my car smells like hydrogen.

[Bene]

last night it was raining while I drove home, which turned into snow as it got colder.

This morning my rear windows an sunroof were frozen shut, and my power windows don't work. the cabin was sealed. going to work this morning, after about 10 minutes of driving it the smell reminded me of high school when we produced and burned hydrogen. it got to the point where it started to burn my eyes and I had to force one of the side windows open.

I get how electrolysis works, but don't understand exactly needs to take place for it to happen.

and yes, my electrical system is obviously fucked.

[jlevie]

My first suspicions would be that exhaust is leaking into the car or that the heater core is leaking.

[blefevre]

Check your battery, very carefully. Let the trunk/car vent before messing with it to avoid a spark.

Batteries give off hydrogen when charged, which is why there is a vent. You can't smell straight up hydrogen though. There is a chance the batteries internals got messed up which can create hydrogen sulfide, which you can smell.