Hey everyone... bear with me here whilst I sound a bit paranoid. But... I've had my 1993 Sambar for a few months now and I've become pretty well convinced that something about it is poisoning me. First I'll describe the "symptoms": When i first first got it, I would notice, while driving a bit of burning in the back of the throat, and some pin-prick type of feelings at random parts of my body, but parts of my body that were beneath multiple layers of clothing. The Following day, i would experience dizziness, disorientation, and a sense that I "couldn't get enough oxygen," even though my lungs seemed to be working fine. The first time this happened was pretty scary, and then the subsequent times i've experienced this phenomenon, it has gotten less severe, but still noticeable. Now, I've thought about whether this might be other things... covid, unrelated heart issues, etc. I've telemedicined with my doctor and we determined that it didn't seem to match the patterns of anything heart, lung, or virus related. I also don't have a history of asthma or allergies. But it DOES seem to be a pattern of symptoms that correlate with times I drive the truck for more than like... 30-40 minutes. There is still the possibility this is totally in my head... totally psychosomatic, some kind of panic attack. But I feel like I'm observant enough and aware enough of my own body to be have some reservations about that diagnosis. So the question then becomes, if it IS something in the truck, what could it be? What toxin would be potent enough to have this noticeable effect a day later? My first thought was coolant, like maybe the heater core is busted. There IS a coolant seep at the back end of the truck, around the thermostat... and I can smell that OUTSIDE the truck after I drive it. It also just kind of smells like dirty exhaust out there, but I suspect that's just what these things are going to smell like. At any rate, I don't smell coolant INSIDE the cab while I'm driving, and I've never noticed a fog when I had the heater on for the cooler days either. And then I thought maybe it's like black mold spores in the seats or something... but i don't see any evidence of that. So then my other thought is... maybe in its previous life the truck was used to haul something toxic, or it worked at some nuclear facility, etc. These are unknowns that would take thousands of dollars to test, so I just have to hope that that's not true. But I suppose it is a possibility. Assuming you all don't just think i'm nutso at this point, any other ideas what it might be?
CtrlZ, Well, if I was in your shoes, and thinking about what is going on in the world! Blow that *@#&^%@$^& thing up! No, I'm just kidding! I would try to play it safe and disinfect the whole vehicle, inside and out! First, wearing protective clothing, mask, gloves,etc..... you get my drift. I would wash the vehicle down inside and out, with soap and water, more than once! Increasing the strength of my detergent each time! With all the great disinfectants, on the market, Bleach, and alcohol based cleaning products. I would remove the air, cleaner filter, and discard, and run the vehicle in a dry time outside, where it could take in fresh air, and spray, cleaner disinfectants in the air vents, and ducts, with the heater, and AC on, trying to clean and disinfect the truck thoroughly, inside and out! Those are my thoughts, to what I would do! Keep in mind, under the dash, where the duct comes out of the dash in the cab, at the vents, there is foam insulation that can hold and hide, different, germs, mold, and other hidden enemies, if you will! I like to use a 50/50 bleach and water mix in a spray bottle as a disinfectant! I would spray that into, and on that foam, and let it sit and dry! It won't hurt a thing! That's what, I would do! Stay safe, and Good Luck! Limestone
pick up a geiger counter. Radioactive vehicles have made their way out of Japan although they are not supposed to. Tested at the auction and at the port. But depending on where you aquired it, it's possible.
Does it happen if you drive other vehicles for more than 30 min? If the truck has diff lock, I think you should sell it
Agreed. It’s against my better judgement, but PM me your address and I will rid you of the scourge free of charge.
You might want to get an inexpensive Ozone generator off Amazon or eBay, close up the cab, and run it. If there is mold or mildew, the ozone will do a number on it.
Ctrlz, I saw you on a speedometer cable, reconnect post, and was wondering what you worked out with your situation, and how your doing! Good Luck! Limestone
I didn't see you mention exhaust leak, but you did say it smells of exhaust. That's absolutely the first thing I was thinking of
That seems unlikely with the motor and exhaust way in the back, but it's definitely a possibility as these little bricks aren't very aerodynamic and exhaust could be getting into the cab either via an opening, or via the climate air intake location causing mild CO poisoning. Is it warm enough to roll down the windows and see if you still have issues?
The ex, and one of the step daughters have an allergic reaction, with simple symptoms to what you’re describing, to cleaners with teflon added. Could someone have cleaned the interior with something containing teflon?
