Car smells bad

ollieboy · Post by **ollieboy** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:32 pm

Ive got this real bad problem with my car. When I bought it, it stunk real bad so I whacked an air freshner in it and it solved the problem for a few days.

Now the smell is back and the air freshner cant compete with it.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to get rid of a bad smell, is there some sort of upholstery spray I could get that anyone knows of?

Or has anyone ever shampooed their car and that solved the problem?
If it did, does anyone know of people who would shampoo cars in Christchurch?

Alex B · Post by **Alex B** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:37 pm

I took my cars interior apart and steam cleaned it. There is stuff called no vac they sell at work (M10 MEGA) try them or repco etc.

no_8wire · Post by **no_8wire** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:40 pm

have you cleaned the car? nothing under the seats etc?

ollieboy · Post by **ollieboy** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:41 pm

Cool thanks. Something I found pretty weird is you know how on csi and programmes like that, when someones murdered in a small space and theres little specks of blood everywhere, thats what it looks like under the footwell area and up onto the dashboard, although ive cleaned that off now.

ollieboy · Post by **ollieboy** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:42 pm

no_8wire wrote:have you cleaned the car? nothing under the seats etc?

Yeah ive cleaned the car pretty well, I didnt find anything

vhpacer · Post by **vhpacer** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:42 pm

The main problem with a smelly car is inside the air-con vents. Get some of that air conditioning cleaner reconditioner stuff. It may be expensive but it works very well.

Then clean mats and seats with proper stuff (any car place will sell something) and air it out for a few days.

Graphite · Post by **Graphite** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:46 pm

yeap. maybe someone died in the car? if thats the case you will never get rid of the smell, i saw a doco on discovery channel..

ollieboy · Post by **ollieboy** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:46 pm

vhpacer wrote:The main problem with a smelly car is inside the air-con vents. Get some of that air conditioning cleaner reconditioner stuff. It may be expensive but it works very well.

Then clean mats and seats with proper stuff (any car place will sell something) and air it out for a few days.

Cool, do you know the name of the A/C cleaner or should I just ask at repco or something for A/C cleaner?

no_8wire · Post by **no_8wire** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:47 pm

have you lifted the carpet? lining may be damp/rotten? what sort of smell is it?

ollieboy · Post by **ollieboy** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:50 pm

Graphite wrote:yeap. maybe someone died in the car? if thats the case you will never get rid of the smell, i saw a doco on discovery channel..

Yeah thanks for that.

Yeah I checked for rotten mats etc and tried to locate the smell with the nose test but couldn't find it. I don't know how to explain the smell really, its like feet but not as sharp a smell.

Something of interest: it may be quite a concentrated smell because when you open the window it smells worse due to the vacuum cleaner effect of it sucking the smell out past your nose.

vhpacer · Post by **vhpacer** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:51 pm

I got it from the yocal garage. Its in a plain white metal bottle. Just plain writing on it. I can recommend it. My a/c was un-bearable and after I used this stuff it was perfect again.

ollieboy · Post by **ollieboy** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:54 pm

vhpacer wrote:I got it from the yocal garage. Its in a plain white metal bottle. Just plain writing on it. I can recommend it. My a/c was un-bearable and after I used this stuff it was perfect again.

Thanks man, Yeah my a/c is pretty bad as well aye, the first time I used it, it literally made me spew, thats how bad it was.

MINTFX · Post by **MINTFX** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:57 pm

My mates prelude had a vomit smell come from his A/C when he first bought it. All we did was went for a blat down the motorway with the windows down and the A/C on full bore and it got rid of it. Definatly clean the mats and seats properly. Wipe to roof down aswell, sometimes peoples heads run against it and leave sh!t on the roof, YUK! If you're really stuck just pay someone to professionally groom it, definatly well worth it.

no_8wire · Post by **no_8wire** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:07 pm

sure its not you?

A good wash should sort that... :lol:

sorry couldnt help it...

nobody · Post by **nobody** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:18 pm

You could also try Meguiars Car Odour Eliminator (http://www.autogeek.net/megcarodel.html), it doesn't cost much (especially at supercheap sales) got that nice 'new car' smell and helped me get rid of the smoke smell after my air conditioning tried to kill me :lol:

Just spray it everywhere including roof, seats, even down vents - may need a few applications but it works.

Ae92typeX · Post by **Ae92typeX** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:51 pm

could always take the fan out, check inside and also check the air inlet area. its not totally unlikely that a small creature has somehow got in then died. Ive seen it before.

BZG Wagon · Post by **BZG Wagon** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 10:02 pm

vhpacer wrote:I got it from the yocal garage. Its in a plain white metal bottle. Just plain writing on it. I can recommend it. My a/c was un-bearable and after I used this stuff it was perfect again.

My air con is starting to smell like something had died in it.

How do you use this stuff? Just spray it in the vents or something? Are there a/c filters you canjust replace or something?

method · Post by **method** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 10:23 pm

The bad smell is the mold from and around the aircon.

A good way to help prevent it is by having your heaters/coolers off recirculate, have it taking in fresh air from outside unless behing a truck, desel etc.

soven · Post by **soven** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 10:29 pm

I have actually come across a recommendation of getting an electric kettle. Chuck it in the footwell, Boil water and let the air con recirculate the steam.

They swore by it but I have no idea really.

AJz · Post by **AJz** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:02 pm

Ae92typeX wrote:could always take the fan out, check inside and also check the air inlet area. its not totally unlikely that a small creature has somehow got in then died. Ive seen it before.

^^^ he has a point.

my guess is make sure nothing is damp, altho damp carpet etc doesnt smell like someones died or feet for that matter, mabey get it professionally cleaned...