Smell
Racer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 259
Likes: 97
From: Ft Worth
Mine had a weird musty smell that would not go away and then I thought of changing the cabin filter and found there was a big wad of what looked like a torn up carpet pad stuck in it. I don't know how the hell it got there but the smell is gone now.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 253
Likes: 83
From: Eastern North Carolina
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 489
From: Leonardtown Maryland
Be sure to disconnect the battery before disconnecting the underseat connectors if you decide to pull the seats.
Last edited by Bigredwing; Aug 11, 2018 at 09:42 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
Take steps now to make sure that you don't end up with more damage. They love to chew on wires. When my 2008 Cadillac CTS was two years old I tried to remote start it one morning and it briefly started and then stalled with a check engine light. A restart resulted in very low engine power and it would barely move under its own power. It went to the dealer on a flatbed and the cause was a chewed through wiring harness leading to the high pressure fuel pump. That same week one of my colleagues ended up with much greater damage to his 6 month old BMW SUV from the same rodent source.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,800
Likes: 2,653
From: Down south in Dixie
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 259
Likes: 97
From: Ft Worth
What is it about the cabin air filter that makes a mouse want to nest there?
Anyway, I think it must have happened in the previous owner's garage because I just checked and my filter looks brand new. Nonetheless, I am going to lay some traps in my garage just to be safe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
It is neither a DD nor is it garaged, so the windows stayed closed more than they were open.
OP, f it is a musty type smell, then along with all the other suggestions, also check the door drains. After a heavy rain, my passenger door retained a lot of water. Open and shake the door, I could hear it sloshing. Move the weatherstrip near the back of the door around, and water poured out of the drain hole. If the water level gets too high, it can leak into the interior.
Last edited by aj98; Aug 12, 2018 at 11:08 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,048
Likes: 1,479
From: South Florida
If you live in a humid climate you would benefit from having the dealer enable the "Afterblow" feature on the A/C system. What happens is you run the A/C then park the car and the coils stay wet and smelly bacteria start to grow. Since it is humid the moister will linger and you car will start to smell like a dirty shoe. Afterblow makes the A/C blower of the car run for 2-3 minutes after you park your car. I think it is like if your A/C was operating for more than 10 minutes, you park the car, then after 2 minutes of being parked and shut off, the A/C blower turns on for 2 minutes to dry the condensation out of the system. Living in South Florida I've had to enable this feature on my C6 Z06 Gen 6 Camaro and now my C7.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 616
From: St Louis Area IL
Trying to justify or explain away an issue is the wrong way to do things. You are just guessing, and will usually guess wrong. Spending time in a car with a drug smell could mean it is meth car, which can be hazardous to your health. In the meanwhile those who sold you a bad sale of goods is getting away with it. Cars aren't supposed to smell. You should had found the source of the smell before buying the vehicle, especially when it is well documented that flood cars are commonly put back on the market.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 854
Likes: 302
Confirm that it is indeed a moisture related smell. That would be a moldy, mildew stink. As posted above, remove the sill plates so you can easily peel back the carpet. Any moisture is an issue. Look for whitish or black stuff growing on the padding. Check the seat bolts - are there any signs of rust? Same for the seat tracks. If you are finding any sources of water you now need to confirm is it a leak or a flood car...You can try Carfax to see where the car lived before. If the water damage is on both the passenger side and the driver's side, a flood issue is becoming more likely as the odds that both sides of the car have water leaks is not very high. Only one side? You have to track down the leak. GM cars used to be known for water entering the fresh air intake - there was a rubber gutter to divert the water and over time the rubber would fall out. Hose down the car with you inside and look for any entry points. Chasing leaks is a PITA but that's the only way...
Exception ID 10T
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 509
From: NW of Jacksonville FL
If you live in a humid climate you would benefit from having the dealer enable the "Afterblow" feature on the A/C system. What happens is you run the A/C then park the car and the coils stay wet and smelly bacteria start to grow. Since it is humid the moister will linger and you car will start to smell like a dirty shoe. Afterblow makes the A/C blower of the car run for 2-3 minutes after you park your car. I think it is like if your A/C was operating for more than 10 minutes, you park the car, then after 2 minutes of being parked and shut off, the A/C blower turns on for 2 minutes to dry the condensation out of the system. Living in South Florida I've had to enable this feature on my C6 Z06 Gen 6 Camaro and now my C7.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 105
Likes: 38
From: Herndon, Virginia
I have a few updates. I have been thorough. This is not a flood car. There are no water leaks of any kind. The smell appears to be left over from vaping / tobacco pouches. So, it looks like a thorough steam clean is required. Tobacco odors appear to leach into everything. The smell is actually slowly getting better, I was however surprised that it returned after having the car deodorized. I don't feel quite so bad now, but at least I know more about the history of the car.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
I have a few updates. I have been thorough. This is not a flood car. There are no water leaks of any kind. The smell appears to be left over from vaping / tobacco pouches. So, it looks like a thorough steam clean is required. Tobacco odors appear to leach into everything. The smell is actually slowly getting better, I was however surprised that it returned after having the car deodorized. I don't feel quite so bad now, but at least I know more about the history of the car.