Smell in car...

Not sure if this is the right section...

My mom has a "weird smell" in her car...she's not sure what to try next to get rid of it.

Here's what she told me...

"Regarding milk smell. This is what I tried....

- baking soda

- baking soda & vinegar

- diluted bleach solution

any other suggestions?

maybe I just need to re-try some of the above until the smell is completely gone???"

I can attest to the bad smell. While she was on vacation the past 2 weeks, she asked me to drive her car a bit just so it doesn't sit there. Was so bad I had to drive with all 4 windows open...and even THEN, I could still smell it... :bang

Any suggestions she could try? Anyone you can recommend that might be able to get rid of it for a reasonable price just in case there's no solution she can do on her own?

Thanks, any help is appreciated!

Is it the mats??? My mats smelled like feet when I picked up my car. :chuckle

I used prosolve and a lot of febreeze... and bought one of those little air fresheners that mount to the vent so it constantly blows out the scent.

Like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

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Originally Posted by mazdabetty

Is it the mats??? My mats smelled like feet when I picked up my car. :chuckle

I used prosolve and a lot of febreeze... and bought one of those little air fresheners that mount to the vent so it constantly blows out the scent.

Like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

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She's had her car longer than I have. I think it was late 07 she got it (she has a 08). It's a recent smell...I think maybe something spilled in there or something. She tried an air-freshner...didn't work lol. I think she's tried febreeze too but I guess it hasn't worked...

have the carpets, mats, and upholstery steam cleaned. If something spilled that should take care of it

steam clean or buy those carpet/fabric cleaners they sell at CT. I wounldnt use too much febreeze as it leaves a film on the fabric.

Check the engine bay. There might be something that crawled in or something that was run over trapped in there.

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Originally Posted by jonjon72

Check the engine bay. There might be something that crawled in or something that was run over trapped in there.

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I was actually in the engine bay while she was gone (stealing a fuse for my car until I could buy some spares :chuckle) and saw/smelled nothing unusual there. Just when you sit in the car, it smells. I'll get her to try steamcleaning (if she hasn't already) but still good to hear other suggestions just in case.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...light=softener

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Originally Posted by Iceman_F1

I was actually in the engine bay while she was gone (stealing a fuse for my car until I could buy some spares :chuckle) and saw/smelled nothing unusual there. Just when you sit in the car, it smells. I'll get her to try steamcleaning (if she hasn't already) but still good to hear other suggestions just in case.

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Does she eat in her car? Can she recall if any type of liquid may have leaked? My only though is that somthing (food or liquid) is hiding somewhere and rotted. That will involve a full cleaing of the interior and may need some professional help if you can't find the source.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jonjon72

Does she eat in her car? Can she recall if any type of liquid may have leaked? My only though is that somthing (food or liquid) is hiding somewhere and rotted. That will involve a full cleaing of the interior and may need some professional help if you can't find the source.

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EAT in the car, not as far as I'm aware. But it could have been transporting food/groceries. Can't say for sure.

It's B.O. like in the Seinfeld episode. Her only choice is to get rid of the car by giving it to a homeless person. :chuckle

PM Kaval for some ideas...

a while back in our office... my co-worker and i notice this really bad smell. spoiled egg?

couldn't pin point the smell for a long time.

as i was cleaning out a box of paper (months later) when i saw this huge dust bunny at the bottom, I was about to grab it... as my hand inch closer i realized it was a dried up rat! drop the box like it was hot! :)

something may have died in your car... check the trunk

i have something for you! when you come in ill show you it... its pretty much a can you let sit in the car with AC blowing on full with all doors and windows closed for about 15 mins. it takes all the odours out of your car

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Originally Posted by Pereira11

i have something for you! when you come in ill show you it... its pretty much a can you let sit in the car with AC blowing on full with all doors and windows closed for about 15 mins. it takes all the odours out of your car

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Are you in tomorrow? I might try to drop off tomorrow later in the evening depending when I get stuff done with my mom's car...

I have sometime to do during the day so I'm not at work...just not sure how long that will take.

If there's a bad seal somewhere water might be seaping in and settling somewhere undetected causing funky smells.

If the steam clean/febreeze doesn't help, you might have to start pulling up the carpet and searching for water collecting which contributed to stink at first but could lead to bigger problems if not taken care of, like rust.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Junior

If there's a bad seal somewhere water might be seaping in and settling somewhere undetected causing funky smells.

If the steam clean/febreeze doesn't help, you might have to start pulling up the carpet and searching for water collecting which contributed to stink at first but could lead to bigger problems if not taken care of, like rust.

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+1, ...The carpet in our cars sucks pygmies!!...It's extremely thin.If she spilled milk, it could have seeped right thru sitting on the floor underneath the carpet, spoiling!


_3

maybe this will help? lol

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...310#post482310

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Originally Posted by Iceman_F1

Are you in tomorrow? I might try to drop off tomorrow later in the evening depending when I get stuff done with my mom's car...

I have sometime to do during the day so I'm not at work...just not sure how long that will take.

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i am here from 8 - 5:30, your part is in for paint today so it may be ready for tomorrow. i will email you as soon as its ready. just pop by if you have time and i will show you our product it may solve the problem

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Originally Posted by Supershyguy

maybe this will help? lol

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...310#post482310

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lol yeah put 5 of those in there :chuckle

Also check the spare tire area, if she had groceries in the trunk, something might have leaked in there. I found salt in that area one winter so I guess there's a way even for outside liquids to get in...