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Brand new Prius v - Chemical Smell

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by jst, Oct 21, 2015.

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  1. jst

    jst New Member

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    Hello,

    we just picked up our brand new Prius v and there is this distinct chemical smell.
    It's not like the typical, rather sweet "new car smell" - this one smells more chemical.

    Our previous car was a 2011 Prius and I think there was almost no smell, so it surprises me even more that the new Prius v would smell that much.

    Anyone who recently got their factory-new Prius v - what was your experience regarding interior smell? Did you notice anything?

    Thanks!
     
    #1 jst, Oct 21, 2015
  2. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    …might be that the salesperson got a bit over-enthusiastic with the can of NuCarSmell (every used-car salesperson's secret-weapon (now available in a spray!)
     
    #2 WilDavis, Oct 21, 2015
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Our brand new Prius had little or no "new car smell". I think due to the interior plastic being more plant based. It was actually a refreshing change.

    My guess re your smell is it's some sorta cleaner. Maybe used on upholstery/carpet? Or the Heating/Ventilating circuit, some spray used to try to clear mildew?
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Oct 21, 2015
  4. jst

    jst New Member

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    Thanks for all your responses. I don't think they used NuCarSmell - it's a factory new car.

    I should add that we got it a week ago and the small hasn't decreased since, despite keeping the windows open. The dealership even put the car into a "heat chamber" to heat up the car to 120F for the smell to evaporate - to no avail.
     
    #4 jst, Oct 21, 2015
  5. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Could be a freon or coolant leak
     
    #5 rjparker, Oct 21, 2015
  6. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Coolant leak smells a bit like being in a commercial laundry (…yup, I've had one of those, although not in my Prius!)
     
    #6 WilDavis, Oct 21, 2015
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did it smell when you test drove it?
     
    #7 bisco, Oct 21, 2015
  8. jst

    jst New Member

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    It was built-to-order...
     
    #8 jst, Oct 21, 2015
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    why aren't they apologizing and doing everything they can to fix it? it's brand new!
     
    #9 bisco, Oct 21, 2015
  10. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    It would help to know what interior you have, fabric or Softex? Floor mats? Cargo mat? An odor can come from anything.
     
    #10 rdgrimes, Oct 21, 2015
  11. jst

    jst New Member

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    Well, that's the purpose of my post here. Smell is a subjective thing - and hard to describe. Therefore I'd like to find out what experiences other Prius v owners made, whether it typically has a smell when delivered or not, or if there's something wrong with ours.
    As per the dealership, this is "how hybrids smell" - which is nonsense as our 2011 Prius did not smell.

    Good point, I should check this and remove the mats temporarily.
    It has black interior with fabric seats, and rubber floor mats as well as cargo mat.
     
    #11 jst, Oct 21, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 28, 2015
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i suppose the rubber might smell. my lift back came from the factory, no smell. slip into a new one on the lot to see 'if thats how hybrids smell'.
     
    #12 bisco, Oct 21, 2015
  13. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    The dealer's detail crew could be using a variety of crap on rubber and plastic parts. Armor All, and stuff like to make things shiny. Stain protections on fabrics can smell pretty bad.

    I can tell you that I'm VERY sensitive to perfumes and chemicals, and my 2013 v didn't bother me at all, although it did take a while for the "new" smell to settle down.

    Go find another unit on the dealer's lot with the same interior and drive it to see if it has the same smell. Ask them to keep it overnight if needed.
     
    #13 rdgrimes, Oct 21, 2015
  14. Bmidd

    Bmidd Junior Member

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    Ours doesn't smell as much like a new car as the last one did. It has a different odor, hard to describe. It might be because this one has cloth and not leather seating.
     
    #14 Bmidd, Oct 25, 2015
  15. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Check that the 12v battery is not leaking, it's in the boot so smells from the battery will enter the cabin. Make sure the battery vent tube is not missing or has come off.
     
    #15 kithmo, Oct 26, 2015
  16. Tabata Simarik

    Tabata Simarik New Member

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    This require an exhaustive nose work as old school way, get close to any interior part of your Prius first and smell it, if you can’t find something intense there, go to the engine. A new car don’t have chemical smell, by the way, ask your dealer to do it…
     
    #16 Tabata Simarik, Oct 28, 2015
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it could be the o without the b, heck of a time trying to get that out.
     
    #17 bisco, Oct 28, 2015
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