I smell exhaust fumes while driving my 2000 vw golf in the cab.The windows at this time are up.What could cause this problem? The exhaust system has no holes in the pipes.The engine air filter is new.the engine idle speed in normal.ia it possibke my pollution system is faulty and how can I check it?

* Stop using car!
* Check for breaks or cracks in exhaust pipe system.
* Check for cracks, rust holes in fire wall. (the wall between you and the engine.
* Fumes from engine exhaust has toxins and carbon monoxide.
* Explosive fumes can result from a over rich mixture.
* Cracks in exhaust affects the back pressure to engine.
* Crack in exhaust can direct hot fumes and may start fire when parked over rubbish or grass.
* Fumes can cause black out to passengers and driver.
* Have auto shop check system for fumes (co2 monitor) after fix.
* Be safe. Don't drive car till checked.
Aloha, ukeboy57

2000 2005 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF JETTA GTI CAR REPAIR or WORKSHOP SERVICE MANUAL


get your car fix right now

I emphasize with you on this problem. If you are smelling fumes you are inhaling car "exhaust" which is extremely dangerous as you know. I have a 1999 Passat that had a "fume" issue that baffled me for over a year. Your description of the conditions that you smell the fumes may not be complete enough for me to definitively say what your problem is but I will tell you what I experienced and discovered on my car. I only smelled the fumes when my heat or AC was on and the car was NOT moving forward. Also, if the AC recirculate button was on I didn't smell the problem as bad. So, what I found was that the car's emission control piping was leaking the exhaust fumes that bypass the pistons and go into the crankcase. These fumes are normally piped back into the intake manifold to be re-burned to reduce emissions. With a completed disintegrated rubber emissions pipe coming off the engine block, the fumes entered into the engine compartment which is sealed from the interior of the car. So, how did the fumes get in my car? Well, when waiting at a red light and with the heat or AC on (no recirculate) the fumes would fill the engine compartment and overflow out the wheel wells and wrap over the hood to the intake vents (near the wiper blades) of the car's interior air system. If the recirculate button is pressed with the AC on, the car's interior air (no exterior air) is recirculated inside the car to cool it faster and I didn't smell the fumes as bad. Also on windy days the fumes didn't get a chance to wrap over the hood and get into the intake vents. Because of the unique conditions that had to occur in order to smell or not smell the fumes it was a difficult problem to solve. By the way, the disintegrated rubber pipe was almost impossible to see and there is no real reference material to read that describes the location and depiction of the emissions plumbing. I hope this helps you!

On the dash there is a switch/lever that allows you to select fresh outside air or recirculate the air in the cab. Any smell may be coming in the freash air position which would allow smelly air from the engine to come into the car. Check for broken flexible exhaust piece or leaking gaskets around the cat converter to start with or a hole in the exhaust pipe inself

I would have the exhaust checked or check it yourself for holes.

possibly your O rings which isolates fuel injectors from engine block are getting old and letting gasoline go out. it is very dangerous since it can cause fire. do not drive.

another cause is broken loose or cracked fuel lines. this is equally dangerous since it is under hood close to hot exhaust manifold.

if smell is from exhaust manifold, which means not the smeel of gasoline but exhaust fumes, this can be caused by broken exhaust manifold or a crack on it or problematic exhaust manifold gasket.

the vehicle may need a service to ensure all fuel is being burned on ignition.
the exhaust may be broken under the car and exhaust fumes are being released.

I hope this was useful.

Sounds like the catalytic converter is leaking and not sending the fumes out through the exhaust although will get a meyhane smell from time to time especialy when your engine braking towards a stop light or give way.

Bad heater core. What is happening is when you turn on the air you are getting fumes from the heat of the engine and the heater core leaking causing you to get a smell and also fumes. I would suggest that you take it to the dealership or a mechanic and have the problem fixed ASAP due to the health issue

What happend before the check engine light came on?

Does your exhaust smell like rotten eggs?
If so, this is a faulty o2 sensor.
If not I woul suspect an emission component failed.
either way you need to have a scan tool applied to the car next time it comes on, then you will be able to tell better what it is you need to fix.