Hi, I just had my 1983 GMC caballero get a tune up today at my tech school. They did a really good job and I have other stuff that needs fixing on it. My question is now I get a scent of a smell I am unsure of what it is. It reminds me of a spicy smell and figured it may be gasoline vapor? I figured it may be the carburetor since it probably needs to be rebuilt and after they did the tune up it makes a few hickups it seems, very few though. The tune up has helped my car a lot and feels like it gets more power. But what is the smell?

If they used parts cleaner like the spray kind it might be the smell, It could also be carb cleaner, or brake cleaner. I say brake cleaner cus you can use it to clean other parts and some people do. I dunno know what you or well rather whoever worked on the car did so I cant tell you for shure. If they did use any cleaner the smell should go away after a day or two depending on how well they rinsed of the cleaner. If you think its for shure gas I would check all hoses and make shure you dont have cracks. If they were removed check for tightness. Good luck with what ever it may be.:nanawrench:

well I assumed it was gas. I didn't really think about cleaners. I got a tune up with spark plugs and stuff and they also had to replace some part that I think sends voltage to the spark plugs, I think. They showed me the old part and said it had almost burned threw where the metallic ring was almost broken off. But yeah, I guess it could be cleaner then, would make sense.

You may have a potentially dangerous situation there. It doesn't sound like you know much at all about cars. Gasoline has a very distinctive & unique odor. Take the cap off of your gas tank & smell the fumes. If the odor in your car is the same, you have a gas leak somewhere. If it doesn't smell like gasoline then it probably is some kind of solvent or cleaner. - Jon

Mine doesn't have any weird smells or anything but I'm definately going to go out there and sniff the gas fumes. That just sounds like fun..... Ugly Elco.

Whiskey bottles and brand new cars
Oak tree your in my way
Theres too much coke and too much smoke
Look whats going on inside you

Ohh that smell

Sorry,
This post just reminded me of this song.

turn on your heater and put it on defrost. if the windhield steams up inside, you have a busted heater core and you are smelling antifreeze.



ask me how I know, haha.

I think you would know immediately if it was gas. that's a pretty unique odor

well the heater core is broken and has been for some time. It may have been cleaner of some sort because I think it's going away. Aside from that the car hickups a little and I think it is the carburetor. every now and then it sounds like a puff of gas is escaping and it almost wants to stall but doesn't.