This might sound funny and silly but, i am getting kind of concerned.
Last few weeks i've been noticing a funny smell when window is opened. Kind of like a mixture of fuel/rotten egg/manure... Hard to describe. But i couldnt put a finger on where it was coming from, so I kind of ignored it, thinking it was outside/road enviroment, but then i realized i can smell it wherever i go. Then the mrs. also started smelling it and asked me whats the smell from. Especially when i turn off the car and get out of it. This morning i decided to look into it and kind of pin pointed it to exhaust at the rear. And its the exact smell i described and been smelling the whole time. Whats more interesting is the smell kind of gets stronger whenever i put the car in drive. I also checked under the hood and there is no noticable smell or anything burning coming from under there. Also, i have not noticed the car behaving or sounding any different then it has always been. A mate of mine suggested it is the clutch on its way out ? But the car is auto, and i havent noticed anything out of the ordinary while driving.

As silly as this may be i thought i better ask here... What could this be ??? Car is a TL ES magna / auto.

catalytic converter is the usual cause of this smell, when it is stuffed from what ive heard.

Yeah, the inside of your cat have collapsed and its stuffed. Depending on what you wanna do, you can get a hiflow one - or take it to a place to get a stock one put it.

just take it out and replace with.......oh wait your in aussie, sorry. ok joke joke ummm yeah i would definitely go with a hiflow one if you have the chance, not sure on the cost comparision between a stock replacement and an aftermarket. I would say a oem from mitsi dealer would be more than the economy of NZ lol

Kind of like a mixture of fuel/rotten egg/manure...

Thats the chemical formula for shell unleaded isnt it? haha.
But seriously, its is probably your cat,
although if you have a faulty O2 sensor, it can sometimes smell, but not really like you are describing and it would be using alot more fuel than normal, and due to the fact that the car sounds different, i would say its the cat.

an new cat should not be more than 200 installed, and you can get them from your local exhaust shop. they will weld up a generic one for you.

to inspect your cat, you can remove it yourself, it is only 2 nuts and 2 bolts, then it will come straight out, it is the alluminium part of the exhaust that looks like this http://www.insidesocal.com/crime&courts/catalyticcoverter_01.jpg
and is basically under where the driver sits.

when you pull it out, it should look like honey comb, http://z.about.com/d/autorepair/1/0/X/3/-/-/catalytic-inside.jpg
and it shouldnt be blocked or damaged.

Ahh. So i'm not going crazy!! Thanks a lot for the info guys.
And Bellto. Thats one thing i forgot to mention the fact that you said it is using a lot more fuel. And it is! I realized its sucking juice like there is no tommorow.

And one more thing, was just talking to the mrs. she reckons sometimes when shes driving at around 60-65km/h the car has like a drone sound and it feels like its struggling to have power or something along those lines.
And yes, since it is stuffed i might get a better hi-flow one thrown in next week.

well you could be up for a new o2 sensor as well, have a look at the cat, and it might be ok, in that case just do the o2 sensor (oxygen sensor)
the drone suggests that it is a cat problem though, and a high flow cat is a good investment, especially if you want to put a rear exhaust on at the same time. something like a lukey high flow would work well, but they just bolt on later.

Recommend 3" High flow Magna-flow cat. About $260 installed.

If the O2 sensor is faulty, it can cause the engine to run too rich. A rich running engine can overheat the catalytic converter due to the catalysing of the over rich mixture that occurs. Replacing the Cat and O2 sensor alone may not be enough to solve your issue, there may be another cause. Of course, you could just be unlucky with a faulty O2 sensor! The O2 sensor can become faulty from contaminants that have entered the exhaust, such as lead (not an issue now), and the wrong kind of silicone sealant used (if chosen over a gasket/supplimentary to a gasket) for any replacement gaskets.

A rich running engine can overheat the catalytic converter due to the catalysing of the over rich mixture that occurs.

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Go to an exhaust shop if you want to be certain. Otherwise you may end up buying a new cat and collapsing that, too.

Have a look at the "High flow cat" post here, I had the same problem with my last magna 2001TE, when I inspected the converter off it about 120000Km before I traded it, it was burned right through the core, but reinstalled it. It smelled bad when idling or reversing to park and probrably when being followed. BUT the fuel economy was aleast 2.5 L/100km better than the KL Verada I traded it in on!

FFS! For the last time, you NEVER EVER use silicon on an engine!! Silicon is corrosive! Thats why we have Sikaflex, a polyurethane solution!

Wrong.
These are all silicone based (well so they say)
and I use all of them.
http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_makers/Permatex_Sensor-Safe_Blue_RTV_Silicone_Gasket_Maker.htm
http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_makers/auto_Permatex_Sensor-Safe_High-Temp_RTV_Silicone_Gasket.htm
http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_makers/auto_Permatex_Ultra_Black_Maximum_Oil_Resistance_R TV_Silicone_Gasket_Maker.htm

first ive heard of it we alway use rtv silicon for engine rebuilds

first ive heard of it we alway use rtv silicon for engine rebuilds

It's OK Dean knows all he is #1 magna engine builder here!
(Sarcasm intended there:P) Will leave now.

im also getting tis rotten egg/fart smell, anyway of checking the cat or is it too hard?

correct me if im wrong but only way to check them is with one of those exhaust gas analyses... Good thing bout diesels u dont need a cat....

im also getting tis rotten egg/fart smell, anyway of checking the cat or is it too hard?

As said, you can get a test done, or you can take it out, 4 bolts, not easy as there usually a bit rusty, and check it visually yourself.

;1225358']As said, you can get a test done, or you can take it out, 4 bolts, not easy as there usually a bit rusty, and check it visually yourself.

+1, when i had to take mine out, i sprayed it with wd40 and left it for 5 mins. it makes it much easier.

Emko. If you live anywhere near Geelong i have a cat here thats 2nd hand but working ok that you can have for free. Let me know if you are interested.

I'm also getting a funny smell, excessive fuel usage and weird sound (almost like a lawnmower engine but not as bad). I've kind of been driving it like this for a while cause I haven't had a chance to look at it. If it's the O2 sensor or cat that's easy, but am I doing damage if I don't fix it right away?

Thanks for all your replies!
I've been too busy to reply here and/or take the car to get it looked at (bloody night shift). But next week tuesday ill have to take it and get this looked at. And thanks a lot Type40 for the big offer! I appreciate it, but as im a bit far from Geelie, and id like to get a new hi-flow in there anyway.... :)
So lets say it is the CAT and/or the O2 sensor. What would they sting me for the sensor and is that a big job to replace ? I'm guessing the exhaust places do this too right ?

the 02 sensor is pretty expensive. I got the price for one at mitsy, they said 240, the high flow is about 260 installed so going that way you are looking at about $500.

You can also get O2 sensors off ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MITSUBISHI-OXYGEN-OXY-O2-SENSOR-MAGNA-VERADA-PAJERO_W0QQitemZ300337476402QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_ Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item45ed823332
this is a bargin, just get the exhaust place to put it in at the same time, it will save on labour if you cant do it by your self

and to replace the o2 sensor, you have to undo it from the exhaust (right next to the cat) this can be hard, only use really good quality spanners, take the gromit out, follow the lead under the carpet in the drivers footwell, and unplug it from under the dash.

install the opposite way.