why does my car always smell?

Question

I'll clean it from top to bottom, it will never leave. it smells like dook or something decaying.

Answer 1

You do not say how old your car is and if you are the orginial owner. These are very important part of trying to figure out where the smell is coming from. But I will give you a list of the places most likely to cause this problem.If you are the original owner you know what has been done to the car in the past. If not here is the list:

1. Mold or mildew in the evaporator and heater core of your climate control system. Only way to get rid of smell from these is to remove them and clean them by dipping them into a cleaning solution. Car deoderant or fabreze will only mask the odor.

2. Again Mold or Mildew only this time in the carpet and sound deadener behind/under the carpet. If it is in either, removal and replacement is the only sure fire cure.

3, Again Mold or mildew from the seat fabric and padding. Bad news here too. Replacement is the only cure.

4. From inside the doors. Remove the door panels and clean with bleach.

5. From inside the trunk. Remove all liners and carpet. Clean with bleach let dry completely. REPLACE liners and carpet.

6. From the head liner and sound deadener under the roof. Remove and replace.

7. From under the hood. Look for a dead animal or mold and mildew in the frame or body cavities. Remove the dead animal and wash with bleach and soap.

If these suggestions don't get rid of the smell then take it to your insurance company and have them total it under your comprehensive part of your insurance. You will have to show them that you have taken reasonable efforts to abate the problem.

If you bought the car used, check inside the doors first. People are being scammed every day by people that are buying cars from the Katrina storm damaged cars. Inside the door if you find a scum ring (like in a bath tub) on the skin of the inside of door then it has flood/water damage and will be nothing but a headache all the time you own it.

You may want to contact your insurance company first to see where you stand if you can not get rid of the smell yourself.

Best wishes with you endevor.

Answer 2

Could be something is dead in the car like true blue said. Also could be some mold. Often water can leak into areas and sit and after time mold can develop. I would pick a nice warm day pull the seats out of the car, vacuum the hell out of the car than steam clean it very well and make sure its dry. I would also clean the headliner too. Also take a close look around the air vents and behind the glove box and under the dash to see if there is old food, or possible an animal that might need to be removed.

Answer 3

In order 2 get the Funky Smell out of there use this Home Remedy that I use.4 Cups of Hot Water & 2 Tbsp of Vinegar mix it together really good then put it inside a spray bottle spray your car from top to bottom get everything including your trunk use as much as you need.When you finally get the Stink out of there either use Fabric Refresher or Febreeze they Smell Great.
I had the same problem I bought a car that had Mildew in it omg it took me 3 days to get that smell out of the car but it's gone now.
Good Luck

Answer 4

Man you set yourself up for this one..
Probably the drain for the AC is blocked or slow to drain.
It sounds dumb but get some PINE SOL and pour a SMALL AMOUNT less than 8 ounces in the fresh air intake. over on the passenger side you will see where the air goes into the heater/AC. Your car will now smell like Pine sol for a while.

Or better yet. Get febreeze, turn on MAX AC and spray it towards the passenger side. This will kill the odor in your AC system and vents.
THe Pine-Sol is the best way as it will stay in the AC area for a couple of days while the condenser water dillutes it. Get a scent that you can handle or it will semll like a port-o-potty for a week but it will kill the odor causing mildew..

Do check the trunk also for mildew.

OH YA quit Fartin' in the car...
Doobies make it smell like *** also....

Answer 5

once you've a substantial leak gas leak you'll scent it.. no matter if it truly is amazingly small you may no longer.. A vehicle won't be able to burn gas no matter if that's not operating.. more moderen vehicles are all gas injected. it truly is a closed device that has about 70 pounds in accordance to sq. inch of stress contained in the device.. because gas pumps now are electric powered and may produce more effective skill for right now's engines. besides the undeniable fact that, gas can enter the combustion chamber if.. you've susceptible gas injectors. yet heavily isn't in a position to sniff it.. you should use more effective gas once you've a unclean air filter out, previous gas filter out. reckoning on the motorcar you've, it can have distinct elements which will administration gas delivery. A carburetored vehicle will "diesel" once you close up it off.. if the gas mixture screw is became in to intense to make a wealthy mixture. " Dieseling" is at the same time as a vehicle needs to keep operating when you turn off the ignition.

Answer 6

maybe there is something caught in the vents or under the body work that you have not seen.. take it to the shop and have them check it out for you..

side note: you wouldn't happen to have a hyundai elantra or hyundai make car would you? I have the same problem when I turn on the AC or Fan... weird.

Answer 7

Get one of those small self contained coffee grind packs. Leave it in car, it will absorb most of the smell. Keep repeating, it should work.

Answer 8

have you cleaned your vents they may have something inside of them that is causing the smell try cleaning them also the vacuum may be causing the smell do you take it to the car wash and clean it or do it at home you wouldn't believe the things that get sucked into those vacuums at the carwash

Answer 9

look in your trunk. If you can lift up the bottom lining of your trunk see if there is water in the bottom of it. My college car had this problem and that's why it smell like mildew.

Answer 10

Vacuum your car, clean it with soap and clorox and put some little pine car freshners and quit stepping on poopie right before you sit in the car. =D