antimony1019 Posted September 23, 2015 Report Share Posted September 23, 2015 Hi All, I'm hoping for some help here. This is the 3rd Edge I have owned, started off with a 2007 SEL, upgraded to a 2011 Limited and 2 years ago bought a 2013 Sport, clearly I love this car . About a year ago I started noticing a propane smell coming through the vents, it would primarily happen after driving for a while and then coming to a stop (I'm assuming it happened all the time but when stopped it came into the interior compartment). It slowly started getting worse over time and would be nauseatingly strong about 1-3 times a week. I bring it in and they can't find anything wrong. Shortly after bringing I in for the first time I got into a pretty bad accident and they rebuilt most of the front end. The smell was much much milder and less often so I thought perhaps whatever it was had been fixed with the repair. Well fast forward 6 moths and it's stronger than ever. I bring it in again and they say that the transfer case (or unit??) seal was leaking so they replaced it, this was a couple weeks ago. Well the smell is still there and still just as bad. This morning on my way to work I got an error while driving that the AWD was off and my car slowly started losing power. I pulled to the side of the road and the car was shaking and stuttering but didn't stall out. I turned it off started it back up, seemed good so I drove it to the dealer. I park at the dealer, shut the car off, open the door and the radio stays on... Double check to ensure I turned the car off, yup it's off, shut the door, radio is still on, open car door, radio shuts off... I have no idea if these issues (the smell and then the near stalling out) could be related. Anyone else have a similar experience? What was wrong? I'm starting to get at my wits end with the smell coming from the car... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted September 23, 2015 Report Share Posted September 23, 2015 You have AWD, likely the PTU has a vent leak and/or is running low on fluid. quite common on these units. I'd take it in and have the PTU flushed/refilled at a minimum (if the old fluid does not have a lot of metal shavings in it), or replaced entirely. Also sounds like shorted wiring, bad ground(s), possibly a fried BCM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antimony1019 Posted September 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2015 Thanks so much for your reply yesterday. It was the PTU seal that they had replaced prior, which they said was causing the propane smell. The dealer is currently trying to tell me that the band for the CV axle was bad, which was also causing the continued propane smell (is that possible???) as well as the electrical issues. He said the grease from the CV was "flying everywhere" and was all over the serpentine belt which in turn was causing issues with the alternator, resulting in the electrical issues. Does that even make sense, especially considering the radio staying on when the car was off?? The serpentine belt isn't turning then. Also if that grease is the supposed cause of the smell, if it was everywhere wouldn't I smell it all the time and not only occasionally? We were researching last night on the propane smell and it seems the likely culprit would be the PTU vent leaking as the smell is intermittent (a couple times a week, really bad a couple times a month). When we pick it up today we are going to ask to see the PTU so we can ensure that there is no fluid leaking out from around the vent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enigma-2 Posted September 24, 2015 Report Share Posted September 24, 2015 (edited) On my mkx, it's normal for the radio to stay on after the ignition has been turned off and the key removed. It will stay on for about 15 minutes or until a door is opened. As yours stayed on after the door was opened indicates a fault of the accessory delay system. To troubleshoot the accessory protocol module, you would need a computer. This module is located in the center console. Edited September 24, 2015 by enigma-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antimony1019 Posted September 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2015 If you read my initial post, the radio stayed on when I opened the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enigma-2 Posted September 24, 2015 Report Share Posted September 24, 2015 Sorry for the partial response, worked late last night. Was reading on another forum where anot her person had a simular problem. His turned out to be the rear differential gears had shredded and burnt the grease. Said when the dealer opened the cover the entire garage filled with smell of propane. Another wrote that oil leaking from power steering blew on to exhaust manifold causing smell like propane. Both seem related to grease,oil getting too hot. Can't see the relationship to the radio staying on however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted September 24, 2015 Report Share Posted September 24, 2015 There MAY be some truth to what the dealer said, if indeed grease has slung out everywhere as described. The smell would be there whenever the engine/components get warmed up enough (not sure what temp that would be), but should be constant after that, not intermittent. The only unrelated part I see directly attached to the CV joint is the antilock brake sensor indicator ring. If the grease did get into the alternator, and now provides an alternate path for current or intermittent short, any number of gremlins could ensue. No clue on what that would be though. So I would still have the PTU (and power steering and RDU) looked at to determine if any signs of leaks are present, before any work is done. It still may be that the CV joint boot needs to be replaced. Second opinion time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enigma-2 Posted September 24, 2015 Report Share Posted September 24, 2015 Wonder if the infamous door switch could be in early stages of failing? If switch failed to show door open, would it be possible that the radio circuit would continue to think that all doors still closed, and continue to play? (Radio went off after opening and closing the door). Would be unrelated of course, but seems possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbwt Posted October 4, 2015 Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 Just to clarify the smell is from the catalytic converter, just a byproduct of it's operation. Another interesting side note is propane and natural gas are odorless. The industry adds the odor to the propane and natural gas to help people detect the leak by smell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.