Bad or Burnt Exhaust smell in cabin during hard acceleration.

[Bonnie Lynn]

Hi RBev80,

I want to arrange a follow-up call from your regional customer service manager (CSM) so they'll be aware that your concern has returned. Send me a PM with your current mileage and daytime phone number; I'll do the rest.

Crystal

I haven't discussed this problem for about 8 months. I have a 2011 Ford Explorer and had this problem and customer service at Ford said wait until you get more miles on your vehicle and "it [the smell] will be gone." Well, I have around 31,000 miles on her and I still notice that smell, and it seems to be getting worse. I just got tired of Ford representatives telling me that it would go away after the vehicle was broke in. Well, I think 30,000 miles is well beyond the broke in stage. I'm not sure if I've had that TSB performed on my vehicle, but I doubt it has been performed. I would have thought that Ford would have had this fixed in newer Ford models than my 2011.

 

[peterk9]

I haven't discussed this problem for about 8 months. I have a 2011 Ford Explorer and had this problem and customer service at Ford said wait until you get more miles on your vehicle and "it [the smell] will be gone." Well, I have around 31,000 miles on her and I still notice that smell, and it seems to be getting worse. I just got tired of Ford representatives telling me that it would go away after the vehicle was broke in. Well, I think 30,000 miles is well beyond the broke in stage. I'm not sure if I've had that TSB performed on my vehicle, but I doubt it has been performed. I would have thought that Ford would have had this fixed in newer Ford models than my 2011.

The dealers original remark was inaccurate to begin with. There shouldn't have been any smell except for that 'new car smell'. There is an explanation of the work required to be performed on page 2 of the following thread;
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375226

Keep in mind that the TSB is only performed free of charge while your vehicle is under the 3 year, 36,000 mile factory warranty.

Peter

 

[splurph16]

Well I solved all my 2012 Limited problems..My ford touch blank, strong coolant smell from the front vents, exhaust filling the cabin during hard acceleration, and the A pillar wind noise. I took the title to the dealer and traded it in for a '07 V8 Explorer and a large cashiers check. LOVE IT! Should have purchased it to begin with. 21-23mpg hwy with the 4.6 V8 about the same as my 2012 3.5 V6 and it will tow 7300 lbs and is quite a bit roomier inside. Have to say the RWD is much better than FWD in my opinion for towing. The 2012 was a beautiful vehicle inside and out, but how disappointed I was with all of its problems with only 4K miles. Traded a 2010 Platinum F150 I purchased new on the '12 Explorer, its Microsoft sync touchscreen system was 100% better than the my ford touch..it actually worked and had rather quick response. Good luck on the repairs.

FORDFAN12 - I've been dealing with the strong coolant odor for over a year now. Ford replaced the hoses twice and it appears to only be a short term solution because the odor keeps coming back. How did they fix your issue? It's brutal smelling this stuff, particularly in the winter when the heat is on and you can't use the recirculate button. Thanks

 

[Bonnie Lynn]

The dealers original remark was inaccurate to begin with. There shouldn't have been any smell except for that 'new car smell'. There is an explanation of the work required to be performed on page 2 of the following thread;
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375226

Keep in mind that the TSB is only performed free of charge while your vehicle is under the 3 year, 36,000 mile factory warranty.

Peter

Thanks. I guess I better check on this now. My Explorer was 2 years old in June, and I have 34,615 miles on her.

 

[FordService]

...They couldn't replicate it, so I tried to do it with one of their guys riding with me, but couldn't get it to happen.

I’m sorry I missed your reply, MizzouMan_2000. I want to reach out and offer my help by arranging a call from your regional customer service manager. So I can do this, please send me a PM with your full name, VIN, best daytime phone number, mileage, and dealer name/state.

...Well, I have around 31,000 miles on her and I still notice that smell, and it seems to be getting worse...

Bonnie Lynn,

I still have your contact information from before. Drop me a line and I’ll arrange for you to be followed up with.

