Strong smell of urine...

pearsonrj · 05-08-2007, 07:37 PM

I have a strong smell of ammonia/urine coming through the A/C when on recirculation. It is not so bad without recirculation, or when I run the fan at a high speed.

I've read the threads on inspecting the cabin air filter - I guess I might find the reason for the smell on or around the filter...

Any other ideas for finding the source of the smell or generally cleaning the cabin air intake? I don't think any of my kids have had an accident...

KD6HDX · 05-08-2007, 08:03 PM

Other ideas?

Watch out for Lisa Nowak the spaceball astronaut, the police released her on her own incontinence....

I am wondering what the temperature settings are on your AC controls?

good luck.

fshagan · 05-09-2007, 12:42 AM

Pull the cabin air filter and see if you have the smell in it. If its still clean, you can try some antibacterial spray on it like Frebreeze or Odor-Ban (available at Costco). Or you can replace it.

Once you have the glove box removed, you can stick your face in the hole and see if the smell is coming from inside the cavity. You can spray some of the Frebreeze in there, but be careful about the plastic trim that shows ... I don't know if the spray would hurt the "silver colored plastic", but a couple people have marred it with cleaners, so you have to be careful.

For really bad car smells, you can check with your dealer. They often know of a service that helps them recondition used cars to remove smoke and other odors. I think they use an ozone generator in the car while they run the A/C in recirc mode. Ozone in concentration can be an irritant, so I'd be careful if you decide to try this yourself with one of those ozone air purifiers they use in homes.

ekpolk · 05-10-2007, 10:54 PM

Toyota has a foaming cleaner product (at least our dealership does) that's designed to expand throughout the air intake cleaning it, and then to drain away. That might help.

Maybe 15 years ago, we had a neighbor's male cat "mark" my wife's Mercury Sable wagon. It was awful, and being Florida, not using the AC was not an option. I ended up just dumping a bunch of dishwashing detergent into the air intake (base of windshield), and hosing it out for the better part of an hour. I theorize that I successfully washed out the bulk piss, because the hideous overwhelming odor was gone right away. The barely detectable residual odor was gone shortly thereafter, which I assume was just fumes already in the delivery ducts. I feel for you.

Lisa Nowak · 05-10-2007, 11:39 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KD6HDX @ May 8 2007, 06:03 PM) [snapback]437889[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Watch out for Lisa Nowak the spaceball astronaut, the police released her on her own incontinence....

[/b]

be advised you will be hearing from my attorney for defamation.

Marlin · 05-11-2007, 07:53 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pearsonrj @ May 8 2007, 07:37 PM) [snapback]437875[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have a strong smell of ammonia/urine coming through the A/C when on recirculation. It is not so bad without recirculation, or when I run the fan at a high speed.[/b]

There's at least one article on Prius Chat from a year or so back about someone who had mice living in his air ducts.

mpgFanatic · 05-11-2007, 08:17 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pearsonrj @ May 8 2007, 07:37 PM) [snapback]437875[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Any other ideas...)
[/b]

It could be terrorists. STEP AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE and contact the FBI.

randreed · 05-11-2007, 08:20 AM

I hate when that happens!

05-09-2007, 12:42 AM	#3
fshagan Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Pull the cabin air filter and see if you have the smell in it. If its still clean, you can try some antibacterial spray on it like Frebreeze or Odor-Ban (available at Costco). Or you can replace it. Once you have the glove box removed, you can stick your face in the hole and see if the smell is coming from inside the cavity. You can spray some of the Frebreeze in there, but be careful about the plastic trim that shows ... I don't know if the spray would hurt the "silver colored plastic", but a couple people have marred it with cleaners, so you have to be careful. For really bad car smells, you can check with your dealer. They often know of a service that helps them recondition used cars to remove smoke and other odors. I think they use an ozone generator in the car while they run the A/C in recirc mode. Ozone in concentration can be an irritant, so I'd be careful if you decide to try this yourself with one of those ozone air purifiers they use in homes. __________________ My Blog PoliteTalk Debate Site:

05-10-2007, 10:54 PM	#4
ekpolk The Regenerator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pensacola FL Posts: 363 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Toyota has a foaming cleaner product (at least our dealership does) that's designed to expand throughout the air intake cleaning it, and then to drain away. That might help. Maybe 15 years ago, we had a neighbor's male cat "mark" my wife's Mercury Sable wagon. It was awful, and being Florida, not using the AC was not an option. I ended up just dumping a bunch of dishwashing detergent into the air intake (base of windshield), and hosing it out for the better part of an hour. I theorize that I successfully washed out the bulk piss, because the hideous overwhelming odor was gone right away. The barely detectable residual odor was gone shortly thereafter, which I assume was just fumes already in the delivery ducts. I feel for you. __________________ ScanGauge-IIx for the TCH CAN View V3 (for when I care about maximizing Prius benefits). Valentine V1 (for when I *don't* care. . . ). Now in the TCH -- with Remote Display. Black 09 Camry Hybrid Cassis Pearl 07 Avalon XLS Black 04 Prius

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05-08-2007, 07:37 PM	#1
pearsonrj Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 61 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have a strong smell of ammonia/urine coming through the A/C when on recirculation. It is not so bad without recirculation, or when I run the fan at a high speed. I've read the threads on inspecting the cabin air filter - I guess I might find the reason for the smell on or around the filter... Any other ideas for finding the source of the smell or generally cleaning the cabin air intake? I don't think any of my kids have had an accident...

05-08-2007, 08:03 PM	#2
KD6HDX Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chino Hills,CA Posts: 225 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Other ideas? Watch out for Lisa Nowak the spaceball astronaut, the police released her on her own incontinence.... I am wondering what the temperature settings are on your AC controls? good luck.

05-11-2007, 08:20 AM	#8
randreed Same as it ever was . . . Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Milford, NJ Posts: 594 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 3	I hate when that happens!