'11 GS450h horrible smell in cabin, HELP!
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
'11 GS450h horrible smell in cabin, HELP!
Hi all:
For the past month or so, i've noticed a rather unpleasant odor in the cabin of my '11 GS450h, which was brand new in April (it was a demo vehicle, never sold or titled). I've never had food in it, never spilled anything, and prior to a month ago, it still had the new car smell.
I can't tell where it's coming from. It isn't a moldy smell at all, but rather something like a dead mouse. Simply put, it smells like hot garbage that's been sitting in the garage for a few weeks.
I put my nose to every surface, to the rugs, leather, dash... can't find the source. I took out the cabin air filter in hopes of finding the source, but the filter was very clean and i didn't see any debris in there. I tried to stick my nose in, but i couldn't smell anything.
I "think" it's coming from the A/C/Heater vents, as when running if i put my nose up to the vent, i can really smell it.
What do you guys think i could do? I really need to find the source of this smell... Are there any schematics for the duct-work for the A/C inlet? Maybe there's something trapped.
I've always run it on "recirculate" mode, preferring to cycle inside air rather than take in outside air. So my "thinking" as that if there was a dead animal in the duct-work for the outside air, i wouldn't be smelling it, no?
Thanks in advance for any input!
For the past month or so, i've noticed a rather unpleasant odor in the cabin of my '11 GS450h, which was brand new in April (it was a demo vehicle, never sold or titled). I've never had food in it, never spilled anything, and prior to a month ago, it still had the new car smell.
I can't tell where it's coming from. It isn't a moldy smell at all, but rather something like a dead mouse. Simply put, it smells like hot garbage that's been sitting in the garage for a few weeks.
I put my nose to every surface, to the rugs, leather, dash... can't find the source. I took out the cabin air filter in hopes of finding the source, but the filter was very clean and i didn't see any debris in there. I tried to stick my nose in, but i couldn't smell anything.
I "think" it's coming from the A/C/Heater vents, as when running if i put my nose up to the vent, i can really smell it.
What do you guys think i could do? I really need to find the source of this smell... Are there any schematics for the duct-work for the A/C inlet? Maybe there's something trapped.
I've always run it on "recirculate" mode, preferring to cycle inside air rather than take in outside air. So my "thinking" as that if there was a dead animal in the duct-work for the outside air, i wouldn't be smelling it, no?
Thanks in advance for any input!
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#4
Pole Position
iTrader: (10)
file:///C:/Users/pwsng/Downloads/hva...kage%20(2).pdf
usually you'll notice under the rear carpets damp or wet
usually you'll notice under the rear carpets damp or wet
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Hmm... I just felt around the carpets, and there's definitely no moisture. Put my nose up to them, and no smell at all.
The smell i'm smelling is definitely not a mold/musty smell. It's not the rotten egg smell either, or any "typical" A/C smell.
It smells more like a dead animal or rotting garbage. Very unpleasant.
The smell i'm smelling is definitely not a mold/musty smell. It's not the rotten egg smell either, or any "typical" A/C smell.
It smells more like a dead animal or rotting garbage. Very unpleasant.
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2014
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Turn off the A/C and see if the smell isn't there anymore. If it is, well, then buy that AC refresher kit from Toyota and see if that does anything for you.
If the smell is still there and is particularily obvious when the car is hot then look under the car and see what may have melted onto your exhaust. I have had a plastic bag fuse to my exhaust that was pretty bad.
If the smell is still there and is particularily obvious when the car is hot then look under the car and see what may have melted onto your exhaust. I have had a plastic bag fuse to my exhaust that was pretty bad.
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#8
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Damn, I just played around with the A/C switch and there's no difference ON or OFF. I've been playing with it for a few hours now and either my nose is getting desensitized or the smell is fading. I can smell the odor in the car, but at the moment i can't say it's coming through the A/C vents or not. I don't know which way is up!
And the exhaust is clear. The smell is definitely confined to the interior.
I'll do more playing around with it tomorrow after the car's been sitting in the sun. I notice it most in the evening after the car's been cooled down after being out in the FL sun.
And the exhaust is clear. The smell is definitely confined to the interior.
I'll do more playing around with it tomorrow after the car's been sitting in the sun. I notice it most in the evening after the car's been cooled down after being out in the FL sun.
#11
Lead Lap
iTrader: (3)
If it's that rancid, there could be a small dead animal stuck underneath your car. Wife had a squirrel bound up in her VW EOS that we nearly sold due to the same issue (we sold it for an RX anyway, but after I found the carcass). I feel your pain. You're not also missing a cat?
#12
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
I would start with the cabin filter theres a secret trick to getting it out without breaking the flap door. Look inside, smell inside see if its coming near there. If theres hay or some sort of nest, know that you have some animal has visited your car. Find it and clean it out.
Next thing I would do after you remove the odor causing problem. Buy a can of dakota odor bomb (new car smells nice) from any detailer shop online. At night, place the can over cardboard and flip on the fogger and let the chemicals fogger abosrb until morning. Youll have a new car scent for a month or two. This is what used car dealers use to remove odors. The Dakota will remove it all!
Next thing I would do after you remove the odor causing problem. Buy a can of dakota odor bomb (new car smells nice) from any detailer shop online. At night, place the can over cardboard and flip on the fogger and let the chemicals fogger abosrb until morning. Youll have a new car scent for a month or two. This is what used car dealers use to remove odors. The Dakota will remove it all!