iv noticed a funny smell on the inside of my 200 tdi for the last week and decided to investigate it yesterday . to me it smells like rotting meat so i thought perhaps a mouse had crawled up inside and died or something . after taking the roof lining out and most of the plastic panels inside i traced the smell to the pillar that runs up behind the passenger side rear door ( the one that goes from the wheel arch to the roof and contains the small bolts for the outside plastic trim behind the door ). i didnt find anything dead in there but i did notice a patch of rust at the bottom of the pillar that poked a hole thro to the wheel arch . iv tried loads of smelly sprays etc down there but it still smells .
i dont think its a damp smell but the alpine windows were leaking last week untill i siliconed them up and the boot floor sound proofing was soaked but i have sinced removed that and the carpet to trace the smell .
anyone else had anything similair or can give me some advice id be gratefull cos the kids are really starting to complain now

Did you use sealer with anti mould stuff in it? .......... if not might be that going mouldy perhaps??

This will sound daft but i assume you've checked all the seat pockets, under the seats etc for manky mackky d's leftovers etc .......... i know what my kids are like sometimes

CaptainChaos said:

Did you use sealer with anti mould stuff in it? .......... if not might be that going mouldy perhaps??

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i used black flexible bathroom sealant so i can only assume its got anti mould stuff in it

[/quote]This will sound daft but i assume you've checked all the seat pockets, under the seats etc for manky mackky d's leftovers etc .......... i know what my kids are like sometimes [/quote]

thats the first thing i checked cos it wouldnt be the first time id have found a mcnugget under the seat

this may sound stupid, but try using vanilla essence, added with water in a spray bottle. We used it when i was on my ski season to take the smell of sick out of car when on the mountain roads. Soak all the car bits in it, like seats, carpers etc. You will probably have to do it a few times though until the smell goes. It also makes you hungry everytime you go in the car.

Hope this helps

Also lemons

Even covers the smell of tomcat wee

I like the sound of that vanilla majigger

yeah its really good stuff, we used to carry a little bottle and give the landy a little spray before the clients got in. a hint of lemon might be a nice mix too!!! i will have to try that.

robpenrose said:

this may sound stupid, but try using vanilla essence, added with water in a spray bottle. We used it when i was on my ski season to take the smell of sick out of car when on the mountain roads. Soak all the car bits in it, like seats, carpers etc. You will probably have to do it a few times though until the smell goes. It also makes you hungry everytime you go in the car.

Hope this helps

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Now there's a reply that begs further questioning!

Does your car have air con? If so to much use of the recirculate option will make your car stink. This is bacteria getting into the furnishings and thriving.

You may have heard people say the air con has given them a sore throat, it is more likely to be the amount of bacteria in the car.

If it is really bad you can buy an anti bacteria agent in a can, you open it like a can of coke and place it on the floor behind the front seats, now start the engine and put the aircon on recirc and the fan on full with the windows shut and then GET OUT OF THE CAR.

Leave it for however long the instructions say and all will be well and smelling nice and sweet.

Of course if you do not have air con and you have friends who like to have a practical joke now and then, you might want to check the vent under the bonnet, a bag of mussels stuck in there or a fish from the market chucks up lovely and can be a b**stard to get the stink out of the car.

Not that I would do anything like that,

regards

Dave