Patsum

well, my buddy thought while driving my car it smelled too much like an airport. it's because I keep it clean. He went and sprayed some watered down downy fabric softener into the cabin air intake under the hood to make it smell right and now when my hvac comes on it smells like dead flowers. How do I clean this mess up? I tried leaving the car running in the rain sucking in outside air to no help, is there a way to steam clean the vents and internal Hvac in this car? what should I do?

Airing the car out does not help as the cabin smells fine until I turn my a/c on. it's not a mold or mildew issue either as it was just fine until he sprayed this stuff into the car cabin intake

Shmee

iTrader: (3)

Replace the cabin air filter to start... Wipe down the area around the filter and holder with a little soapy water and towel then a little cleaning alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. That should get most of it. If he put a lot down there and it ran into the heater box and pooled a little. Nothing short of pulling the heater box and cleaning or even replacing it will make it go away completely.

I would make your buddy pay for the repairs.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

As above, remove cabin filter. You can also use distilled white vinegar in 1:1 with water mix, it is a great deodorizer. You can use stronger ratios if desired but just not all vinegar. Your car will not smell like pickles following, the vinegar aroma dissipates quickly.

More tips:
http://www.diy-household-tips-tricks...h-vinegar.html

python

iTrader: (4)

pre-cabin filter year cars should take notice here....if u run ur ac for an extended period of time...turn ur heater on for a few minutes before parking it for the night.
btw i would be furious if i were u and tell him to pay for the car to be fixed/detailed

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

my favorite way that seems to work on most cars without massive mildew/mold problems is to get the car warmed up, roll the windows down, park it, and blast the heater at the max temperature for 10-15minutes.

Patsum

took care of it by spraying mists of water into the cabin air intakes under the hood for 30 minutes with the a/c full blast then heat full blast over and over with some compressed air. took care of it.

I am missing my cabin air filter tray... not the filter itself.. where the hell can I find one of those for a 98 ls 400? the tray itself....