...Keep in mind that the TSB is only performed free of charge while your vehicle is under the 3 year, 36,000 mile factory warranty...

Thanks for going above and beyond for this community, Peter.

...I've been dealing with the strong coolant odor for over a year now...

It’s important to me that this is taken care of for you, splurph16. Please PM me the above details I need to escalate this for you.

Cory

 

[spr]

Ugh.

I got a good whif of something like this doing a highway onramp merge just the other day. I thought it was pretty odd.

This is a thing? Now I am wondering if I should just monitor to see if it happens again or just mention it to the dealer now.

(sigh)

 

[Bonnie Lynn]

I’m sorry I missed your reply, MizzouMan_2000. I want to reach out and offer my help by arranging a call from your regional customer service manager. So I can do this, please send me a PM with your full name, VIN, best daytime phone number, mileage, and dealer name/state.


Bonnie Lynn,

I still have your contact information from before. Drop me a line and I’ll arrange for you to be followed up with.


Thanks for going above and beyond for this community, Peter.


It’s important to me that this is taken care of for you, splurph16. Please PM me the above details I need to escalate this for you.

Cory

Cory: I took it to my dealer Saturday, July 5th, but the men couldn't duplicate the smell. There was also an issue with my windows (they were "bumping" as they roll down, in the driver and passenger side) and when the parts come in for the windows, they're going to have the service manager drive with me so she can smell it. It's at a dealer who is in the country, and I smell this with a hard acceleration getting on the interstate, our major highway, but I'm sure I can get the smell for her. It seems like they could put it up on a rack of some sort and get the rpms up and smell it then, but maybe there are not racks like this to hoist the vehicle off the ground and get those rpms up in that way. I'll let you know what the progress of this smell is as I've been dealing with it for quite some time. The last time I complained about this, a representative from Ford called me and told me that that was a normal smell, and so, at that time, I just threw my hands up in the air and gave up and just kept smelling it, but since it's getting close to my miles under warranty, I thought I'd give it another looksy. Thanks for your help Cory.

 

[spr]

General question if I may...

What is the liklihood that my Explorer (manufactured April 2013) would need this fix for a TSB that was issued Dec 2012?

Im pretty sure I have the problem - just curious. I would sort of guess that Ford puts these TSB adjustments into newer builds, but I dont know enough about the manufacturing constraints..maybe they can't.

 

[peterk9]

General question if I may...

What is the liklihood that my Explorer (manufactured April 2013) would need this fix for a TSB that was issued Dec 2012?

Im pretty sure I have the problem - just curious. I would sort of guess that Ford puts these TSB adjustments into newer builds, but I dont know enough about the manufacturing constraints..maybe they can't.

There have been some 2013's with this same issue but I don't know when they were built.
I have a 2011 built in Feb. '11 and I have not had this issue occur with mine.

Peter

 

[sirjag]

my 2013 does this too

 

[FordService]

...I got a good whif of something like this doing a highway onramp merge just the other day...

my 2013 does this too

spr and sirjag,

It’s definitely a good idea to tell your dealer. I’m happy to also lend a hand. Please see my above post for the details I need to send an escalation to your regional customer service manager.

...Thanks for your help Cory.

You got it, Bonnie Lynn.

Cory

 

[1995E]

Exhaust smell, burnt oil smell

So I do pull some hard accelerations from time to time to pass people on the highway. Now I want to ask is it normal to even smell exhaust in the cabin when all the windows are closed and I accelerate a bit? Now I'm just worried because my mom is now bothered by the smell. However, when I tried to reproduce the smell with the dealer. The shop foreman told me that the smell is normal.
Is it really normal? I get an exhaust smell in the cabin. Has those who gotten the TSB done fixed the issue?

