every time it rains, and it has been awhile around here, the car smells bad inside. strange smell, not awful, but hard to describe. only when it rains. doesn't smell like mold or even like wetness. want to "freshen the air" but I'm not about to buy a k-mart pine tree hang from your rearview mirror type of air freshener. anyone have any suggestions that work?
Years ago, I had a Honda Civic that had the same issue as you. I only had the car for a few months (I bought it brand new), and when it rained, it stunk inside. I thought nothing of it at first, thinking it was just the typical musty smell everyone smells after a wet day, but then I checked under my floor mats after a short drive in the rain. When I lifted up my front passenger side floor mat, the interior carpet was damp. Turns out, there was a small hole from underneath the car that was allowing water to enter in the cabin, specifically underneath the passenger floor mat. The damp carpet was causing the foul order.
Anyways, Honda patched up the hole, replaced the carpet, and threw in a new floor mat. If I were you, I'd check for any signs of moisture inside the cabin.
You may wish to carefully check each gasket and seal at the doors, sunroof and trunk. Even a small tear or crack could be enough. Failing that check the seals for the windshield and rear window-but I'd start there if the glass has been replaced.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
__________________ If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Meister Eckhart
When you learn from your own mistakes, that's experience.
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..of the cabin air filter seems to be in order. It's easy to do. I suspect the leak just might be the extra moisture in the air being soaked in the filter and keeping things aromatically funky till it dries out.
Check the battery box too. Battery acid smells pretty funky when in contact with other materials.
good tips, thank you. I haven't noticed any wetness in the car, and the smell can happen even if it is not being driven in the rain, just sitting there. I like the idea about the air filter based on the symptoms, but I'll check everything else because as I have learned, as soon as you assume it is one thing it probably is something else, which you realize AFTER you have replaced the first thing!
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