Unpleasant smell inside the car.

[cklwilliam]

Hello everyone,

As the hot temperature arrives, I notice there is this weird unpleasant smell in my car every time when it gets hot.
It gets really strong after it sits under the heat for short period of time, it almost smells like body odor or wet towel smell.

I notice the smell the first week when I bought my car, but then the temperature drops and it disappeared, and now it's back.

I cleaned the whole car inside and out, washed and vacum the carpet and the seats. I still could not get rid of that awful smell. Almost 100% sure that it's coming from the seats, and I'm sure there aren't any left over food or drink .

Anyone knows anyway I can get rid of the smell? or if I can take out the seats , wash it down and just let it sit under the sun for a day or two?

[mzkaye729]

Maybe you need to change the cabin air filter ?

[MistaChin]

shower? :P

[bluntman]

did you recently valet your car?

http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/seinfeld/episode_guide/?sl=episode&ep=422

[FoXy]

febreeze that shyt! Try the antibacterial one. Or have a it professionaly cleaned.

[Pokey]

And NOW you know why you got such a great deal on the car:chuckle

My car had a wet dog smell for a bit, it was the dealer who cleaned it and I'm sure didn't change the water in the steam cleaner too often. It seems to be 90% gone now and going away bit by bit. Maybe there's something under the rear cushions?

[stevenma188]

My car has the same thing. Seems to be coming out of the vents. I tried using this canister stuff from CT that you set off in the car with the AC running. It's supposed to get sucked into the AC system to clean out the mold and mildew. Didn't work.


Maybe you need to change the cabin air filter ?

Do our cars have the cabin air filter? I've heard that some years have one and some don't but haven't gotten any confirmations on which year/model has them.

[mazdabetty]

did you recently valet your car?

http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/seinfeld/episode_guide/?sl=episode&ep=422

HAHAH, "this is beyond B.O. it's B.B.O."

I think I might have mentioned this in another thread about stanky cars, but I had the same problem for a while... it took me a few weeks to realize it was actually the sheepskin mitt I use for washing my car left in my trunk when wet!!! The smell got really bad in the heat.... is that a possibility at all?? :chuckle

[Shizuka_Osamu]

Febreeze will work wonders :)
Either that, or visit NextMod and choose from the variety of air fresheners that they carry.

[cklwilliam]

febreeze that shyt! Try the antibacterial one. .

I used almost more than half a bottle of that over a week, only works for a short time then it comes back


And NOW you know why you got such a great deal on the car:chuckle

My car had a wet dog smell for a bit, it was the dealer who cleaned it and I'm sure didn't change the water in the steam cleaner too often. It seems to be 90% gone now and going away bit by bit. Maybe there's something under the rear cushions?

I first thought it's the rear seats so already tried removing them and cleaned it, wanted to try steam cleaner, anyone know if the would help?




it took me a few weeks to realize it was actually the sheepskin mitt I use for washing my car left in my trunk when wet!!! The smell got really bad in the heat.... is that a possibility at all?? :chuckle

No, already removed every thing inside the car, I'm starting to think there is something under the carpet

[Pokey]

Maybe the previous owners sprayed some moose urine or is it deer under the seats? But when you say wet towel smell, that's kind of what I had - dirty swamp water but I let everything dry and it's almost all gone now (2 weeks) - are your floormats in the car? they will prevent the carpets from drying completely. Remove them.

[cklwilliam]

Maybe the previous owners sprayed some moose urine or is it deer under the seats? But when you say wet towel smell, that's kind of what I had - dirty swamp water but I let everything dry and it's almost all gone now (2 weeks) - are your floormats in the car? they will prevent the carpets from drying completely. Remove them.

Done that, cleaned the carpet and removed the floor mats for 2 days before i put it back in, didn't work :(

Anyone know if it's a bad idea to remove the seats and wash it down completely ? Will that ruin the seat covers?

[mazdaskit]

maybe your trunk is leaking?? and its under the carpet or something giving you the smell

[Pokey]

Remove the floor mats for 1 week - 2 days may seem like long, but during the night there's no drying taking place. Let the carpets air out properly.

