3000teeth

My car has lots of issues and I'm fixing them one by one, but please tell me if this sounds familiar:

Drove my car to work the long way last week on Tuesday (when driver's side window was working and down the whole way). Got to work and had to leave a 10:30 meeting and go home because I felt like I had the flu. Drove my car home and was sick for two days.

I did some research on CO poisoning and the symptoms are very flu-like, so I thought that might be the problem.

Saturday, I took the car to Midas for a free exhaust inspection and was told that the even though the aftermarket Flowmaster was old and should be replaced soon, it's not leaking and they found no exhaust leaks elsewhere.

I also bought a CO alarm (household type) and am carrying it around in the car next to me.

I've driven the car a few time since and been fine, but today I took the long way to work again (windows aren't working now for some reason, so window was up) and although I smelled a few "engine smells", I didn't have any problems until I drove the car home again tonight.

At no time has the CO alarm gone off.

Now, I'm feeling queasy and have a loss of appetite.

It's obvious to me that the car isn't sealed, because I smell things like brakes and clutch if I'm giving them heavy use.

Any ideas?

Nicole

Hmmm... on the newer cars, when the engine mounts go bad, the insulation between torque tube and the opening for the shifter starts leaking. Do you get any hot air from the console? That would be the symptom to look for.

Otherwise, I have no idea. Hope you feel better soon!

Fabio421

Maybe its the long way to work thats making you sick. Or work itself. If you quit immediatly you wont have to take the long way anymore and you should feel better.

Joe '87 S4

What is the condition of the carpet? I got sick when I first got the car - flu like symptoms from what was either mold or the cleaning solution used to clean my carpets. I replaced the carpets and the feeling went away immediately.

killingmoon65

I still think quitting your job is the answer. Work on the Shark full- time

3000teeth

I do have one bad engine mount, which is on the list of replacements --thanks, this is the last thing I would look for. I wouldn't say hot air from the console, but I'm pretty sure I have a leaky shifter area.

3000teeth

Yeah, carpet's pretty trashed on the driver's side --definitely could be some wickedness underneath --thx.

bigs

Do you know anything about the previous owner?

Any chance of a meth spill?

Any other chemicals that may have been used on the interior? Leather cleaner, dye, etc. etc. etc.

3000teeth

Of course! What was I thinking?! Everyone over to my house for beers... tomorrow morning!

3000teeth

I did buy it in Oakland --crack maybe?

Mike Frye

+1 for what Nicole said. She said the console, but it also comes up through the shifter area alot (especially with the sunroof or windows open because it circulates more that way).

If the MMs are shot that will cause it and will also speed up the wearing of your shift boot and the rubber and foam insulation under there. Might pull up the boot and see what's left, there was nothing but shreds in mine.

Then again, you said you could smell brakes when you drove it hard and this was the long way, maybe you got airsick? Need to keep the Gs positive or it will upset your stomach.

V2Rocket

+1

JHowell37

I'd inspect the carpets. I'm sure more then a few of us own cars that were once owned by drug dealers. In all seriousness, it could be mold in the carpet or the HVAC. If you get the time try using some Oust or Lysol and spraying it in the intake for the HVAC. It will kill mold. Also try to clean the carpets in the car. Every little bit helps. As I've grown older, I've found myself increasingly sensitive to changes in the air due to pollen and things like that. In addition, I noticed when I first got my 928 I turned on the HVAC and blew out a lot of black dust which could have been a lot of things. But one thing about it stands out in my mind. That's the fact that my sinuses bothered me for a day or two after taking several lungs full of the dust that was coming out of the system.

SharkSkin

Travis, most likely you have a bad hatch seal. A bad seal on the inner(upper) battery box lid can let stuff leak in as well. Having the window open will suck air and gasses in through the hatch and out the window -- but not before you get a chance to breathe it. With the window up there will be less gas sucked in, but still some would get in. The CO alarm may not be sensitive enough -- it's possible it ignores transient CO spikes, but on average you get enough to be a problem.

Anyway, another source could be from under the hood. If the seal at the firewall is missing or damaged you could get gasses from the engine compartment in the cabin.

The motor mounts on the early cars don't normally collapse as much as the fluid ones IMHO but still check for hot air at the shifter.

first time 928 owner

When is the last time you refilled your air conditioning? I got headaches from mine when i used it when i first bought my car