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Mold Smell...2012

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by WiseOwl, Oct 9, 2013.

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  1. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I can smell everything. Very bad allergy's. I get an allergy shot every month. Sinusitis all my life. Multiple sinus surgeries. I cannot stand bad smells. Its horrible when you have a heightened sense of smell. I can barely stand next to a smoker.

    Body odor AND ac mold would make me wretch. I feel for you. Bad part is if you get a brand new car the new car smell will probably kill you too. It was quite bothersome to me with this car also so first thing I did was buy very high quality seat covers (Wet Okoles awesome) folded down the back seats and cover them with a cloth that I can wash now and then. Lot of off gassing with this car when new.

    Btw, I have seen many many posts like yours here in the last 6 years. Your not alone.

    Good Luck.
     
    #41 edthefox5, Oct 12, 2013
  2. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Thank you Ed for your comment. Glad I'm not the only one with a sensitive nose and immune system. I doubt the odor is true BO, but the smell is a cross between dirty socks and body odor. Some describe it as musty musky wet towel-like.

    Unfortunately I can not afford a brand new prius in any package, although I'm beginning to wonder if I should have decided to go that way before I lost a fortune in the first trade. By the time the second car is paid for it will have cost me as much as a new car. Hindsight is always 20/20.

    Been laying around missing the non issues of my prior car. Albeit it guzzled gas like crazy, but had not a single issue otherwise...and the service department spoiled me and my car, that only needed it's basics and only every few thousand miles, not the every few months Toyota is telling me I'll need to bring it in at...
    Big giant regret at this point....

    Did you get cloth seats on your car or the upgrade to leather? I notice leather can take on strange odors too. I'm not as sensitive to new car smell, though I recognize it's also very chemical, it never really bothered me as much as this does. That said, I have only once had a brand new car, the rest have been near new/pre owned.
     
    #42 WiseOwl, Oct 12, 2013
  3. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Cloth seats. Package 2. SKS & Camera.

    Hindsight is a bitch.
    But don't feel bad. Buying a car is one money losing proposition.
     
    #43 edthefox5, Oct 12, 2013
  4. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    'Sigh' yes. It's an experience like no other!
     
    #44 WiseOwl, Oct 12, 2013
  5. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Update:
    They're getting me a new 2013 Prius since it would be difficult to wait for a used one with similar mileage in the color I want.
    I looked at a few they had on the lot in Silver, not Dark Grey, and boy were they shop worn. Mats were in bad shape, scratches on the interior, and pretty filthy. But one silver one is an option if the dark grey has any issues when it arrives tomorrow from another one of their dealers..
    ...I hope it looks and smells ok.
    This will be the third time I have to set up Serius radio, my phone and call Insurance company ...I'm truly exhausted and weary....
    I plan to take all advices as to how I run the air conditioner to hopefully not create this issue on the new car.
     
    #45 WiseOwl, Oct 14, 2013
    snead_c likes this.
  6. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

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    3rd time's a charm :)

    Best of luck.
     
    #46 jdk2, Oct 14, 2013
  7. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Heehee, true dat! But what about 3 strikes you're out....eek!
     
    #47 WiseOwl, Oct 14, 2013
  8. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

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    Positive thinking...remember E.S.T?
     
    #48 jdk2, Oct 14, 2013
  9. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Omg! I took EST...hahaha.....that's too funny! I think I was 21 when I took it. You know, just a few years ago! ;)
     
    #49 WiseOwl, Oct 14, 2013
  10. snead_c

    snead_c Jam Ma's Car

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    Congratulations. Sounds like your dealer really did want to help you. You don't often hear of one upgrade replacing. Take them a box of donuts when you go to get that silver gem and start off your new car with a sweet relationship.
     
    #50 snead_c, Oct 15, 2013
  11. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Thnx, what a great idea! I was thinking about what I should take...being close to halloween and all...
    My last dilemma is whether to get the soft faux leather seats. I'd have to upgrade one level to a 4 trim. For me it might be worth it because of my allergies...thoughts? I need to see how much extra they cost...
     
