6 Tips for Finding That Bad Smell In Your Car |
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Look for an obvious source. To rid an odor from your car, start with the obvious. The most common source of car odors is kids spilling food or beverages. Check upholstery, carpets, and other fabric surfaces around where kids typically sit. Don't forget the space between and under seats or in pockets, storage bins and especially around cup holders. If you have child car seats, remove the seat and check underneath. A good vacuuming followed by use of enzyme based auto upholstery and carpet cleaner will do the trick.
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Do a little detective work. If the odor is a mildew-like musk, feel the carpet, especially the lower floorboard sections where water could accumulate. When "damp spots" are located, apply a weak solution of chlorine bleach, not exceeding 2 oz per gallon. Then speed dry with either a wet/dry shop vac or airing out in the sun with the windows down. With unexplained floor wet spots, crawl under the car and look for plugs missing and openings. These plugs are black rubber inserts, about 1.5"X 3", placed in lower parts of the car floor. Don’t forget to check your trunk, spare tire compartment, and wheel wells.
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Check the owner's manual to see if your car has a cabin air filter in its Air conditioning (A/C) ductwork. Your vehicle’s A/C acts as a dehumidifier, this filter can dampen with condensation, becoming moldy, blowing odors into the car. By selecting ‘ max A/C, 'return air' or 're-circulate' on the AC controls, less moisture enters the system, decreasing the water being removed at the evaporating coil, decreasing possibility of smelly mold.
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Check the engine and exhaust system. It is not unusual for these systems to cause odors that are not normally detectable except when the car is idling or traveling at low speed. Here are some of the more common smells to be aware of: |
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Gasoline odor is especially serious, and if you think you may have a fuel leak, get your car to your dealer or a qualified mechanic right away. |
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Antifreeze has a unique, sickly-sweet odor, and a radiator leak will cause the engine temperature to rise, boil over and quit.
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Oil leaks, especially above the exhaust manifold where the dripping oil actually burns off, can smell, but at highway speed it will likely disperse to drivers behind you.
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An engine exhaust leak has very low odor potential, but it can be the most serious of all. When the engine runs, these fumes can accumulate inside the car, becoming very toxic when concentrated. Mostly, significant exhaust leaks cause loud exhaust sounds. If you suspect an exhaust leak, take our car to your dealer or a qualified mechanic as soon as possible for inspection and repair.
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Look under the car and around the tires. If you have not succeeded in finding the odor source, it could be road-kill under the chassis. You may notice this distinct odor at one of the quarter panels. Use a car wash pressure washer, to thoroughly spray out the suspect area. Take care not to spray water up into the engine compartment and knock wiring couplers, vacuum hoses and even spark plug wires loose.
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Inspect behind the front grill for feathers of a bird stuck in the radiator. |
Because types and sources of odors vary, this article doesn't cover remedies for the odor itself, they can be found in the odor solutions area on our website – www. Refreshyourcan.com/how-to-eliminate-odors.php. Once you have found the source of the odor and have remedied it, we recommend using Refresh your car scented gel car air fresheners under your seat and a scented oil wick or diffuser in your car’s air vents to keep your vehicle smelling fresh. |
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