Did you recently replace the exhaust? mine smelled like burning plastic when i changed out my exhaust.

 

The exhaust is still origional.

Here is everything that I had done:
1. timing belt
2. tune-up
3. transmission service
4. oil change
5. cabin air filters
6. cat & manifold X 2

Accountant

 

Maybe the new cabin filters were stored with a bad smell near them?

 

Yes, but if that were the case, the air coming into the cab would smell bad all the time. When the car's moving, the air is moving through the engine compartment and away from the cab. When it's stopped and the 'smell' has nowhere else to go is when the odor occurs (if I remember correctly).

I'd say if the mechanics haven't been able to nail down the problem, run with 'recirculation' on instead of 'fresh'. The smell will either get worse or go away eventually. If it gets worse, it'll be easier to track down. If it goes away - bonus.

Either way, I'd quit spending money on it, unless it's somehow hurting the functionality of the car. (Not the answer you were hoping for, I'm sure... but I got nuthin' else to suggest outside of having the charcoal filter checked... and yes, more than likely a 'stealership only' item - unless you can get one from a junkyard to try out)

 

I don't think your cat is the problem here. I'd say you have a leaking heater core or hose inside the heater/evaporator case. That or mold or mildew on the evaporator core. To reach that you have to either spray in the fresh air intake on the outside of the car, with the blower on high and cold A/C. Or put it on recirculate and find the fresh air inlet on the passanger side and spray approximately 4oz. of disinfectant spray.

 

It isn't a sweet smell like antifreeze. It truly is a rotten egg smell.

I have had the evaporator case chemically cleaned by my mechanic. It didn't make a bitof difference.

I took it back to the dealership yesterday and they gave me this song and dance about the cat needs to break in and the smell is normal. I know that's BS, but they can't find anything else wrong w/ it, so for now I will put the A/C on recirculate and see what happens.

Accountant

 

Don'tcha hate when people decide not read the entire post and comment on the first thing that comes to mind or something? Mold or Mildew SO do not smell like rotten eggs.

My money's still on that charcoal canister. Did you mention it to them?

 

It's ok. I appreciate all of the help that has been given.

I did mention the charcoal cannister. The dealership mechanic said that couldn't be the problem because the cannister is attached to the fuel system and not the emissions system. He believed the two were unrelated.

Accountant

 

Fair enough.

 

Ok, I get that to on my Civic, when its warm, and mainly when im getting on the highway, going up to 5-6 rpms. Catalytic converter will make that smell, I dont know about hondas but fords do it bad, they will knock you down on the highway lol, anyway check engine light at all ever? EGR? Im confused, you said a junkyard cat you put on 800 dollars to do that? Thats outrageous, I get a little smell sometimes through my a/c its really not that big a deal, HOWEVER if it is constantly doing it worst case the cat clogs and causes to much backpressure and can cause exhaust valves to burn up. Hope this helps, im not an expert.