Musty mildew "stank" inside

[WalkGood]

My 98 Blazer 4x4 suddenly developed a real nasty musty smell. It is not coming from the airvents.

Just everything smells like mildew. Really bad. Cannot locate any area that feels wet. Didn't leave windows open or any door partially ajar.

Smells like an old beat up car that has sat for years. Makes eyes water, cannot drive with windows up at all.

I tried saturating every surface with a large can of Lysol spray. Also fogged it into the airvents duct at the windshield base. Cycled it thru all settings. Then I shut the car up tight over night. Aired it out - all doors/windows/rear opened for 2 days of sunshine. Still smells.

I do not think it is the heater core leaking, rug not wet.


Any ideas?

[greencactus3]

it has to be leaking sumwhere
washer fluid line?

[russell]

checked the filter?
I'm not sure they had them, But the 00+ f/s chevy trucks had a filter under the pass side dash that needed to be replaced every so often. It would start smelling moldy too.

[WalkGood]

Nope no filters.... and that wouldn't make every surface reek of mildew.

I am wondering if some water/fluid leak is traveling under the carpet and spreading the smell everywhere.

[Rhotpursuit]

The mold/mildew is growing in your a/c box. It may not smell like it's coming from the vents but it is. I had the same problem with the wifes blaZeR2. I took it to the dealer and they sprayed the vents with FridgiFresh and it did nada. They have a procedure to coat the evap core that will kill the mold/mildew but it's kinda spendy. I deceided to give it a go and cut a small panel out of the box to spray it with Lemon Lysol...all it did was blow bubbles all over.. Next I tried a 7/8" holesaw on the top left side of the box but there still wasn't any access to the evap core. I tried AGAIN but a little lower and there it was. I used a bleach water soultion in a garden sprayer anf hosed it good...let it sit awhile then rinsed it out. I did this twice over a weeks time and it's been fine ever since. The 7/8" hole can be plugged with an antenna plug from Radio Shack. There may be other solutions but this one worked for me.

[WalkGood]

No, it is not from the vents at all. I've got a very good nose - can smell a gnat fart in the next county. The air from the vents has a different smell to it.

It is definately the carpet.

[Rhotpursuit]

Quote: Originally Posted by WalkGood

No, it is not from the vents at all. I've got a very good nose - can smell a gnat fart in the next county. The air from the vents has a different smell to it.

It is definately the carpet.

Well...if the carpet isn't wet, I'd have your sniffer checked. The only time I could pinpoint a smell from the vents is when they Frigifreshed hem.

[Yogi]

Did you say something about "skanks inside"? Son, I've been meaning to talk to you about you taste in women!

















LOL! J/K

[bmxbang]

well if your sure its the carpet.. replace it.

[Phillie86]

check under the carpet. i have a mat cover instead of carpet and i noticed moisture under mine. im not sure what i can use to absorb it.

[SH-60B]

Take the carpet out for now til you find and repair the leak. It can't be that hard to do, then wash and dry it and put it back in. Otherwise the rest of the interior will pick up that smell.

[benthere]

check rear washer line.mine came off and smelled the same way.

[WalkGood]

Anyone know where the washer fluid rear line is routed?


BTW, I removed some of the driver side threshold trim pieces at both doors, pulled back the carpet a few inches. The padding under the carpet is sopping wet and the odor is strongest there. The carpet has a rubber backing so the moisture did not get the carpet TOP wet.

After a rain storm there is water at the thresholds and on the metal floor where I pulled back teh carpet & padding. I cannot exactly trace where the water is getting by any door seals etc. yet. I have to buy one of those male star-shaped sockets (Torx??) large enough to remove the shoulder seat belts so I can further remove trim pieces.

I plan on removing the seats and then the carpet/padding. I'll run a garden hose/sprinkler onto the car while I am inside looking for the leak. Some baking soda sprinkled in the door jambs will help find the water intrusion inside the door jambs.


Thinking ahead, anyone know a good online source for door seals and weatherstripping besides a dealership?

[ExtCab96S_Dime]

I think it might be your washer fluid line for the rear also. I've heard this so many times that it seems like the same. I read somewhere that your washer line ran right under the carpet on the drivers side, I think right in the middle basically. However, if it actually is outside water leaking in, check out www.lmctruck.com for weather stripping. They've got alright prices, I think.

EDIT: Also, you might need to get a special torx bit for the seat belts. Everyone tries I think a 45, but Brian (orangesonoma) said it's a 47 I believe. Just so you don't strip anything out

[Yogi]

Check with "MikeInCtown" about the washer line routing. He's been fighting that for a while.

[JoeWinchester]

I have been experiencing the same sort of situation, just in a 00 sonoma ext cab. Maybe not as strong as yours. So you guys are saying that there is a plastic piece under the carpet? where the water can get trapped, and not actually get the top of the carpet wet?