Fumes in main cabin

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Elbowpipe
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Fumes in main cabin

Post by Elbowpipe » Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:42 pm

My wife and kids are complaining of fumes in the back of our diesel 2.5 Bongo (1998) when travelling. If she switches off the fan in the rear it gets less, but still noticeable. Only bought this last month. I suspected a broken seal on the exhaust but looking around, there's a brand new rear section and the rest, though rusted, isn't holed. Had a garage do a lot of messing around with fuel filter, injectors etc soon after I bought it. Could it just be engine covers not replaced properly?
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g8dhe
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Re: Fumes in main cabin

Post by g8dhe » Mon Jul 24, 2017 4:13 pm

The rear air system doesn't have any fresh air intake, it only recirculates. I would check the rubber seals under the seats and make sure there in position and nothing (carpet) wedged across them!
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cmm303
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Re: Fumes in main cabin

Post by cmm303 » Mon Jul 24, 2017 6:42 pm

Fuel systems are on the driver's side and exhaust on passenger side so messing with one shouldn't affect the other.

Is it worth checking for fuel leaks and that they aren't getting a whiff of diesel somehow? Fuel pump leaks tend to be more apparent when idling.
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Elbowpipe
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Re: Fumes in main cabin

Post by Elbowpipe » Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:14 pm

Thanks for these tips guys.
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Northern Bongolow
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Re: Fumes in main cabin

Post by Northern Bongolow » Tue Jul 25, 2017 3:00 am

is it when the aircon is on, or all the time.

if the rear part of the exhaust is holed or not fitted correctly exhaust gasses could get in the rear vents, these are at the rear on both sides under the bumper, they have a plastic flap on them to close them off, these could have been removed or damaged. also check the rear door seal is fitted ok.

you can see the rear vent just below and to the rear of the fuel filler on this drawing. theres one on the other side.

http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... o=.html#24
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Northern Bongolow
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Re: Fumes in main cabin

Post by Northern Bongolow » Wed Jul 26, 2017 12:15 pm

you can see the rear vents in some of the pics on the link below, if they are open, the plastic flap damaged, or the channels behind rusted through, exhaust gasses could get through.

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... =3&t=69508
Elbowpipe
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Re: Fumes in main cabin

Post by Elbowpipe » Thu Jul 27, 2017 11:42 am

Strange, there are no flaps there, and no evidence of there ever having been flaps! :) If it ever stops raining, I'll check the other suggestions. Apparently the smell gets stronger when the engine is working harder (changing gears, going uphill).
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Re: Fumes in main cabin

Post by Bob » Thu Jul 27, 2017 11:53 am

Could it be oil getting onto the engine and burning off as it works harder/gets hotter?
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Re: Fumes in main cabin

Post by ade33 » Fri Jul 28, 2017 12:14 pm

Our V6 had a nasty stench whenever the heating was on.

We were a bit confoozled for a while, as the heating air inlet is right at the front of the van, so discounted things like oil fumes as they would naturally have been drawn towards the other end when the van was moving.

Turned out to be a big oil leak, the fumes from which were being drawn in by the HVAC system into the cabin.
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