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What is this smell, and how to get rid of it !!!! PLZ Assist..ty

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Djjkarate, Dec 27, 2018.

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  1. Djjkarate

    Djjkarate Member

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    OK, I have this smell in my 2015 Prius.. I don't believe it is:
    a) FUEL/OIL
    b) wet/damp smell
    c) not smoke

    I would describe it as Chicken Cup of Soup that has spilled somewhere in the car.
    If I had to make a guess, it is more in the back of the car and not the front..
    I've tried baking soda in the car for over a week.
    An ioniser for 2 days,
    and for 3 weeks, Essential Oils in a diffuser.... AAAAHHHHHH.
    The smell is there when I open the door from sitting.. Once I drive the car for any period of time, the smell seems to be gone....

    ANY IDEAS ???? ty...don
     
  2. bat4255

    bat4255 2017 Prius v #2 and 2008 Gen II #2

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    Dead mouse in the cabin air filter?
     
  3. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

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    Leaking ac drain line undash on passenger side?

    SM-G920V ?
     
  4. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Check the spare tire well for water if you have one.
     
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  5. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    While you're looking for the mouse or whatever, give the baking soda more time to work. Leave a vented box under the passenger seat and forget about it.
     
  6. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    Has anyone else smelled the odor in your car? How did they describe it? Olfactory dysfunction?
     
  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    The spell isn't gone, you just adjust to it.
    Use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water and dampen all the mats, seats, and any cloth type of material.
    Someone probably spilled something and never cleaned it up.
    Start sniffing all over, closely, you'll probably find the problem if it is in the seats or carpet.
    Check your cabin air filter, it may have never been replaced.
     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Another possibility ... scroll about halfway down this page to the "Sniff? Sniff?" heading.
     
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  9. Djjkarate

    Djjkarate Member

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    Nope, replaced that when I bought the car as it was a used car...ty...don
     
  10. Djjkarate

    Djjkarate Member

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    OK.. will check this out...ty
     
  11. Djjkarate

    Djjkarate Member

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    I do have a tire well, I took the everything out of there, and wiped it down with alcohol pads and sprayed Lemon Lysol.... but will check again..ty...
     
  12. Djjkarate

    Djjkarate Member

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    OK.. I'll put one under both seats and in the tire well... won't hurt...LOL ty....
     
  13. Djjkarate

    Djjkarate Member

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    OK..ty.. will also do this along with the baking soda treatment again....cheers...don
     
  14. Djjkarate

    Djjkarate Member

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    ah, nuts...... I can't find what your showing.. I think with the other posts, it dropped off the list...ty..
     
  15. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Click the "this page" link.
     
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  16. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Was your spare tire well wet?
     
  17. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

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    Mine leaked and wetted underneath the carpet which I did not discover until something on the floor seemed damp. The carpet is water resistant so it held back the water quite a bit from rising up. Had to take the entire carpet out and clean it.

    SM-G920V ?
     
  18. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

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    Careful with the lysol....if you spray too saturate the seats or carpet with it the lysol smell may never go away.

    SM-G920V ?
     
  19. Djjkarate

    Djjkarate Member

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    My wife says it smells like old leaves....ty
     
  20. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    A chlorine dioxide gas generator—basically some sodium chlorite mixed with some clay, inside a paper packet that you never open, inside a foil packet that you take it out of—does a more-or-less miraculous job of making odors go away, without leaving any of its own. (ClO₂ is different from familiar chlorine bleach or swimming pool stuff, and while it has a bit of a similar smell, once cleared out it will not leave the car smelling like a natatorium.)

    You can buy such packets from a company called starbrite. The ClO₂ production begins as soon as you take the packet out of the foil pouch and moisture in the air starts reacting with the NaClO₂, continuing for several hours.

    They sell both "slow acting" and "fast acting" kits. The difference is, the fast-acting kit also includes a little sponge you soak with water and stick near the packet, so there's more moisture and the reaction goes faster. :) Being a gas, the ClO₂ will get everywhere in the car. During those hours, you'll be somewhere else.

    Naturally, if there's a findable cause of the odor, it's best to find and remove that, and then bring in the ClO₂.

    It doesn't have a very strong bleaching effect, but there is some right near the generator packet, so you want to find some way to hang it sort of centrally in the car, not too close to any interior trim or upholstery.