I have a 2008 TDV8 and while I was driving along today I suddenly started getting a very strong sulphur type burning smell coming through the air-conditioning vents. Parked up the car for a while then went back and the smell was over-powering in the cabin, causing stinging eyes and burning throat.

Smell seems to be coming from the engine bay somewhere but can't pinpoint it.

Checked the rear exhausts but no smell coming out there.
No signs of leaking fluid.
All hydraulic and coolant levels are normal.

Any suggestions please?

Thanks,
640Newton 2008 TDV8, Stornoway Grey with Alpaca premium leather, Adaptive cruise, Adaptive Bi-xenons, sunroof, Premium Nav, Premium ICE Logic 7, telephone, active locking rear diff, console coolbox, seat memory, powerfold mirrors, tow pack, window tint, dual battery, engel fridge, Goodyear Mud-Terrain tyres.

If you can't drive it then I'd call Land Rover Assist straight away!

any further news 640 ? Another Pommie Bar Steward down under

MY20 Defender 110 SE P400 Eiger/Ebony
MY10 3.0 RRS TDv6 Fuji/Ebony/Anigre

Does it have a DPF (diesel particulate filter)?

it does have a DPF but it's not giving any error message. Could the DPF be the cause of the smell even though it's not giving an error message? 2008 TDV8, Stornoway Grey with Alpaca premium leather, Adaptive cruise, Adaptive Bi-xenons, sunroof, Premium Nav, Premium ICE Logic 7, telephone, active locking rear diff, console coolbox, seat memory, powerfold mirrors, tow pack, window tint, dual battery, engel fridge, Goodyear Mud-Terrain tyres.

sounds like the aircon is needing serviced, after being left off for a while you often get a pungent smell coming out of the vents which is caused but mould or mildew in the system

My thought is that it could be the fuel burning heater exhausting its gasses back into the engine bay which in turn throws it back through the ac system. I couple of times I have begun to smell this awful odour and realised it is the fuel burning heater..... Had to open the windows!! Bad design flaw? or is there a fault?

PROBLEM FOUND....

I spent last night driving around trying to find the cause of the smell, even following the 20 minutes driving instructions to clean the DPF, but that made no difference.

However, I have finally found the source of the foul sulphur/rotten egg smell.

I thought it might have been the Catalytic converter but it turns out that the relay to the second battery has failed and it has proceeded to completely fry the battery, leading to the sulphuric acid boiling and giving off a stupendous stench. Disconnected the second battery and will now take the car back to the place that installed it.

Thank goodness I don't have to put up with that smell any more!!!  2008 TDV8, Stornoway Grey with Alpaca premium leather, Adaptive cruise, Adaptive Bi-xenons, sunroof, Premium Nav, Premium ICE Logic 7, telephone, active locking rear diff, console coolbox, seat memory, powerfold mirrors, tow pack, window tint, dual battery, engel fridge, Goodyear Mud-Terrain tyres.