Strange Smell & What's This?

[SashET]

Hi All,

Last few days I have noticed a strange smell after driving my car. The smell isn't like anything else I have smelt before. It smells like hot water/coolant or burning plastic. It does not smell like power steering fluid, gearbox oil, engine oil or brake fluid, I know what these smell like.

Anyway, I decided to check over the car as soon as I smelt this. I found all fluid levels to be ok but I did notice this little device pictured below clicking away like mad. I don't know what it is so I thought I'd take a picture of it and ask the pro's on this forum. Looks like an evap canister of some sort but I'm not sure what the device attached to it is. To me, they look like sensors of some kind. Anyway, the thing that was clicking away with the engine running is circled below.

Any help would be great.








Cheers
Sash

[Treza360]

Charcoal filter. If it's had it then that might explain the smell. I'm sure someone more qualified than me will be able to confirm this. If it turns out to be that can you let us all know how much it costs to replace.
Cheers,
Trent

[gavs]

I believe it's a breather for the brake fluid, have heard some weird noises coming from mine after a spirited drive

[Treza360]

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=27365&highlight=charcoal+filter

Cheers,
Trent

[JustCruisn]

Is the smell the badge from the engine cover melting away somewhere in the engine bay ?

[Blitzen]

As Trent said, that is the Charcoal Canister. There is an electrically controlled solenoid on the top of it, and there may be a chace it has burned out, contributing to the smell.

[SashET]

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...harcoal+filter
Cheers,
Trent

That's exactly what it is.... the charcoal filter.

Does everyone else's tick like crazy to? Seem's the little solenoid in there must be opening and closing like mad!!!

Is there something wrong with it?

Cheers
Sash

[SashET]

Is the smell the badge from the engine cover melting away somewhere in the engine bay ?

LOL..... NO

I actually found the badge two days after I bought the car.

It was stuck in the between the inlet manifold runners.

Just waiting till I get some good glue before I put it back on there.

Cheers
Sash

[SashET]

As Trent said, that is the Charcoal Canister. There is an electrically controlled solenoid on the top of it, and there may be a chace it has burned out, contributing to the smell.

But it's clicking on/off (open/close) so I don't think its burnt out, just working away like mad.

How do i tell if its stuffed?

Cheers
Sash

[Treza360]

Mine clicks away like crazy too. It only seems to do it after I've been idling for a bit though. If you hop straight out of your car and open the bonnet it won't be ticking like that. However after a bit it comes on and ticks like your saying. This is especially the case when the radiator fans come on.
Cheers,
Trent

[SashET]

Ok, if its not the charcoal filter, what other things could be causing this smell?

Cheers
Sash

[Jmac]

The valve clicking is absolutley normal, this is the tank purge valve N80. It is both activated by Idle speed control and the Lambda sensor, pretty much thats why you will hear it click like mad on idle, it helps with leaning and enrichening.. This is diagnosable and you can run a system test of it via VAGCOM
Cheers
Jmac

[NabzGTI]

Hi guys, sorry to resurrect this issue but i've got a question in regards to this charcoal filter. Can this filter be redirected to be placed somewhere else in the engine bay? Does the length of the hoses matter or will the vacuum lines work the same irrespective of hose lengths?

The reason I'm asking, is I have a mk5 GTI, and recently bought a BSH stage 2+ PCV fix kit, and this EVAP system (charcoal filter) is in the way. When I initially bought the PCV fix kit, I only saw images from Left Hand Drive cars, which don't have this charcoal filter in the same spot, leaving a perfect opening for the catch can.

Any help would be greatful.

[WABIT]

try and see if you have ran over something plastic like a shopping bag, it might have gotten stuck on the exhaust, hence plastic burning smell

dom