 

[Hazegray]

20,000 mile check up A-OK

Well it has been a while since they changed the PTU in my XLT. I took it in for 20,000 mile service (23,000 actual miles). They did all the routine stuff (rotate tires, oil change etc) and they made sure the sync software was current. Kevin also made a point to have the PTU fluid checked and there was no burnt aroma! We even made a point of documenting this on the repair paperwork. This change clearly fixed my issue.

The guys at the dealership (Kenny Ross Ford) were great again and Kevin Anderson was excellent. Someday he is going to get promoted or hired away and I'll be happy for him but sad for me!

 

[huie1983]

I have a base 2WD, 3.5L with 2K miles manufactured in early April 2013 that has this issue so it's definitely some sort of overall design defect spanning the life of the vehicles production. From reading through these 36 pages as well as this issue peppered throughout the internet, Ford either has no desire to fix the issue or doesn't know how to....

I'm still going to mention it when I bring mine in for its first service but I won't hold my breath on it getting fixed, the TSB seems very hit and miss.

I will say, if they can't fix I will go after the lemon law. No way do I want my pregnant wife ( and soon to be newborn ) and 2 young boys inhaling exhaust. All the comments about Ford tech's saying its "normal" is complete crap. I've had at least 15 cars/SUV's/trucks and none have ever choked me out with exhaust when using the car as designed, to accelerate into traffic.

Rant over.

Also, just out of curiosity I ordered one of these to do some tests: http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Lab-CA101...8-1&keywords=pro+lab+Carbon+Monoxide+Detector

Should arrive in 3-5 days and i'll let you know if it shows anything.

 

[1995E]

I have a base 2WD, 3.5L with 2K miles manufactured in early April 2013 that has this issue so it's definitely some sort of overall design defect spanning the life of the vehicles production. From reading through these 36 pages as well as this issue peppered throughout the internet, Ford either has no desire to fix the issue or doesn't know how to....

I'm still going to mention it when I bring mine in for its first service but I won't hold my breath on it getting fixed, the TSB seems very hit and miss.

I will say, if they can't fix I will go after the lemon law. No way do I want my pregnant wife ( and soon to be newborn ) and 2 young boys inhaling exhaust. All the comments about Ford tech's saying its "normal" is complete crap. I've had at least 15 cars/SUV's/trucks and none have ever choked me out with exhaust when using the car as designed, to accelerate into traffic.

Rant over.

Also, just out of curiosity I ordered one of these to do some tests: http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Lab-CA101...8-1&keywords=pro+lab+Carbon+Monoxide+Detector

Should arrive in 3-5 days and i'll let you know if it shows anything.

If it does show something, then I smell a class action lawsuit coming.

 

[huie1983]

Here is some more detailed info on the kits if anyone wants it:

http://www.prolabinc.com/carbon-monoxide.asp

It would be interesting to have some deployed to various owners experiencing these issues to see what the overall concentration is. At $15 a kit (including shipping) for 3 sensors its not a bad investment. At least if it does not show anything I know that me and my family are not in immediate risk to our health and can sleep a bit better...

 

[MizzouMan_2000]

I have a carbon monoxide detector with the digital read out. I should plug it in to my power converter and see what it shows as I drive around.

 

[huie1983]

Mizzouman_2000-

It would be great if you could do that, especially with it set in the 3rd row area as I have a feeling that's where the concentration would be the highest.

 

[Bonnie Lynn]

Mizzouman_2000-

It would be great if you could do that, especially with it set in the 3rd row area as I have a feeling that's where the concentration would be the highest.

Why would it be greater in the third row seating? Does this smell start at the back and then move forward? I really thought it was coming out of my AC vents, but if it's exhaust it would make sense that it's coming from the back, but where is it getting in from back there?

 

[huie1983]

Bonnie Lynn-

From what I understand there are vents under the back bumper on the sides and gaps around the back area of the vehicle that suck the exhaust in under heavy acceleration, someone correct me if I am wrong. On mine at least, I have noticed it most with the windows up and no fan or AC on.

Go to the forum below and scroll down a bit, plenty of pics showing where the exhaust enters.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375226