Anyone who lives on the west coast knows that we got hit with rain pretty good this past weekend. Flooding in NoCal to heavy rainstorms in SoCal, almost everyone on the west coast had a wet New Years.

With the rains brings a nasty, smoke smells to my rig. I don't know why? When I open the door up after it rains hard for awhile, the whole cabin reeks of smoke. Thing is... I don't smoke and the previous (original) owner claimed he didn't smoke as well. The truck has NEVER smelled of smoke on a normal day... only after a good hard rain.

Does anyone else run into this with their vehicles?? The only fix I've encountered was to spray "something yummy smelling" into the vents on the hood near the windshield while the heater is on high. This is only a temporary fix... I would like to eradicate this problem for good as we are entering our "rainy season" (anyone who has a TRUE rainy season enter gripe here) and would like the smell gone for good.

Help.

 

hear is what i know of CA. you have rain one time of year. (the rainy season) the rest of the time you have relitivly low humity. Someone smoked in it and the humidity brings out the smell.

Try shampooing the carpet/seats with a carpet shampoorer with one of those hand held wand thingies.

 

I can't offer a fix, but I have the same problem with my '99. I don't think it has anything to do with a PO smoking in the vehicle. I have heard stories of other spraying Lysol down their AC vents to remove mold and mildew odors, but I am hesitant to do so.

Have you looked around for any damp carpeting, etc? I am waiting for a break in the rain to pull my floormats to see if water intrusion is causing the problem.

Good Luck-

-Scubaduck

 

The only smell I've ever experience associated with rain was a nasty urine like smell from the A/C in my old Camry. I've since made sure that I shut off my A/C a little bit before I reach my destination with the fans on high in my truck. I haven't encountered that smell again.

 

Over the last year or so my '04 Tacoma as been smelling the same way. After the cab is pretty well warmed up I start getting a 'tobacco smell' in the cab that transfer's to my clothes. My wifes '04 Camry is the same way. We drove it this morning and, after only a 15min. trip the same exact smell comes from her interior. Both of these cars are brand new. I'm wondering if something is in the carpeting that emits this odor especially when the heat is concentrating on the lower vents. BTW, we live in the NW.
I have yet to call the local dealership about this but knowing the quality of their service work I don't expect much. IMHO

D

 

Thats odd, best thing I could come up with is: You accidently left your door unlocked and some homeless person got into your vehicle to get out of the heavy rain, after which he/her started to smoke to warm up, and then departed.

 

erik,

i'd take different approaches if you think its embedded in the carpet.

first, i would remove all the carpet and wash it with laundry detergent. dont worry, its safe and does not alter the color. i did it because the previous owner did not clean up spilled baby's milk, so it had a rancid stank despite him getting it professionally cleaned. look at my sound deadening writeup. to take out the carpet is not difficult, just time consuming (including the drying time)

second, buy one of those things that can hold baking soda. baking soda naturally absorbs odors.

now if these things dont work, consider going to a detail shop and asking them to use an ozone machine. you might be able to find a company that just does that for dealerships.

bob