Teja

Beginning a couple months ago, my RX 330 started having a very bad odor in the cabin, the kind you would get from a dead rodent or some very rotten food. I've emptied the vehicle, removed & washed all mats, checked every corner & crevice and found nothing that foul. Some dirt, a few stray slips of paper and nuts that feel under seats, but nothing like a dead rodent. I also checked through the entire engine compartment. I even pulled off the filter that's behind the glove box. Nada. Anyone here have similar experience or knowledge of what my be causing this and where to look?

Lexuswiz

iTrader: (1)

Have you tried lifting the floor board covers (carpet under the removable mats)? That's one potential source if there's water down there which happened to my Camry. Another possible source is under the center glove box which has to be removed, on ToyotaNation, a Venza owner found a dead rat under his center glove box compartment and had to remove it complete to see the rat (no idea how it got there...).

numbafree

did you check the engine bay? air box? and underneath the car, like a wheel well, fender liner?

Teja

OK, I pulled out the climate system filter that's behind the glove box and saw this. Looks like a rodent has definitely been chewing on it. If I have a dead rodent somewhere in my ventilation system, is there a way to "flush" it out and remove the corpse without taking apart the whole darn system?

numbafree

I you have small hands, you might be able to reach in and grab it, or use a grabby thingy. use use a dental mirror and see what's down there.