vs355x
New Member
Have had my VF Maloo for over 5 years (bought from original owner) - and still chasing a smell out of it.
After the car has been sitting (can be as little as a couple of days) - as soon as you open the door - there is a sweet smell (not musty) that hits you straight away, and then dissipates quite quickly but always has a slight underlying smell. Whilst the car is running with or without a/c on - you never notice it. The car can sit for a couple of months between taking it for a run.
Over the years I have done the following
Despite all the above - the smell still exists.
Whilst it is a sweet smell - its not like a coolant smell (90% of what you read online in general says heater core - and the smell is leaking coolant). I couldnt say 100% it isnt coolant, BUT - it absolutely doesnt smell like leaking coolant (which I am familiar with and can easily pick)
For other reasons - I have had under dash panels off. hoodlining down - basically everything except the main dashboard and HVAC system - and never spotted anything that would be causing the smell.
It is a really odd one - over the last few days since last driving it - I have been spraying inside to eliminate the smell, and checking each day, the instant you open the door - the smell hits you (if you are waiting for it) - then almost as quick - its almost gone (slight linger)
Any thoughts/suggestions - I dont want to go down the ozone route unless it is likely to fix it (which you sort of want to verify the cause prior) - and had read ozone is more for natural smells, not chemical. No idea if it is one or the other, but would have thought if it was natural - over time with all the above that was tried - a natural smell would have gone
(also - to be fair - this is a minor thing (can absolutely live with it and have), its not unpleasant or disgusting, and most people would just think its an interior smell/fragrance) - but with a little bit of ocd - I would like to solve/find the cause (even as much as anything - just to know what it is)
After the car has been sitting (can be as little as a couple of days) - as soon as you open the door - there is a sweet smell (not musty) that hits you straight away, and then dissipates quite quickly but always has a slight underlying smell. Whilst the car is running with or without a/c on - you never notice it. The car can sit for a couple of months between taking it for a run.
Over the years I have done the following
- Replaced radiator - slightest leak from one plastic tank
- Had the afterblow feature enabled by holden
- Verified myself it has the updated a/c drain and its fitted correctly
- Tried numerous incar odor removal sprays - 2 or 3 of the A/C running and leave spray for 15mins.
- A few variants of hand spray odor removal (bowdens, meguiars, turtle wax, glen 20)
- Removed seats, rear firewall panel - wet vac all carpets (found a reasonable coffee? stain from console to under driver seat)
- Fitted cabin filter - as it just had the mesh and no filter (Was fitted AFTER one of the odor removal spray and leave)
- Just replaced the battery (previous one was always on a ctek charger - but definitely had the vent connected - as does the new one I fitted). Havent fitted charger yet
- Left the windows down for weeks inside the garage (but dont want to continue that)
- Checked seat back pockets, door pockets, glovebox for anything
- I dont think i have driven it in anything more than a light shower - and have never felt any water after washing the car, nor seen any telltales of water leaks. (mind you water leaks would be more likely to be mould/musty smell - not sweet)
Despite all the above - the smell still exists.
Whilst it is a sweet smell - its not like a coolant smell (90% of what you read online in general says heater core - and the smell is leaking coolant). I couldnt say 100% it isnt coolant, BUT - it absolutely doesnt smell like leaking coolant (which I am familiar with and can easily pick)
For other reasons - I have had under dash panels off. hoodlining down - basically everything except the main dashboard and HVAC system - and never spotted anything that would be causing the smell.
It is a really odd one - over the last few days since last driving it - I have been spraying inside to eliminate the smell, and checking each day, the instant you open the door - the smell hits you (if you are waiting for it) - then almost as quick - its almost gone (slight linger)
Any thoughts/suggestions - I dont want to go down the ozone route unless it is likely to fix it (which you sort of want to verify the cause prior) - and had read ozone is more for natural smells, not chemical. No idea if it is one or the other, but would have thought if it was natural - over time with all the above that was tried - a natural smell would have gone
(also - to be fair - this is a minor thing (can absolutely live with it and have), its not unpleasant or disgusting, and most people would just think its an interior smell/fragrance) - but with a little bit of ocd - I would like to solve/find the cause (even as much as anything - just to know what it is)
![[paradox]](/data/avatars/m/163/163456.jpg?1520717109){kind=avatar}
