Getting dead rodent funk out of cars

[StupidBird]

Strangely coincidental to the dead bodies thread, my truck got dead mice. Apparently a couple weeks ago multiple mice got into the a/c system of my Toyota Tundra while I was home ill, and expired. The thing was bad. Then DS and I got in to drive me to the doc's, turned on the a/c high, and whappapapapapap an explosion of dead nasty odor.

I still can't get it out of my mind. Friday I felt well enough to drive it to the mechanic's; that was quite an event itself. I must have looked pretty bad (I sure felt queasy) because the techs had me sit down before writing up the work order.

They found the remnants of three mice in the blower fan, housing and various places. I did not ask for details, although later I wondered if they counted up body parts or what. I was assured they got it all. So today I picked up the truck and the smell reduced to OMG wet dog that had rolled in a fishy tidal pool and slept in the cab for a week. Directly from there to the auto detailer to get the entire interior steam cleaned. Now its a bearable wet dog smell - but then I haven't shut the windows yet.

I googled this subject at length. I've set fresh coffee grounds and fresh activated charcoal (for fish tanks) in there, and have it all open wide to dry and air out.

There is not a word strong enough to describe that smell though. I do not wish that on anyone. My solemn sympathies to any of you having to deal with that.

SO, now what? I'm sure the smell will linger for a long time.
AND how do I make sure this never ever happens again?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

YUCK!! The best odor neutralizer I have ever found is Hydro-sol lemon scent. It will eliminate dead skunk smell. We used it in Pest Control when I worked there years ago. We got it at a janitorial supply store. I hope they still make it for your sake. but if not, find odor neutralizers on internet. Good Luck!

 

[sourland]

I sure hope that someone has a solution. The same thing happened to my wife's old car a long time ago. Nothing we did completely took the smell away. We sold the car to a college kid for about half it's value. He said it was a better car than he could afford and that he would deal with the stink.

Still remember the smell when we turned the heat up.

 

[AllTheseCreatures]

I would attack this problem from two sides. Are you SURE they cleaned the system after they removed all the body parts? You can buy an A/C cleaner you spray into the intake and it is supposed to take care of any bacteria or mold that may be contributing to the ongoing smell.

For the smell that is clinging to the interior, I would try shaking a generous layer of baking soda all over everything and leaving it there for a day then vacuuming it all up. I have a product called "Kids and Pets" that neutralizes odors, it works great. I have used vinegar to neutralize odors with great success, spray it generously and let it evaporate (open all the windows). The charcoal is a great idea, but you're going to need MORE. Try a big bag of BBQ briquettes (not the kind soaked in lighter fluid).

Finish with Vanilla Lysol.

Also, hotels use ozone machines to help clean offensive odors in their rooms, maybe you can find one of those to rent or borrow?

 

[NellaBean]

OMG, I feel your pain. My pretty little firebird had a nasty stank going on recently...........really nasty stank........and the air conditioner was very loud on high. I ended up letting it sit a couple months until my dad could come for a visit.....he and the bro-in-law dismantled the air conditioner and found a mouse in the fan thing (gross, I saw pix) and another mouse in the dash somewhere. Momma and baby, yuuuuuuuuuuuck. They removed the dead bodies and parts......blech........cleaned it out really well (not sure how) and then put some good air freshners in the car. It smelled perfectly good. It may take time but will smell normal again eventually. Sigh.

 

[NellaBean]

oh btw, my guess is that the mice got in and died on their own. You turning the air on simply, uh...."moved" their bodies, not destroyed them. I would guess they were still mouse shaped and just smelly. In really gross terms, the one mouse in my fan area was basically plastered INTO the blades of the fan. really gross.

by the time my car got worked on, the remains were all dried up and "old". Not really smelly anymore anyways. It will just take some time, assuming they got everything out.

 

[morelcabin]

I second the baking soda idea,,,sprinkle it in thick, it will remove almost any odour.


My sister and BIL own a fine dining restaraunt. One day BIL went and picked up a box of fresh fish, and forgot it in the trunk...for about a week...in the summer...they had to sell the car...too bad, it was a really nice beamer, less than a year old.

 

[1_FnkyFrm]

You can prevent this by closing your fresh air vent before you get out.

 

[StupidBird]

Quote:
Are you meaning, to switch to recirculate? The choices of settings in my 2000 toyota are a/c on or off, recirculate on or off, fan off or various speeds, temp in red for hot or blue for cold. Now in that 54 ford truck we used to have, it was just pull out the knob that opened up the big ol' vent scoop in the cowling

and watch out for flying spiders being blown through. Now there was a vehicle I understood (that and my 66 bel air).

I really don't want this to happen ever, to any vehicle.

The truck is drying and airing out today with all the doors open, seats lifted back...its a bit less humid today, best hopes...

 

[charmed one]

This exact thing happen to my dad's van. We ended up taking it to a mechanic who had to get into the ventilation system and take out the rat/mouse nest. The van had sat all winter in the garage and they nested there. No dead mice. Just bedding. The smell was horrendous! Nothing will work until you get whatever is making the smell..OUT. We tried everything! Mechanic wasn't cheap either. Cost my dad over $300.00. But it was well worth it. We couldn't drive the van at all.

Sorry......