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Interior Detailing => Interior Detailing Tips, Advice => Topic started by: Rollingrock on March 06, 2010, 09:02:18 PM

Title: strange mildew smell
Post by: Rollingrock on March 06, 2010, 09:02:18 PM
Ok, I am stumped, my truck sits indoors 90% of the time, but now I smell mildew...any ideas?

I am am totally stumped.

Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Too Stroked on March 06, 2010, 09:09:17 PM
Water getting in through a weather strip somewhere? Your first job will be to find the water - or the mildew. If it was an F-150, the first thing I'd go for is the CHMSL, but yours is a Super Duty. (Still worth a look.) The HVAC system can harbor that stuff pretty well too. Can you smell it with the heater or defroster running?
Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Rollingrock on March 06, 2010, 09:28:48 PM
i smell it when the truck has been sitting for a few days...I get in and it hits me...its mild..

I did just get out there and make sure no "hidden? watter bottles were under the seats..hit the leather with KR leather product, then hit the air vents with NLD. 

Very odd.


Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Poorboy on March 08, 2010, 11:29:04 AM
do you have a cabin filter?

may also want to try Air Freshener / Deodorizer

you can also spray the NL into the cowl vent with the heat or ac on
Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: gipraw on March 08, 2010, 12:06:05 PM
I would check/replace the cabin filter ,

then try a box of baking soda sitting open for a few hours..
Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Rollingrock on March 08, 2010, 01:10:06 PM
I don't think my truck has a cabin filter...

Does it?


Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Poorboy on March 08, 2010, 01:32:06 PM
I don't think my truck has a cabin filter...

Does it?




don't know but this would be a good time to find out :D
Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Rollingrock on March 08, 2010, 01:44:38 PM
Steve I did shoot some NLD in the vents...but I haven't been in the truck in 48 hours. 

i don't think my truck has a filter.

Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: gipraw on March 08, 2010, 02:14:42 PM
don't think it does, now that I think harder.


might be the HVAC, EVAP musty smell people complain about .. I have seen several suggestions for that, from the dealer provided treatment, to simply spraying lysol into the AC intake @ the cowl when the AC is running on regular mode (not recirc) 

Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Rollingrock on March 08, 2010, 02:19:22 PM
don't think it does, now that I think harder.


might be the HVAC, EVAP musty smell people complain about .. I have seen several suggestions for that, from the dealer provided treatment, to simply spraying lysol into the AC intake @ the cowl when the AC is running on regular mode (not recirc) 



that would make a lot of sense considering how much water and snow we got then to have my truck sit in the garage with no air flow...hm...you may be on to something there.


Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: GreyMichFX4 on March 08, 2010, 02:35:19 PM
Just thinking out loud here but does your truck have the sun roof? My wifes 03 Monte Carlo had one and it would leak a little bit in hard rain and we would get a musty smell but could never figure out why until I opened the sun roof and got a lap full of water after an extrememly hard rain.
Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Rollingrock on March 08, 2010, 02:37:31 PM
Just thinking out loud here but does your truck have the sun roof? My wifes 03 Monte Carlo had one and it would leak a little bit in hard rain and we would get a musty smell but could never figure out why until I opened the sun roof and got a lap full of water after an extrememly hard rain.

no sun roof, that would be cool on my truck...maybe I am a candidate to be on "overhaualing"  :) 


Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Kitzy on March 08, 2010, 03:20:20 PM
Adding a sunroof wouldn't make for a very good episode of Overhaulin.  Though, I would definitely watch just to see them prank you. 

My first guess when I saw it was probably from all of the snow you guys get.  Especially sitting indoors.  That could definitely be it.  Ofcourse, it could just be something else too.
Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: gipraw on March 08, 2010, 03:23:12 PM
I'd be very happy to get pranked if Chip would come get my Firebird..

Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Kitzy on March 08, 2010, 03:40:18 PM
Chip is a genius.
Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Zaairman on March 08, 2010, 10:55:45 PM
Check your passenger side footwell for water.  Also check underneath the plastic door sil cover.  It pops right off. 
Title: Re: strange mildew smell
Post by: Poorboy on March 09, 2010, 02:16:05 PM
Steve I did shoot some NLD in the vents...but I haven't been in the truck in 48 hours. 

i don't think my truck has a filter.



you can also spray it into the carpets and air intake too
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