I went to get my car today and I couldn't get it!

Dave hit on it with the windshield comment.

The new plastics, chemicals in the carpet, glues, vinyl all off-gas. Your body is telling you that this is not good with a headache. Visible also on the windshield. Looks like a smoker was in the car.
I clean it and all plastics often at first then use 303 on the hard plastics.

edit

Just looked at page one. I basically echoed Bill M. Air it out regardless. Got to give credit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(StarBrite310 @ Jan 6 2006, 01:52 AM) [snapback]184667[/snapback]</div>

 

I'm so HAPPY to find priuschat.com and see your posting because I thought I was crazy. I picked up my new Prius on Sunday 05/14 and by day 2, was having the most intense allergic reaction to what ever it is in that chemical "new car" smell. I was hoping for fresh leather scent, but my body is actually unable to tolerate this. I've kept the windows open for the last few days, and suspect it will eventually wear off. Wondering whether you (or anyone else) have found some way to be rid of what ever it is any sooner. Was thinking maybe having the carpets shampooed and wiping down the leather? It would be really helpful to know the source so I could deal with it. Sounding like a complete whiner I realize, but for anyone who has had the reaction I had which sounds similar to yours - they would have to understand. It's intense! But I love the car. Dealership was suggesting maybe an air purifier? How long did it take for your "new car smell" to get out? Thanks so much for any info!

 

Wow, This is new to me. This site is great.

 

I don't remember any smell in my Prius, bought a year ago. My wife's Prius, bought last December had a horrendous smell. To me it smelled like burning plastic spoons. (You can't be a boy scout and go on camp outs without learning what burning plastic spoons smell like.)

I decided to give it a week and go back to the dealer if it continued to be a problem, however the smell began to fade. It was mostly gone after a week and a half, but it lingered a little for a month or so.

 

Had Prius since 3 May 2006. First couple of days it smelled up the garage with a "newcar smell". After a while the smell diminished till now it is not even there.
I never experencied the severe reaction you did however. If you are *that* sensitive to the chenicals ( all people are different! ) make sure you get something in writing from the manager that they will correct any thing that needs to be done so you can get "intended use" from the car.

 

There was some news blurb a few months back about a study of possible carcinogenic effects of the "new car smell". I don't remember what the end result was, but a scary thought nonetheless.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ May 18 2006, 08:40 AM) [snapback]257418[/snapback]</div>

I seem to have a very sensitive nose, unlike my eyesight and hearing that are vanishing with age. When I picked up my 2006 on January 2nd, I noticed three distinct odors over the first few days:

1. New car smell, like other new cars I've had. Still there though diminished after 4.5 months.

2. Oil smell after car warmed up and was stopped for a traffic light. There tends to be some film of oil on a lot of things in the engine bay of new cars, so I have also smelled this with other new cars (Audi was the worst). This went away after I took the car out for an hour long drive the first weekend I had the car, but I thought it was fairly strong the first couple of days.

3. A tangy acid like smell that I think is from the main battery. I didn't notice this much until the oil smell went away. I notice it mostly soon after I start driving, especially on cool or cold mornings. I suspect it is the battery heating up. It goes away after a couple of minutes and does not seem to come back during a long drive. I noticed it this morning coming into work when it was 54 degrees F outside. I do not think I get used to this smell as I drive - as an electrical engineer I am quite familiar whit this hot electronics/battery type of smell. I imagine that this is the smell and not the "new car" smell that is causing most of the problems. It seems less than when the car was new, but I don't think it will ever vanish. I can imagine that there are people that this smell could be a real problem for them given different sensitivities that we all have to different things.

- Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(StarBrite310 @ Jan 5 2006, 11:52 PM) [snapback]184667[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, I got my Prius from Longo Toyota, too. I had to drive with two windows down. I had been in new cars before, but that was some strong smell! And I don't have leather, so it couldn't have been some 'leather cleaning product.' Make sure they will take responsibility for this if you can't deal with the smell.

 

well I dont know what the smell could be, but I have read a lot of negative things about this "Longo Toyota" on these fourms... is this in Los Angeles???

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jan 8 2006, 09:46 PM) [snapback]186278[/snapback]</div>

You can get some white furry dice for the rearview mirror too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(castlecain @ Jan 6 2006, 06:29 PM) [snapback]185110[/snapback]</div>

Get Spell Chatcher from Rainmaker.com works in the background on Mac's and Windows computers in every program you have. The best spell checker available at any price. Check it out. I am spelling challenged dyslexic and I bet folks can pick out my posts from work where I do not have SpellCatcher. It really is a great program. You get dictionaries for most languages including Canadian and British English as well as legal engineering, scientific, medical dictionaries. It is by far my most used program for more years than I can remember dating back to when it was called Thunder on the Mac. It has more recently expanded to Windows.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(StarBrite310 @ May 18 2006, 08:09 PM) [snapback]257840[/snapback]</div>

Since it went away so quickly, I'm guessing it was coating on the exhaust system that got into the car because you only drove it one mile that first time, and then parked it, after it had gotten hot but before it could burn off completely. Once fully burned off it was gone.

I hate new-car smell. I had to park my Prius with the windows open for the first week. It dissipated eventually. It probably is carcinogenic.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(StarBrite310 @ May 18 2006, 08:09 PM) [snapback]257840[/snapback]</div>

And I can't believe YOU'VE resurfaced! :lol:

Some of us wondered if you'd been done in by the fumes.

You probably frightened your salesperson so much that he completely disassembled your car that night, sprayed every part with Clorox and put it back together just in time for you to pick it up.

 

I'd say the burning plastic spoons smell description not only describes the interior of my car perfectly on those first days but in addition, it provided me with a darn good laugh (it was perfect!). It does seem to be fading after 4 days with the windows down.

I'm so grateful for your posts. Reading starbrites post gave me great sense of calm just to know that someone else was having a similar issue and that I wasn't completely insane. Plus got some great advice and insight.

I love my Prius! I think I may be hypersensitive because it's allergy season, and I do think they put some kind of gnarly scotchguard or leather protector or carriage sealant that burns off. What ever it is, I'm just gonna have faith that it will be gone soon. Til then, the wind blown look suits me fine. Thanks, All!