    #51 WiseOwl, Oct 15, 2013
  12. tach18k

    tach18k Member

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    Just to add, I drive 100 miles a day, and with 53k miles in 18 months and use the AC 100% of the drive in recirc mode I have never smelled a thing much less can I tell if the air is on or not. I never use open mode for the air as there is too much stink from trucks and old cars around.
     
    #52 tach18k, Oct 15, 2013
  13. snead_c

    snead_c Jam Ma's Car

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    I ha
    We have those "leather" seats and we really have grown to like them...they do have heat but I can't say how effective since we've not had any cold weather since the purchase. By the way remember floor mats and a bed liner. They can add several hundred dollars to the final out the door price but generally they are needed (try negotiating 4o% off their list.) Skip the rear bumper protector. It's ugly and if you get some unpleasant scuffing you can add that later.
     
    #53 snead_c, Oct 15, 2013
  14. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Encouraging, thank you!
     
    #54 WiseOwl, Oct 15, 2013
  15. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Yes, I've been looking in the cars to make sure that back bed liner is there. One had a rubber all weather liner and the entire car stunk like a tire. I actually have a brand new set of floor mats that they ordered me for the last car! Just in case the ones in the new car are shop worn..
    I'm torn still on the upgrade to soft tech seats. Part of the desire to have them is the lumbar function.
    Again, they'd have to get it from another lot since they don't have it in stock anymore.

    And since we decided not to finance it, to pay the balance today, I'm going to find out how much more the 2014's are. My sales criminal said not much more...
     
    #55 WiseOwl, Oct 15, 2013
  16. Martholland

    Martholland Junior Member

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    My Prius had also a bad smell, especially when the sun was shining. The problem was not the AC but the floor mats. I cleaned them and the smell is gone. You have to clean them with a lot of water. Use a hose. After drying (it will take some time) use a special fabric cleaner for cars to get the special protective layer against dirt.
     
    #56 Martholland, Oct 15, 2013
  17. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Thanks for the tip! Appreciate it :)
     
    #57 WiseOwl, Oct 15, 2013
  18. WiseOwl

    WiseOwl Junior Member

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    Last update.

    Today was a good day. I'm very fortunate that the dealership I dealt with has a very professional and friendly crew. I have worked with a handful of extremely nice people there. Everyone from the Customer Relations woman to the maintenance writers to finally the last person, the sales manager. He is the one I wish I would have worked with from the start. He really made this happen for me and I feel grateful. Yes, I lost a chunk of money on the trade, but that was my fault. The sales manager takes his job extremely seriously and his knowledge makes one feel as though there are no miscommunications and or unanswered questions.

    I left with the new 2013 Prius 111 and it is every bit as beautiful as I had hoped. From this point on I am looking forward to a good nights sleep and a happy future with my new car.

    Thank you everyone for your good advice and for putting up with my rants over my situation.

    Have a great Fall/Winter.

    Best,
    Wiseowl
     
    #58 WiseOwl, Oct 15, 2013
  19. VicVinegar

    VicVinegar Member

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    Not to rain on the parade, but I do about 85 miles a day and had it after 2 months. It was summer, so a/c nearly all the time on Auto. Now I try not to use the AC and turn it off 10 minutes before getting home to try and air it out. Still smells musty sometimes.
     
    #59 VicVinegar, Oct 15, 2013
  20. bluemansegundo

    bluemansegundo Junior Member

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    WiseOwl,

    I just bought my SoCal '10 with 21K miles and it had a mold smell coming from the AC. I was surprised that it had the smell since we have such a dry climate. I asked for the coil cleaner and the dealership agreed to do it.
    Spoke with the guy that did it and he sprays a can of (something that you can't get off the shelf in CA) and runs the recirculation fan with the windows up(for about 20')

    It worked:)


    BTW: If I run the AC I turn off the AC button about 10' before I stop the car so it will dry out any residue on the coils.
     
    #60 bluemansegundo, Oct 16, 2013
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