odor

[Cozzi]

After driving my car last weekend, I put it in the garage. Yesterday I got in and there was a terrible odor. It seems to get worse when I use the AC. Any thoughts?

 

[Jrodd]

After driving my car last weekend, I put it in the garage. Yesterday I got in and there was a terrible odor. It seems to get worse when I use the AC. Any thoughts?

Hmm dead mouse maybe??? It could have died in the engine bay somewhere.

 

[Power4]

What does it smell like? Sometimes bits of plastic can hit the exhaust then melt on there and it takes a while for it to burn off.

 

[gtss]

its not uncommon for the moisture in the A/C system to create some mildew and the associated musty smell
make sure the evaporator drain is clear so the moisture can drain out, and there are spray chemicals that can be sprayed into the intake cowl to help kill off any mildew
hope it helps

gtss

 

[cave diver]

Pull the cabin filter out and check it. If the cowl drains are blocked from leaves or other crud then water can build up and get into the filter box and get the filter wet. Wet filter = musty smell. Easy to check and easy to fix.

 

[stanmckinney]

Your Ford dealer has something he can run through your AC system to help get rid of odors. I don't know what it is, but mine did that once for a vehicle I owned.

 

[NastyStang113]

What kind of smell is it?

 

[Cozzi]

Pull the cabin filter out and check it. If the cowl drains are blocked from leaves or other crud then water can build up and get into the filter box and get the filter wet. Wet filter = musty smell. Easy to check and easy to fix.

excuse my ignorance, but where is the cabin filter?

 

[Cozzi]

What kind of smell is it?

it's just a stale odor coming from the AC ducts

 

[NastyStang113]

If it's under warranty take it to the dealer. They will be able to spray some stuff in the ducts to remove the smell and the mold. If not, I'd replace the cabin air filter, and spray the carpets down with some Febreeze, possibly steam clean the carpets. Usually the stuff goes away, it's just a matter of time.

 

[cave diver]

excuse my ignorance, but where is the cabin filter?

Open the hood and remove the plastic cowling on the passenger side and you will see it. The owners manual also explains how to replace it. No matter what I would check it. Just spraying some air freshener into the a/c is just a quick way to hide the odor and won't do a thing long-term.

 

[08blueskunk]

Man I have this damn "new car" smell i just can't seem to get rid of guys. any ideas? lol

 

[cave diver]

Man I have this damn "new car" smell i just can't seem to get rid of guys. any ideas? lol

No problem. Just eat a big bowl of chili with lots of beans and then have another big bowl for desert. Wait a little bit and then take a nice long ride with the windows up and the a/c on recirculating. The 'new car' smell will be a thing of the past

 

[belzebub2u]

Man I have this damn "new car" smell i just can't seem to get rid of guys. any ideas? lol

let me run it at the track a few times. . it wont smell new any more. . .like burnt rubber. . but not new

 

[red05bullitgt]

Hmm dead mouse maybe??? It could have died in the engine bay somewhere.

That's a good one, ROFLMAO But seriously, chances are it's just your cabin filter that needs replacing. As the others have mentioned, just remove the plastic cowling on the passenger side, and you'll find it.

 

[walter]

That's a good one, ROFLMAO But seriously, chances are it's just your cabin filter that needs replacing. As the others have mentioned, just remove the plastic cowling on the passenger side, and you'll find it.

That's actually not as far fetched as you may think it is.
A mouse crawled up in my parent's car's engine compartment and it chewed up some insulation. If that would have been poisonous to it it could very well have died there.

 

[red05bullitgt]

I know it isn't far fetched Walter, It just sounded humorous at the time and was just being silly.

Even though my car is always garage kept, it doesn't take much space for a Mouse to crawl under. So I suppose that I should consider myself lucky that one hasn't got into my Stang yet lol.

 

[08blueskunk]

Just for the record a Dead mouse smells more like Rotting meat mix with dog **** not as mush a "musty smell" my neighbor paid me to shampoo her car cause is had a bad odor, after two days air drying and 3 cans of shampoo, she finally took it back to the dealer and found a dead mouse under her back seat.

Kinda reminds me of the Seinfeld eppisode when his Car smells like B.O. and they can't get it out.

 

[xtweakerx]

no cats, all my car smells like is fuel lol.

 

[Jrodd]

Hey when I first posted the smell wasn't described yet so I guess that was just my gut response. I had a dead mouse in my old caprice and my Dad had one in the engine bay of his van so it is common thing to happen.