Preliminary Checks
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 30 other vehicles, including the 2003 Mercury Sable, 2003 Mercury Mountaineer, 2003 Mercury Marauder, 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, and 2003 Lincoln Town Car. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Ensure odor is from exhaust and not from an under hood odor, such as battery acid. Ensure that there are no other driveability or exhaust smoke symptoms. See appropriate symptom under SYMPTOM DIAGNOSIS under SYMPTOMS.