02 Accord SE, just got a new tranny installed about 10 days ago under warranty..brand new tranny no charge, dealer said torque converter was going bad. Worked out nice, very polite, free loaner car, etc.

Tonight when coming home noticed an oily smell coming from the heater vents...and to a lesser degree when using the defroster...didn't smell it when i changed the airflow to the dashboard.

Anyone have a guess or similar experience? Of course my first thought was that it is tranny fluid somehow getting in....something let go because dealer didn't do something correctly etc.....If i didn't know better, I'd say it smells like heating oil....I don't think it's coolant...has a definite petroleum smell to it...tranny fluid? brake fluid? Doesn't smell like burning oil.

Ok, a few questions that will help us diagnose a potential problem:

1) you said you got it installed 10 days ago...how many miles have you drove on it in those 10 days?
2) have you been beating on the new tranny, or are you breaking it in gently?
3) are you getting any smoke, either out the tailpipes, or under the hood? If so, from where and what color?
4) Can you notice any leaks under the car, either while it has been sitting in one spot for awhile, or while it is idling? If so, can you identify the color of the liquid leaking, and approx. location of the leak?
5) Lastly, was this smell apparent when you first got the car back, or did it just appear out of nowhere in the last day or 2?

1) Have put about 2200 miles on car since was replaced...a long highway drive to relatives for the holiday
2)Have not been beating on the tranny, am older and wiser now..L
3)No smoke of any kind anywhere
4)No leaks anywhere
5)The smell just started last night out of nowhere

Weather has been colder lately...heater core let go? Heat is working fine

Thanks

Well, I'm thinking it isn't the tranny...tranny fluid smells awful when burned. And from what you described...I don't see any reason to think it is the tranny. I guess the heater core is a possibility. Unfortunantly, the AC and heating system is beyond my realm of knowledge...havn't ever worked on them.
I try doing some searching.

Ok, try doing a search inside the honda accord forum for 'heater AND smell', I got 4 results, one of which was this thread, but the other 3 discussed relatively similar problems...maybe reading them will help you a bit.
Let us know.
And I'll keep searching.

Yeah, but coolant doesn't give off an "oily" smell ("fishy" might be more accurate).

Then again, what about the A/C? Refigerant is an oil. Does your A/C work? If so, then I doubt it's that -- if you have ANY leak in the A/C, it'll die in a hurry.

If possible get underneath with the motor running (doesn't have to be a hydraulic lift, or even ramps ---- I've done it with a steep driveway and a deep gutter. Just position the car with maximum ground clearance where you need it.

My money is on oil dripping on the exhaust. I had that problem for a while (diagnosed as a rear mail seal leak) but it "healed itself"). Now I have a new leak, HAH! (but it doesn't smell -just drips!)

the smell went away after a day or two and hasn't returned, thanks for the help.

a related issue....ever since they replaced the tranny, have lost about 5MPG....used to get 27 going to work, now it's 22, highway used to get 31+, now it's 27-28....

This started immediately after they replaced the tranny in November....been back to the dealer, they claim everything checks out...they tell me they can't even adjust things like timing, fuel flow, etc. as it's all computerized now...they claim the car is at factory specs.

Tried to tell me it was due to the cold weather and driver habits.....I am not buying this as I bought the car in Dec. 03 and the mileage was never this bad. And it was pretty damned cold last winter.

This car got 33mpg highway with a/c on last summer...

I am about to send Honda corporate a letter concerning this situation as I think the dealership is full of it...does anyone have any educated guesses as to what caused the drop in mileage?

I've put about 8K miles on the car since the tranny change in November....the mileage hasn't gotten any better.

I may be wrong, but I feel that the mileage issue is definitely connected to the tranny change.

The dealership either missed something, hooked something back up incorrectly, computer is off or something.....2+2 does not equal 5

Might just be time for a tuneup, plugs, air and fuel filter. You might have low air pressure in the tires. Dealerships can be shady in their practices (I used to work at one) They are quick to take your money and usually slow to admit mistakes. But I'd check the smaller stuff first. As it will be hard to prove much, but if you feel cheated, then send a letter to Honda. I do know quite a few people on this forum who have been screwed by a dealership, contacted the appropriate head offices, and got the problem dealt with.