2002 Toyota Corolla LE - Compressor, Catalytic Converter Smell

[ToyCorLE02]

2002 Toyota Corolla LE. 140K miles. AC/defrost didn't work, odd scent from vent when air on at stop/idle. Mechanic said scent was due to bad compressor.

1) Compressor replaced. AC works/returns to normal.

2) Three mechanics confirmed catalytic converter must be replaced.

3) Occasional odd mechanical/machine scent from vent when air on and car at stop/idle. Is this related to bad catalytic converter?

4) Air in cabin seems to be very dry and my throat becomes dry after air on for while.

Is the scent, catalytic converter, and dryness all related? The scent seems fluid or mechanical related. No, it does not smell like rotten eggs although I don't often smell rotten eggs so hard to reference.

 

[scottfelsen]

No way the catalytic converter and the scent are related. The cat converter is way back on the exhaust before the muffler. It has nothing to do with the AC nor anything in the cabin. It cleans the exhaust. You may have issues with the AC that is causing the dryness and the smell.

 

[ToyCorLE02]

No way the catalytic converter and the scent are related. The cat converter is way back on the exhaust before the muffler. It has nothing to do with the AC nor anything in the cabin. It cleans the exhaust. You may have issues with the AC that is causing the dryness and the smell.

Took it to pepboys. They did say the AC needs to be recharged. They did not find a leak.

 

[scottfelsen]

Did that help?

 

[ToyCorLE02]

Did that help?

The trip to pepboys took forever. They recommended:
Steam clean engine so they could better spot leaks. a/c to be recharged. And fix CAT. I didn't think they'd recharged the a/c because they didn't include anything other than the diagnostic in the price but it's been blowing colder since. I still get an occasional whif of what I know think might be antifreeze or coolant? Only when the a/c is on and I come to a stoplight for a while.