Bad smell!

3933 Views 24 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Davo_281GT, Mar 22, 2013

BeachMonkey100

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2013

Alright guys after looking over what I know and could possibly think of it's time for a post to see if anyone else has had this problem. I have this weird smell every now and then and it's the same distinct smell, mostly from the leather shifter cover and rubber boot. I have checked the transmisson for leaks since having changed the fluid about 2 months ago. I have checked the carpet for smell and being wet and can't find anything. Am I missing something? Are these cars prone to leaking somewhere? Or maybe over looked a fluid leak somewhere? The smell is on and off and usually I notice it here and there after driving for a few minutes. Any suggestions? Please help lol.

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245ciPony

· #2 · Mar 17, 2013

BeachMonkey100 said:
Alright guys after looking over what I know and could possibly think of it's time for a post to see if anyone else has had this problem. I have this weird smell every now and then and it's the same distinct smell, mostly from the leather shifter cover and rubber boot. I have checked the transmisson for leaks since having changed the fluid about 2 months ago. I have checked the carpet for smell and being wet and can't find anything. Am I missing something? Are these cars prone to leaking somewhere? Or maybe over looked a fluid leak somewhere? The smell is on and off and usually I notice it here and there after driving for a few minutes. Any suggestions? Please help lol.

Can you describe the smell

BeachMonkey100

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 17, 2013

245ciPony said:
Can you describe the smell

It's almost like a burning smell mixed with a dead smell mixed with a moldy smell. I don't know what it is..

Terminator

· #4 · Mar 17, 2013

Perhaps your cabin filter is dirty I know mine was disgusting when I swapped it out

BeachMonkey100

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 17, 2013

Terminator said:
Perhaps your cabin filter is dirty I know mine was disgusting when I swapped it out

the cabin filter is dirty, I have checked that and plan to replace it tomorrow or monday when I get some time, but smells nothing like what I am smelling what so ever. though it is a bit disgusting lol

Borii

· #6 · Mar 17, 2013

When I first got my car used, it smelled like vomit. It eventually went away with enough air freshners. I never found the problem.

BeachMonkey100

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 17, 2013

Borii said:
When I first got my car used, it smelled like vomit. It eventually went away with enough air freshners. I never found the problem.

So much hope there lol, but thanks! thats what I am thinking will happen. I was at walmart and looked at one of those odor eliminators in the big white container in the air freshener section but got the normal one instead. I should start cleaning out the garage so I can keep it in there during the nights and leave the windows cracked

99ford

· #8 · Mar 17, 2013

Borii said:
When I first got my car used, it smelled like vomit. It eventually went away with enough air freshners. I never found the problem.

Gross! I would've odor bombed that sucker.

And OP if Changing the Cabin Air Filter doesn't work, I would suggest taking the center console off and seeing if you notice anything. I took mine off this past summer and noticed crumbs, hair and a bunch of other nasty stuff.

If that still doesn't solve the problem they are known to leak up there. I'd have to find the TSB.

BeachMonkey100

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 17, 2013

99ford said:
Gross! I would've odor bombed that sucker.

And OP if Changing the Cabin Air Filter doesn't work, I would suggest taking the center console off and seeing if you notice anything. I took mine off this past summer and noticed crumbs, hair and a bunch of other nasty stuff.

If that still doesn't solve the problem they are known to leak up there. I'd have to find the TSB.

where can I find an odor bomb? one that doesn't leave stuff everywhere?

and I hope that solves things, but I highly doubt it. please let me know if you find the TSB for it. I took the center console out today and found nothing, I was on the hunt lol

BaSohol

· #10 · Mar 17, 2013

Shampoo the carpets and head liner, then take out your cabin filter and turn on your air and make sure it's sucking the out side air in and spray Lysol outside thru the cowl

Then clean your trunk really good and the spare tire well

If that helps but not all the way, buy 3 baking soda fridge packs and stick one under each seat and one in the trunk

bobsurvives

· #11 · Mar 17, 2013

You said burning smell? Have you looked under your car? Look at your exhaust, there could be a plastic back stuck to it just burning.

BeachMonkey100

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 17, 2013

2

alright final verdict, so I got a new cabin filter on the way home from the beach yes it was a beautiful day and I got me some sun! But I got to the shop replaced the cabin filter it desperately needed it the picture shows. but I decided to sniff around like a hound and it smelled horrible under the drivers seat so I removed the plastic covers that hide the nuts on the back only to find a empty sticky cough drop wrapper, I immediately pulled the seat off to find it's remaining drop sticky and melted, putting my nose up to it and it smelled awful and was the smell that I was smelling.

My theory and conclusion is that I only smelt it when the car was run after a certain period of time and with the exhaust directly underneath it, it melted it and started to produce odor.

I grabbed a small scraper and literally scraped what I could off and then got some dawn soap and mixed it in a bottle sprayed the carpet and the area it was melted too and scrubbed away. waited for it to air out and I cleaned it a second time, put my seat back on and pour baking soda over the entire area and let it sit for a few hours and just vacuumed it out. Needless to say I am excited it's gone and I found it. It was a COUGH DROP! Ugh lol

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Jayjay

· #13 · Mar 20, 2013

Wow that cabin filter is filthy, I also need to change mine I ,bet previous owner never changed it... Glad you hear you solved the mystery smell

Davo_281GT

· #14 · Mar 20, 2013

Had a similar issue in my wife cars. Smelled like dead things. Took it to the dealer and they found two mice in the ducting that had died, plus they had made a nest on top of the cabin filter. It was awful dude....

BaSohol

· #15 · Mar 20, 2013

Davo_281GT said:
Had a similar issue in my wife cars. Smelled like dead things. Took it to the dealer and they found two mice in the ducting that had died, plus they had made a nest on top of the cabin filter. It was awful dude....

Haha they must of escaped the engine

primer2tone

· #16 · Mar 20, 2013

Davo_281GT said:
Had a similar issue in my wife cars. Smelled like dead things. Took it to the dealer and they found two mice in the ducting that had died, plus they had made a nest on top of the cabin filter. It was awful dude....

Yikes! I wonder what I'll find in my 240. That thing has been sitting for the last year.

BaSohol

· #17 · Mar 20, 2013

They car will be a pile of rust in a few more years don't worry

primer2tone

· #18 · Mar 20, 2013

BaSohol said:
They car will be a pile of rust in a few more years don't worry

Grrrrrrrrrrr

BaSohol

· #19 · Mar 20, 2013

primer2tone said:
Grrrrrrrrrrr

The 240, America's rusty-est car

primer2tone

· #20 · Mar 20, 2013

BaSohol said:
The 240, America's rusty-est car

I'll have you know my 240 has ZERO exterior rust. Just a little rot in the firewall.

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