Hi all,
Apologies for creating a new topic - there is a topic I posted a few weeks back about the 'smell of petrol' on a cold start and that these were seemingly coming from the tailpipe.
I have however started this new topic as I don't believe the smell is of neat petrol - the smell I am getting is similar to the exhaust fumes you get whilst car is warming up on a cold start - that rich petrolly smell.
These fumes however seem very strong towards the front of the car, specifically the left side (looking at the car straight on from the front - opposite side to battery, same side as steering wheel) of the engine bay and even in the left wheel arch. At first I thought its just the wind blowing the tailpipe fumes under the car to the front but I have specifically tested this 20+ times now and I get the fumes sometimes just a few seconds after startup and there has literally been no wind whatsoever so there is no way the fumes could of got from back to front so quickly. If I jump in the car straightaway you can also smell it coming through the vents quite strongly.
Just to clarify the fumes are present almost always on a cold start and can start as quick as 30 seconds after startup. They disappear and clear after 3-4 minutes and you won't get them again until you leave the car at least 1 hour or more. The other day I left it 1 hour 15 mins and got the smell again quite strongly even though the car was still warm-ish (no blue oil temp sign on dash) and it was 20 degrees celsius outside so quite warm ambient temp.
I have also tested this on my partners car (Honda Jazz 1.4, same miles, service history, year, engine etc.) and hers never does this. I have tested them both side by side on the driveway in the same conditions (tempreature, weather). Mine does it everytime and hers has never done it. I further tested it on my fathers cars albeit not a Honda but it was a Hyundai 130 1.4 petrol with similar age and miles - again tested side by side to my car and although his produced the expected spent exhaust fumes at the rear on a cold startup whilst the car runs a little richer it did not make same smell near the front where as mine did.
I have ruled out all possibilities of neat fuel leaks (Honda have too) and I think the smell is of exhaust fumes leaking somewhere near the front of the car.
The car is still under warranty but Honda are syaing they cannot even get the car to produce the smell - I was stood there with the technician when it made the smell but they denied it even though I could smell it - they just said its the tailpipe fumes. In fairness even if it was the tailpipe the smell is still significantly stronger than my partners which I believe to be an issue in itself regardless. The car is due to go back into Honda next week for a full day.
I have had 1 AA guy confirm the smell and its rough source (he came out because the battery died on the car!) also had friends, family and neigbours confirm the smell who also agree that it doesn't seem normal and is easily noticable just to make sure I am not going mad!
Anyone go any ideas on this as it's driving me mad?
Thanks in advance.