Really bad smell in the van (11 Viewers)

[Gina M]

I went in to check the van this morning the smell hit me as soon as I opened the door. I checked the sink, the loo, the bin, the oven, the fridge and all of the cupboards then I thought GAS I had turned on a few lights on, I opened a window and left the van immediately then I went back and opened and left the hab door open. I have just been back and the smell is just as bad in fact worse in the cab. Is there any way I can check if it is gas, apart from lighting a match!! I am on my own and Mr Gina M won't be home till late again. If it isn't gas then something is decomposing in there.

 

[SM0129]

It could be your batteries are overcharging and dead??? I had it once and it smelt like rotten eggs. Is it on hook up or solar?

 

[Gina M]

It could be your batteries are overcharging and dead??? I had it once and it smelt like rotten eggs. Is it on hook up or solar?

It's on hook up

 

[denisejoe]

It not the battery is it of so take care

 

[Bessy765]

Are you plugged in if so check you hab batteries ifvhot turn mains off open doors etc. the gas is explosive be careful

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[jockaneezer]

Just unplug it at the non van end, open the windows but don't switch anything on and don't go near the battery for a few hours.

 

[Gina M]

Battery readings are 13.5v and 14v

 

[HKF]

Are you using any adaptors? We had one at home, a mains UK to EU one. It was overheating and smelled like TCP. Fortunately, I found it before it burst into flames! Take care x

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Dead mice or a rat ? Not nice have you any signs of visitors ie poo.

 

[David and Sally]

Good advice above. Disconnect from ehu supply and check gas valve is off. Wait a couple of hours and have a look at the batteries. They could have swollen by overheating and gassing.
Good luck.

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[Gina M]

Definitely a sulphur smell in there now. I have unplugged the electrics and opened all windows and door.

 

[David and Sally]

Definitely a sulphur smell in there now. I have unplugged the electrics and opened all windows and door.

Sulphur is a battery overheating. How old is your hab battery?

 

[Gina M]

Sulphur is a battery overheating. How old is your hab battery?

2 years old

 

[David and Sally]

2 years old

If it is warm or swollen it is cooked. 2 yrs is not that old though.

 

[Gina M]

Dead mice or a rat ? Not nice have you any signs of visitors ie poo.

no sign of any visitors, I usually check every day for that but haven't been in the van for a few days.

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[Gina M]

Just been in the van again the smell has faded a bit. I will keep checking but am too scared to go anywhere near the battery.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Be careful

 

[Gina M]

Phew!! Thank you guys, disaster avoided I think. Note to self:- move the van away from the house

 

[Gaston aires]

Definitely get your hab battery checked out. Especially if it’s the older lead acid type.
Phil

 

[Gina M]

If it is warm or swollen it is cooked. 2 yrs is not that old though.

I am not going near it!! I will let the boss sort it in the morning

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[maison]

A few years ago, when we had a place in France, we arrived there and unpacked the motorhome. It was mid-summer with temperatures between 28°C and 35°C.

After a week I went out to get something from the m/h and, as I opened the door, the smell hit me, horrendous!

It turned out that we had left one chicken breast at the back of the freezer compartment of the fridge which we had turned off.

On opening it a green liquid and a lump of unidentifiable material was all that remained. I cleared them out but the liquid had got into the folded seams of the freezer compartment. It took almost two months of constant cleaning to get rid of the smell.

PS
If you bought the motorhome after we traded it in then I apologise!

 

[Mikey RV]

Is the fridge ok. When my fridge went kapoot there was a strong ammonia smell.

 

[Gina M]

Is the fridge ok. When my fridge went kapoot there was a strong ammonia smell.

yes the fridge is ok but I did find two rotten tomatoes stuck to the back of it

 

[busbuddy]

My mate left milk in his fridge for 6 months...cost him a new fridge
We have never let him forget it

 

[Gina M]

Look well if it is rotten eggs somewhere in the cab. I always have hard boiled eggs for my breakfast on the morning of our get away as I never have time for breakfast

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[pappajohn]

It's on hook up

Doesnt matter, batteries are still being charged.
If like rotten eggs turn off charger NOW.

 

[Gina M]

Doesnt matter, batteries are still being charged.
If like rotten eggs turn off charger NOW.

How do I do that?

 

[funflair]

Could it be the grey waste tank when we bought our last van the previous owner had left an inch thick sludge in the tank and as soon as it warmed up phew it was stinky, I didn’t think it was gas but couldn’t think of anything else so turned off and vented everything and it was still there, dumped the tank and nearly cleared the site, ah that’s what it was

 

[donkey]

You already have, if you have disconnected the EHU.

Geoff

 

[Gina M]

EHU turned off for a couple of hours now looks as though the batteries are still charging, one has gone up from 13 to 13.6

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