[cklwilliam]

maybe your trunk is leaking?? and its under the carpet or something giving you the smell

I don't quite understand what you mean by trunk is leaking? Like air coming in from the trunk? ( sorry i'm a noob lol )

[mazdaskit]

I don't quite understand what you mean by trunk is leaking? Like air coming in from the trunk? ( sorry i'm a noob lol )

well some of the members trunks were not sealing properly & water was getting into the trunks so maybe check if yours is wet and that may be where the musty smell is coming from

[mzkaye729]

Do our cars have the cabin air filter? I've heard that some years have one and some don't but haven't gotten any confirmations on which year/model has them.

Well, for sure mine doesnt have a cabin air filter (05 GS). But my friend's 08.5 GT sedan has a cabin air filter as I was supposed to buy one for her from Flipdady. Other than those two cars, I have no idea lol

[Gods Son]

I would try using arm and hammer baking soda. Put it on the seats and carpet and then vacuum the next day.

[wmzda5]

+1

[cklwilliam]

I would try using arm and hammer baking soda. Put it on the seats and carpet and then vacuum the next day.


it actualy works!!

[torch23]

i use febreeze auto...works bomb for me.

[mf5781]

Well, for sure mine doesnt have a cabin air filter (05 GS). But my friend's 08.5 GT sedan has a cabin air filter as I was supposed to buy one for her from Flipdady. Other than those two cars, I have no idea lol

Does any one know whether there is cabin air filter for 2004 GT? I went to change oil today. The dealer called me and said its dirty and needed to be changed. I said I never heard there's a cabin filter in my car and declined it. When I got the work order, this was not on the recommended list. Another item I declined was there. So was it because the dealer found out it was wrong?

[Noisy Crow]

Does any one know whether there is cabin air filter for 2004 GT? I went to change oil today. The dealer called me and said its dirty and needed to be changed. I said I never heard there's a cabin filter in my car and declined it. When I got the work order, this was not on the recommended list. Another item I declined was there. So was it because the dealer found out it was wrong?

The 2004's didn't have a cabin filter installed at the factory.... although there is a place for it, and many people do install them. If you have one, the only way to know that it is dirty for sure is to inspect it.... which involved removing the glovebox, the PJB, a foot-well panel and an access door to the blower box. And then extract the two sections of the filter. So I double they actually inspected anything............

[mf5781]

The 2004's didn't have a cabin filter installed at the factory.... although there is a place for it, and many people do install them. If you have one, the only way to know that it is dirty for sure is to inspect it.... which involved removing the glovebox, the PJB, a foot-well panel and an access door to the blower box. And then extract the two sections of the filter. So I double they actually inspected anything............

I am the original owner. I never installed any of it. So I don't think the dealer actually inspected it. That's why it's no long on the recommended list.

[Mr Fatty]

My car has the same problem!!! I will try the baking soda thing.. I've had a baking soda box open in the car for a few days, but I'll try the whole sprinkling on the seats then vacuuming them!!

[Cousin Dave]

well some of the members trunks were not sealing properly & water was getting into the trunks so maybe check if yours is wet and that may be where the musty smell is coming from

I second this recommendation, i get the same problem and it comes from the trunk of my car. Best thing to do is take out the carpet in the trunk, lift the spare tire cover to see if you find any water sitting in the spare tire well. Either vacuum it out with a wet/dry or rags. Let the trunk air out.

You may find some water even on the trunk floor inside some of the recessed stampings of the floor.

Don't dismiss it coming from the trunk. You'll surprised to find how far that stench will travel.

Dave

[Mty Mous]

My car has the same problem!!! I will try the baking soda thing.. I've had a baking soda box open in the car for a few days, but I'll try the whole sprinkling on the seats then vacuuming them!!

Wazzup man? Ya I'll totally recommend trying the baking soda trick and see if that works out for ya, and just empty out the trunk completely, close the hatch and doors and give it a wash, see if water collects anywhere in the trunk. Next step would be to pull the front seats out and feel around on the carpet for damp spots (incase you got leaks) somewhere, but our cars are usually pretty good about that stuff tho.

-Thuwa

[Souls]

did you recently valet your car?

http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/seinfeld/episode_guide/?sl=episode&ep=422

ROFL!! that's EXACTLY the first thing I thought of!! :chuckle

[Kevin@nextmod]

http://www.airtrona.com/

This these guys. Our dealership use them to take out the foul smell from previous owners of our used car vehicles. So far they did a very good job and the smell is actually gone from smokers or any other disgusting smell. Last time i talked to the guy, he charges $100-120 a car. ITs expensive but it works.