smell a lot more like burning kerosene, or gas, than diesel fumes. I hope this helps.

freelance · Dec 17, 2009

is it fumes coming from the fuel burning heater under the nearside front wing .has the the exhaust rusted off.

freelance · Dec 17, 2009

sorry, did not look at page 2 before i replied, doh

wattsycop · Sep 12, 2010

I also have just bought a 2004 HSE TD4 auto Freelander and I am getting the real gas smell in the cabin if you have the windows open however with the aircon on it goes away it seems to be coming from the wheel arch can anyone help have seen the coment about the preheater is this fixable

Optimus Prime · Sep 12, 2010

wattsycop said:
I also have just bought a 2004 HSE TD4 auto Freelander and I am getting the real gas smell in the cabin if you have the windows open however with the aircon on it goes away it seems to be coming from the wheel arch can anyone help have seen the coment about the preheater is this fixable

if you have a pre-heater, simply pull the fuse to stop it operating and see if the problem goes away

Strong smell of GAS!! (Not fuel - Gas!!)

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