Smell in car

Tubsand

Bought a 07 car 3weeks ago from a garage. All great and freshly valeted. Took car home and within 3 days it stank. I was convinced it was stale cig smoke but then realised it was stale water. We think it may have been damaged in the floods. fuming. Only warranty on engine and gear box. Got it steamed and valeted ourselves again and its still coming through. Any advise on how to get rid of the stench? tia

colm_mcm

could just be damp from being valeted and not dried out properly. you should be able to tell i it was flood damaged from the engine bay and boot. check the boot for water in the spare wheel well.
have you contacted the garage at all?

Atlantic Dawn

Can you tell if it's coming from the carpets, seats or roof lining or all, you need to locate where it's coming from.

Tubsand

It seems to be everywhere. Even things that have been in car like buggy come out stinking. is there a way to take up carpets? thinking if it was flooded it will be coming from there.
I'm not very clues in about cars. how would I change filters?

Tubsand

I haven't contacted garage. Do you think I should? I just feel I will get nowhere as it was stressed its engine and gearbox warranty.

Atlantic Dawn

Try turn off the air con and all fans in the car and take it for a drive, see if the smell persists, sometimes bacteria in the pollen filter can give off a stink when the air is circulated.

biko

Did not valeter have an opinion? They are usually very good with smells.

Soulcrew09

Had a similar issue recently, thought it was a dead animal, ended up being stale water from the windshield washer reservoir, try emptying it and running water through it a couple of times.

Tubsand

Thanks for all your replies. Valeter did what they could. said they steamed for 2 hours and shampoos everything. Feel it must be coming from somewhere else. I'll try the air con and the water thanks.

Bigus

What make and model is it ?



Also car should be 'fit for purpose'when bought from a dealer, never mind warranty limitations , so you in theory you have come back from the supplier .

pudzey101

is the smell only noticeable when heaters/AC is ON , or is it there constantly ? , id change cabin/pollen filter first to rule out outside smells , if it is inside id run a dehumidifier inside to soak up all water/moisture . happend me plenty before its hard to spot exactly where its coming from , mine was stale milk spilled under passenger seat

savagethegoat

Tubsand wrote: »

I haven't contacted garage. Do you think I should? I just feel I will get nowhere as it was stressed its engine and gearbox warranty.

3 weeks ago? yes of course you should take it back

Tubsand

It's a Ford smax.
I kept all the vents closed and air con off and I do think it wasn't as bad today. I smelled all carpets and seats and roof and there doesn't seem to be any smell of them, but there was before I got valet. Am sure it could do with the air con. how would I go about changing the filters or cleaning them so smell goes please? tia

savagethegoat

this may help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e83CfO2STdM

Bigus

All the seats, bar the drivers seat and passenger seat clip out, in an S max

next dry day take them all out and remove some trim and clips and pull a few areas of carpet to trace smell, valetear may do this for a fee.

Remove some trim to see if any ponding in base of doors or traces of scum ,from flood ,

however , with the typical use S- max 's get, a rotten smelling interior wouldn't be unusual.

or maybe rotate seats over a few days cleaning and throughly drying individually for a few days in a hot room til smell goes.

Easy enough job to change carpet if you can get a secondhand one

or if all else fails a complete secondhand interior ( 300 - 900€ ) not much demand I'd say.

rebel.ranter

There could be bacteria growing in the ventilation system. Has the car got Aircon? Aircon is great for keeping the Windows steam free during wet days and for keeping the car nice and cool during the summer. However it can also promote the growth of nasty smelling bacteria in the vents.

To combat this you should run one or two runs of one of these kits through the car with the recirculation switched on, read the instructions:

http://www.halfords.ie/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/air-con/stp-auto-air-con-cleaner-150ml

It might take two of them done on days spaced apart to rid the smell.

Oh, as mentioned by others definitely change the pollen filters too. You breathe the air that comes through them, you will be sick looking at them when they come out with all the dirt on them! Get the charcoal activated version of the pollen filters too, a little bit more expensive but they do a better job at purifying the air. Especially good if you or anyone in your family suffer with asthma.

GM228

It's also possible that the smell can be the result of an imperfect seal (even the tiniest imperfection) can let dampness and cause a stale water smell, does the inside of the windows be wet in the mornings?

grogi

Tubsand wrote: »

Bought a 07 car 3weeks ago from a garage. All great and freshly valeted. Took car home and within 3 days it stank. I was convinced it was stale cig smoke but then realised it was stale water. We think it may have been damaged in the floods. fuming. Only warranty on engine and gear box. Got it steamed and valeted ourselves again and its still coming through. Any advise on how to get rid of the stench? tia

If nothing works, try ozoning it.