My car smells like bananas for the first 10 seconds I open the door.
Posted by a_junebug@reddit | Autos | View on Reddit | 32 comments
The last two mornings, my car smells like candy banana flavoring for just a few seconds after I open the door. It dissipates quickly. Nobody has eaten anything banana flavored in my car.
After it faded, it didn’t return until this morning though I did drive the car other times that day.
It’s a 2018 Honda Odyssey with 100,000 miles, if that matters.
Thank you!
Jenknee77@reddit
same thing here in an 2015 Oddessey. OP what did you find?
a_junebug@reddit (OP)
It went away by the day after I posted and hasn't come back. It was so weird. I've cleaned out the seats, under them, checked the filter, and for any dripping under the car - nothing. My husband’s cat never smelled weird and we didn't smell it anywhere else in the house. I would have thought maybe I imagined it but my son mentioned the smell without me saying anything so I'm confident it was there. The car continues to drive totally fine and I've driven it daily.
I hope yours goes away too!
Phogger@reddit
Coolant smells sweet. Could be a leak or bad heater core, which would be inside the vehicle. It doesn't smell like bananas to me but maybe to you it does?
JoelinVan@reddit
This is the real answer amongst the cracker-jack answers.. Leaking heater core.
Bassracerx@reddit
could also be a ac drain hose clogged.
snoops-spoons@reddit
Coolant and the angry pheromone bees excrete to signal everyone else to attack here smells like bananas to humans
LowPop7953@reddit
or transmission fluid
withoutapaddle@reddit
OP just needs to turn on their defrost full blast and see if it sprays coolant all over the inside of the windshield. That's a definitive way to test this. Ask me how I know.
a_junebug@reddit (OP)
That sounds awful. I’m betting that was a pain to clean and the smell hung around a while!
jimbojonesFA@reddit
you could also open the coolant expansion tank (NOT the rad cap) and waft a wiff of it to be sure its the same smell to you.
check the level when it's cold as well.
withoutapaddle@reddit
Yeah, it was gross! But not nearly as bad as tearing apart the entire dashboard down the bare firewall to replace the heater core. I hope you find your issue, and that it's NOT the heater core.
chungusamongusss@reddit
I always think maple syrup
Barely_stupid@reddit
I agree, but it has been a long time that I have had a coolant leak...like back in the ol' regular antifreeze days (ethaline glycol/green Prestone-type stuff). Maybe modern coolant smells different?
Ayblincoln@reddit
I've worked at dealerships for 20 years. The only time I had a banana smell when there was no banana, was when there was a dead mouse in the blower motor on a Merc GLB.
Symbidux@reddit
Wait, banana candy smell that only sticks around for 10 seconds? Have you checked the cabin air filter lately? Sometimes weird smells can hide in there.
Neglected_Martian@reddit
Check your cabin air filter or under the seats for any stashed food that’s rotting. Cabin air filter because of rodents. Could be a coolant leak in the heater core too, pop the coolant lid ONLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR A LONG TIME and smell in there to see if that’s the same smell.
jimbojonesFA@reddit
coolant reservoir tank cap, not the rad cap (i know you didnt say rad cap but some people mix these up so just to be clear for op).
Neglected_Martian@reddit
Definitely, good clarification.
all_time_high@reddit
where banana
Fishstixxx16@reddit
Look for a rotting banana under your seats
poopinfinoopin@reddit
try leaving some asparagus in the doorjam
SleestackMcGee@reddit
Trunk Monkey?
TrixieMahma@reddit
Monkey no cramp
Thatguy_9671@reddit
Chim-chim
mmpjd@reddit
Such a great skit! 👍
Attainted@reddit
ooo ba na nah
68Cadillac@reddit
Check if you've got a banana in your tailpipe. People always trying to sneak a quick one in.
Pyrochazm@reddit
Coolant leak. Check the heater core for leaks.
B_Rad_Gesus@reddit
Coolant just smells sweet or like caramel if its being burned.
arveeay@reddit
Mine smells like apple. Usually an apple core wife has hidden.
3iak@reddit
You bragging or complaining
EDCxTINMAN@reddit
Spill any alcohol in there?