As far as I’m concerned, one of the perks of buying a new car is the “new car” smell that comes with it. I love it, but I have friends who characterize the smell as a noxious mixture of industrial chemicals. No matter, because eventually that fragrance goes away, and any subsequent car smells are often the result of what the car owner brings into the vehicle. However, most drivers have had the experience of detecting a strange odor that seems to come from the car itself, and not from the pizza in the back seat, and wondered if it’s something to worry about. “If you’re noticing a strange smell,” says automotive repair technical advisor Steve Haney, “it’s usually a sign that something within the car needs attention. Like most vehicle issues, these problems shouldn’t be ignored. The longer you wait, the more complex and expensive the issue becomes to fix.…