Feeling hazy when in car

[abemom2]

As soon as I enter the car to drive I feel lightheaded. I can't drive long distances, as I feel I'm not alert enough.

We just got a Mercury Sable 99. It has an old smell (I'm going to get it cleaned.)

Can I be sensitive to the car? How can I know?

Thanks, Ana

[deditus]

My grandma had an old Taurus and I used to get light headed when I drove it - finally figured out there was an exhaust leak so a lot of the exhaust was coming in the car.

[kjbrown92]

I'd say get it checked for a carbon monoxide leak as well.

[Llyra]

Is it just this car, or all cars?

I agree about checking for exhaust leaks. Carbon monoxide is nothing to mess around with.

Other things to look into might be anything chemical that might have been used to clean or deodorize the car. If it was a new car, I'd also think of off-gassing from new plastics, vinyl, upholstery, stain-resistant coatings, etc.

Either way, I'd do a serious airing. When you're home and can keep an eye on the car, leave it wide open as often as possible. See if you can run an extension cord and put a fan in there, even. Steam cleaning might help, too, if it's something that was used to clean the car.

[abemom2]

Thanks everyone.

Where/ how do I get the car checked for all that? I'm very clueless about cars.

Also, where how do I find an eco car cleaning? I can vacuum on my own, but would like one GOOD cleaning, and then I can do the future on my own.

We never owned a car, so driving was when we rented, or borrowed another car. Not very often!
I do feel a bit tired when driving many times, but here it's as soon as I get in to the car. My DH claims it's because I don't sleep enough, but I'm alret enough when I'm out of the car.

Thanks again, I appreciate it.

Ana

[laohaire]

No, that's not a sleep problem, that's a carbon monoxide problem.

Or if it's not that (and I bet it is), then there's some other very toxic chemical or fume going on in your car.

Take it into the shop and tell them you suspect a leak.

I see you're in Canada, assuming you aren't in the tundra or anything I assume that this time of year you can drive with the windows down until you get it to the shop. I would not drive it closed up until you solve this, not even for 5 minutes. Not even in the rain. If you ARE in the tundra, I'd bundle up and still put the windows down. This is serious, this could kill you - you could go into a haze and crash yourself.

[KimPM]

ITA with the PP - don't drive the car without the windows down.

If it's only when the car is running, I'd say definitely check for carbon monoxide (CO). Of course carbon monixide could be left trapped inside there. So, try rolling down the windows for awhile and let the car air out (don't turn on the car or anything). Then...awhile later roll the windows back up. Give it a little while again for whatever to build up in there. STILL don't start the car. Then just get in and see if you still feel weird. If so, then it's likely NOT carbon monoxide.

You can test for CO by using a (battery operated) home CO detector/alarm....but those typically only register at 30 ppm (parts per million) after having been at least at that level for some time. So, you'd have to then drive around (or at least have the car turned on with it just idling, going nowhere - the safest option) with one of those in your car (be ready for a loud alarm!). This is how a friend of mine found a CO leak in his car. It doesn't take too long for the level in a car to get to 30 ppm, so it's quite possible you could find the leak this way.

If the level is under 30 ppm, then you need a real CO meter (registers at 1 ppm instantly)...which is expensive. If you lived near me, I'd let you use mine. I wonder if a place that services cars can test for CO entering the car. You could call and ask.

[abemom2]

Thanks again. Will buy an alarm and check.

I'll let you know the results.

[annamama]

Carbon monoxide. My DH and his colleagues were in the back of a van with a leak - they were all terribly altered by the time they arrived at their destination. Get it checked immediately!

[babygrant]

I get the same way in any car and it's because for some reason...only when I'm driving...I have panic attacks.

[kittynurse]

Originally Posted by babygrant

I get the same way in any car and it's because for some reason...only when I'm driving...I have panic attacks.

I read somewhere that panic attacks can be a symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning. Maybe you are highly sensitive to it?

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by kittynurse

I read somewhere that panic attacks can be a symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning. Maybe you are highly sensitive to it?

I doubt that's it because I only get it if I am driving. If I'm passenger, I'm fine.

[abemom2]

I bought a Carbon Monoxide alarm, but it only starts at 70 ppm. I took the car to 2 garages, and they didn’t find anything wrong in the car, just some new oil in the breaks, and something else with the breaks. No leaks...

I only feel this way when I’m driving, not a passenger.

The idea of a panic attack is interesting. What does that mean? I don’t think I have panic attacks.

Thanks again