Rough idle, strong smell....... of beer?

[usajdm]

Ill keep it short.
Picked up a full stock 89 coupe(ka24e SOHC, 5-speed manual) from a co-worker.
Wife owned for about 15 years, then handed it over to their early 20's daughter as a commuter.
Been sitting since last October.
Offered it to me, telling me it had started running rough and producing a stronge "strange" smell.
Before bringing it home, swapped out oil, coolant, battery etc.
Hard time starting(expected) and after about a 10-12 mile drive home the smell of beer was intense.
Seemed to be most noticeable at front of vehicle, but cant confirm because of intensity.

All Im looking for is an experianced reply of the smell.
What it could be, where and what to look for.
A thorough "no- hands" look over has been done.
I seem to remember reading of a "beer" smell before, but couldnt pinpoint where.
Ive searched on this forum and a few others I frequent, but couldnt find anything about the beer smell.

Thanks alot in advance.

[Bluejayde]

20 something daughter was drinking and driving, spilled beer in the floorboards, and now when it warms up it smells like beer?

[usajdm]

Good idea................ we've checked for any hint of the smell while not running, but theres nothing.
Checked seats and floor for any signs of actual beer and found nothing.
I think the "beer" smell is coincidental, but a clue of something else.

[240_fun]

maybe bad gas if its been sitting for so long?

[slothonaleash]

You running alky injection? LOL

But yeah I have no idea.

[Smurf_240SX]

They put beer in the radiator cuz it was overheating and it was the only thing available?

nvm reread post

hmm...dont know

[ayuaddict]

this is the coolest thread on zilvia this year.

keep us updated!

[Jakob]

maybe someone played a prank at the preowner and put beer into the cabin vents, you know the big holes under the windshield next to the wipers, covered by the black plastic trim.

edit: just remembered that my buddy had 2 rats in there and his car smelled like death, not always but from time to time, specially when he turned on the aircondition/heater

[I LUV MY S13]

filled gas with beer and theres a leak now...? jk man idk good luck though

[fcdrifter20]

maybe old shitty gas???

[I LUV MY S13]

october wasnt long ago, what 4 months?

[S14DB]

Heater core leaks, mold in the Heater/Evaporator box. Acidic smell?

Put a DampRid container in the car. Should go away in a week.

If not, they make a foam treatment for the box. Drill a hole in the box and install a fitting then dump the can of foam in it.

[negrosx13]

spilled beer while wrenching??has happen to me in the pass

[usajdm]

Wow..... what has happened to this site?
As fun(or wierd) as this might be, I was truly hopeing there were some "wrenchers" left that could supply some real input.

But, thankyou S14DB for some serious input.
I'll definitely give it a check, but seeing that the smell is so strong outside the car and not in the car, I'm hoping you might have another idea.
It was strong enough to smell from the car behind.

Now come-on, give me something to work with.

[kandyflip445]

I would probably get some Simple Green or Purple Power, spray the engine down (especially around the exhaust) and then power wash the engine bay. Check for a beer can or something that fell down near the exhaust from someone working on the care and forgetting one.

Only thing I can think of. If it's mainly from the front of the car then it shouldn't be coming from inside the engine because then it would smell behind the car. And you changed the oil, coolant, and battery. Might check between the front bumper and the radiator too. You might have hit a beer can on the way home.

[S14DB]

How/Where was it stored?

You said for over a year it sat or 4 months? Change the Gas?

What condition was the coolant in? Has it lost any coolant?

Have you taken it down to the car wash and hosed it down?


I think you are smelling Coolant or Mold. Probably a combination of both.

[DataXUnknown]

Originally Posted by S14DB

How/Where was it stored?

You said for over a year it sat or 4 months? Change the Gas?

What condition was the coolant in? Has it lost any coolant?

Have you taken it down to the car wash and hosed it down?


I think you are smelling Coolant or Mold. Probably a combination of both.

That was my first thought, but he said it only smells when the car is on and it's warmed up and such.

Have you tried turning on the A/C and Heater to see what it smells like? You said it smells like it's coming from the front cabin area, could be something leaking bad fluid into the cabin. Check behind your pedals to see if maybe the brake master cylinder is leaking into the cabin. I know sometimes that fluid can get uber dirty, don't know if it would smell though since it's just brake fluid.

*EDIT* Just realized you said outside the car...does the car have mudflaps? Take those off and check because a lot of shit can get clogged in those things. Also check your window washer fluid, that stuff REALLLY smells super bad sometimes, maybe by random chance yours smells like beer.

[shinobis13hb]

how does the radiator look inside?? my freind had that problem on his 89 and on his rolla... but ive noticed a bad smell from a few single cams.
he changed the radiators on all 3 og his cars and it went away. i would also try the power wash situation.