Q: When I turn on my A/C it smells like transmission fluid

asked by on November 29, 2016

My question is what could be the cause of the air coming from the vents ti smell like transmission fluid

My car has 152116 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The first thing to check is to see if you have any kind of engine or transmission fluid leaks that the air conditioner could be drawing in the smell of the oils into the A/C air intake. If you have any kind of oils leaking onto the exhaust could be the cause of the smell. Try to run the A/C on max air only to see if the smell is reduced or goes away? This blocks most of the intake air from the outside from getting in the truck. If smell is reduced then the problem is an oil leak in the engine or transmission. Have a mechanic like one from YourMechanic come and locate the cause of those leaks for you.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

What precautions should be followed with the antilock brake system (ABS) system?
Your car’s anti-lock brake system is designed to help prevent you from locking up the wheels during hard stops, as that can cause you to go into an uncontrolled skid. The system activates during certain hard stops and pulses the...
Car won't start even after I replaced the fuel pump.
If the fuel pump has been replaced and your issue is still fuel related you may have a clogged fuel filter or malfunctioning fuel injectors. If all of these parts are known to be functioning properly the issue is likely...
Check Engine Light came on
It sounds like you have a pretty bad misfire. While a faulty O2 sensor could be the cause, it is not the most likely. A misfire happen can be caused by anything that prevents the air/fuel mixture from igniting properly...
Car got hot and died
Hi. The car shuts off to protect itself as significant damage can occur without the proper amount of cooling. The first thing to check is make sure you have enough coolant. There may be 4 different lines on the tank,...
Clicking noise under the hood? sounds like bearings..
I would think the noise is from the belt tensioner pulley or the bearing in the compressor pulley. I would have the noise checked sooner then later since a failed bearing or pulley can leave you stranded on the road...
Acclerator pedal malfunctioned, misfired, service engine and loud noise
The accelerator pedal position sensor is a common failure item as well the the throttle position sensor in the throttle body assembly. Either sensor can cause similar performance concerns. The cause of these problems usually result in a diagnostic code...
The overdrive light is flashing on and off and the check engine light come on would that be something in the bellhousing
Not necessarily. The fault could easily be in an engine control system that "indirectly" affects transmission operation. The best thing to do is download the diagnostic trouble codes which will give a general indication of he fault but to actually...

Related articles

How Much Power Does the AC Draw From the Engine?
Most cars these days come with air conditioning as a standard feature – gone are the days...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a General Contractor
If If you're a general contractor, you probably aren’t in the market for a used car. More likely, you’re looking for a pickup truck, because you need to haul equipment and supplies to various job sites. Most contractors will likely...
P0530 OBD-II Trouble Code: A/C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Circuit Malfunction
P0530 means there is a malfunction with the A/C refrigerant sensor circuit often due to low refrigerant or excessive system pressure.