This last week, i've been TEARING my car apart trying to figure out why it smells like wet carpet... Nothing is wet in my car, and it sits in a heated garage every night. I thought it might be the AC system, check the filter, good, and the air from the vents dno't smell. Still, to this day, even after leaving the windows to dry the car out, trying the lysol trick, etc etc, still smells...

The carpet is all dry, I can't pinpoint the smell, but I KNOW it's there every time I drive the car.

Are there any weak points in the car where water could have gotten in through, and is now growing mold, mildew, etc? Where does the evaporator for the A/C drain exactly? I want to make sure it's draining properly...

Anyone have this problem before? It's driving me crazy.

 

look in the trunk...take out the upper tray and spare tire..maybe it's there.

 

Make sure the condensation drain is not blocked on the Air Conditioning. Also, there are some VERY deep wells unter the foot wells where the carpet PADDING can get wet and STAY WET.

 

Where exactly is the condensation drain. That was my first guess, but can't find it in this car.

When you say the wells under the foot wells, where exactly are you talking about? Do i need to pull the carpet back? I've felt everywhere under the drivers and pass footwells, and it all seems dry. Even pulled the rear seat cushion out to check there...

Thanks!

 

check your cabin filter

 

Already checked it, it was actually replaced 2 months ago...

 

Look on page 129 of the MANUAL and you will see the "aspirator assembly and hose". Where it goes, I don't know, but from the look of this thing, it could very easily get plugged with algae.

The "wells" I was talking about are UNDER the carpet in the foot wells (at least they are in my sedan) The have Styrofoam fillers in them to level the floor area so the carpet looks relatively flat, but they can hold a lot of water in them that sits for days. I had a windshield leak that filled the passenger side with water. It took days to get it dry.

 

oh man i know how you feel. someone threwup on my back rear carpet and it took 4 weeks b4 the smell went away.. after i shampood the carpet over 20 times and sprayed some febreeze on that carpet which gave it even a stankier smell... i almost threwup just sitting in the car going to work with all the windows open...

the smell eventually went away... i basically shampood the carpet and vacuum and repeat..

 

i THINK i found the source, and it being the carpet on the passenger side... although I LITERALLY pressed my nose against the carpet and tried finding EXACTLY where it was, to no avail...

My car now smells like lysol, febreeze, and mustyness. I'm going INSANE... I drive around with the heat on 90 EVERYWHERE, and even suffer driving home to the point of sweating trying to dry it out... we'll see what happens...

 

Look for a windshield leak, same exact thing happend to me.

 

Okay-

Got back from a trip, had to leave car outside for the last few days. It's now currently -3 degrees WITHOUT windchill. The car REEKED of the odor. If it was water in the carpet, wouldn't it have FROZEN!?!

How do you pull carpet up without damaging it? i want to check underneath it. Are there any potential spots in the engine bay I should look for any possible mold growth? I'm going insane.

Thanks

 

Oh man, I hope you don't have a dead animal. My car had a mouse nest up against the air cabin filter, presumably happened while sitting on the dealer's lot. A rodent very easily could have died in there.

Did you eat in your car in the days before this happened? Any food end up under a seat? In a seat cushion? Spill any milk?

 

Smells and Odours:You cannot eliminate odours by shampooing the interior, and/or spraying a deodorizer. Many odours are caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria, mould, and mildew. Shampooing does not eradicate odours; it spreads them over a much wider area. You eliminate odour-causing organisms with very specialized chemicals.

Technically, an odour is an invisible gas, so it can permeate any material or crevice. Look for stains. If there are no stains, narrow the playing field. The process of elimination is very effective when searching for the source of an odour; floor or seats, mats or carpet? If the vehicle has velour upholstery, a spill can penetrate on contact. If it is vinyl or leather, it will run to the deepest seam.

The most important aspect of removing (as opposed to using a product that will cover it, only for the odour to return later on) or at the very least mitigating an offensive door is that you must find and remove its origin. If you thoroughly clean the interior and it still smells you have not removed the material which is generating the smell. You can use an ozone machine, steam / extractor, scrub, and vacuum etc but if you do not remove the origin the smell will remain. Always check the following; cabin air filter, ac condensate pan and drain pipe

You will, however, need more specialized tools for odours deep in carpet and upholstery padding, ventilation systems, and other inaccessible areas. A hypodermic syringe is used to inject biocides into carpet and seat padding. Ultra Violet lighting is used to detect the presence and location of urine stains.

If the interior has a lingering odour from take-out food, spilled milk or wet pets, use a product that chemically alters the proteins that odour-causing microbes feed on (Lysol Neutra Air®) or Clean Air Genie Fogging Air Freshener - http://www.autogeek.net/clairgefoair.html) that is non-toxic, non-allergenic, fast acting without a cover up scent or an offensive perfume smell.

For the removal of smoke, pet odours, virtually any organically caused odours (including mould) in carpet, seats, headliners, upholstery and heating and air conditioning ducts, spray a fine mist over the entire vehicle interior beginning with the headliner and finishing on the carpeting. Odour Terminator is a contact product and must be sprayed on the source of the odour. Be sure to spray under the seats. A/C system ducts- spray into all vents, turn on the fan blower and spray into all intakes.

Extractor Units: add 4 ounces Odour terminator to each gallon of extractor solution. Clean interior glass after use to prevent spotting. Replace cabin air filter after odour removal.

Product specific- Microban is used in surgical suites as an antiseptic cleaner; wear a mask if you spray. It kills germs, mildew etc. Microban - http://www.unsmoke.com/water-mircobanplus.htm

Odour Terminator (http://www.autoint.com ) is not a perfume or cover up scent; it’s an unscented formula that chemically alters the proteins that odour causing microbes feed on. It's non-toxic, non-allergenic, fast acting without offensive perfume smell and will not damage interior materials or components.

Tip- turn off the AC but leave the fan running for the last minute or two before turning off the ignition to help dry the condenser and surrounding area. Also check the cabin air filter, change as necessary

Using some fairly stiff electrical wire, push through the evaporator drain line.

 

I'm at wits end. I would literally pay someone a reward to find the source of this smell. Anyone want to come out to Chicago for a weekend?

Can I take this to the dealer? Would they just laugh it off? The only thing I haven't done literally is remove my entire dashboard.

The smell is JUST as strong as before, and it's not drying out, so there has to be some POSITIVE action feeding it, even in subzero temps. Then again, it doen'st help probably that the car freeze thaws every time I take her in and out of my heated garage (74 degrees in the morning when I start her up, sometimes 80 if they get too crazy with the heat).

 

If you run the defroster you are running the AC. I'll bet it's your drain. Take it to the dealer and at least get them to look at it. If the mold gets much worse, your health may be next.