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I have an old car, and sometimes the odor is less than rosy

N

nonameo

Diamond Member
Anyone have any solutions for this kind of problem? My car has leather seats, and I think this might be part of the issue. Perhaps I just need to shampoo the carpeting in it? Take cloth off of the seats and clean that out? Not sure here 🙁

Also the AC stinks sometimes. Not too bad, but noticeable. Any ideas?
 
Did you put a dead pig in it, seal the seams, and put it in a cargo container for a few months?

If so check out the mythbusters ep where they did...

Depending on what the cause of the smell is it might be very costly to fix (if the smell has gotten on the air ducts plastic), if its just the fabric on the floor and seats then try some fabreeze 🙂
 
The smell could be coming from anywhere. Clean as best as you can (or want to) and then just get some good air fresheners.

 
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Did you put a dead pig in it, seal the seams, and put it in a cargo container for a few months?

If so check out the mythbusters ep where they did...

Depending on what the cause of the smell is it might be very costly to fix (if the smell has gotten on the air ducts plastic), if its just the fabric on the floor and seats then try some fabreeze 🙂
Click to expand...

Well, I'm not paying anyone to clean my car. If I have to tear the air ducting apart then I will. I know there is some antibacterial spray that you can use on the evaporator and heater core, but that will take a while and I want to hold off on that for the moment if I can.

As for the smell, it doesn't smell like anything died in my car. It smells more like old and wet. I think perhaps my door weather stripping needs to be replaced.

edit: will lysol hurt foam? I can just take my seat cloth up and spray some lysol under there and maybe that will help some?
 
Febreeze is great for killing odors, also tuck a fabric softener sheet in the cracks of the seats, or baking soda under the seats.
 
pending on where you car gets your fresh air from, my car gets it from the cowl which most get it from there. some have panel filters and etc. check on that. but i would blast the car in high AC turn off recirculation...and spray the whole can of lysol there. it will loop around and clean out most of stuff...

it work when i left my sunroof open and it rain, leaving a NASTY NASTY moldy smell everytime it got humid. I ended up using 2 cans. one can that method and the 2nd can to kill it directly i went and attacked the headliner and everything i saw, in the mean while i did the vents and etc. overall i'm happen because my car seems to be oldoress.

 
Originally posted by: nonameo

Also the AC stinks sometimes. Not too bad, but noticeable. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

The drain is probably plugged up so the condensation can't drain out and it's getting mold & crud growing inside it. You just need to take it apart & give it a good scrubbing.
 
Pull up your carpet in the front and run your hand behind it....see if it's wet. You may well have a water leak. Very common, and lots of times the complaint is a musty smell.

Even if it's been 2 weeks since your last rain, if you had a leak the padding underneath the carpet will still be wet, or at least damp.
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
spray a diluted chlorine solution into your vents to help with the a/c problem.
Click to expand...

Lysol works well also.

Step 1. Turn on your car and then turn the A/C on making sure it is not using the recirculator/max A/C
Step 2. Spray Lysol through the vent right below your windshield.
Step 3. ....
Step 4. Profit, and enjoy the less stinkyness.
 
Best place to spray, if you can see it, is the max air intake inside the car. IF it can be seen, it'll be from under the dash on the passenger side (might have to remove a cover panel above the passenger's feet), or behind the glove box.

You'd put the A/C on Max or Recirculate and spray into that area....you'd basically be spraying right at the blower fan cage, and it'd would direct the air right at the evaporator, which is where mildew accumulates.

You can also do it with the A/C on normal or Vent, from outside the car at the cowl panel at the bottom of the windshield, as suggested earler. The air intake on some cars is easier than others to see/hit with spray there than others. Some are covered by the cowl panel, which would prevent you spraying directly into the intake.
 
Take the seats and carpets out and wash it, rinse it, and dry it in the garage or bathroom for a few days. You will be surprised what a difference it makes.
 
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