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old car smell!?!?!?

Old May 3, 2010 | 04:26 AM
  #1  
85climber's Avatar
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Dalton,GA
Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5
Default old car smell!?!?!?

How can I get rid of it in my 85 jeep?
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Old May 3, 2010 | 05:51 AM
  #2  
knoxville's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 114
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From: CHICAGO ILLINOIS
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: LEAKY NOISY 4.0
Default

I got the same problem bro, gonna get a few boxes of arm & hammer baking soda today: Im hopig this absorbs most of the smell. Air fresheners and such either mask the smell or even worse mix in with the original smell. Or depending on what the smell is you can always pull the interior and power wash it........ Good luck
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Old May 3, 2010 | 06:36 AM
  #3  
Willys55's Avatar
Caracticus Potts The Mod
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,298
Likes: 9
From: Hainsville, NJ
Model: Grand Cherokee
Cool

Fabreeze fabric spray, spray on the carpet after you use vacuum it real good. Also Tide or other laundry detergent (power type) sprinkle onto the carpet under the seats.
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Old May 3, 2010 | 07:15 AM
  #4  
4Doors's Avatar
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Posts: 537
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From: NW Florida
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

For starters, an 85 is an "old car", so you're going to have to get drastic if you expect much of a difference. I'd pull the carpet and whatever insulation you may have underneath. Clean the pan really well and then install new padding/carpet. New carpet is surprisingly inexpensive and something I'm looking to do in the near future.
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Old May 3, 2010 | 07:22 AM
  #5  
mike mike's Avatar
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Tucson AZ
Year: 94
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

clean the whole inside with Simple Green. Use a spray bottle and spray the seats, headliner and carpets. You need to kill the mold, fungus, mildew or whatever is making the smell.
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Old May 3, 2010 | 10:09 AM
  #6  
Bustedback's Avatar
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Posts: 12,367
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From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Default

Park a new car inside the old XJ. The smell will always come back.
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Old May 3, 2010 | 10:18 AM
  #7  
4Doors's Avatar
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Posts: 537
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From: NW Florida
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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I forgot about this, but it's amazing how odors will cling to glass (especially cig smoke). Clean all the glass really well.
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Old May 3, 2010 | 12:29 PM
  #8  
scavengerj's Avatar
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 74
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Default

Wasn't there a Seinfeld episode where his car ended up smelling like BO from a parking attendant?? I think he sold the car.
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Old May 3, 2010 | 06:59 PM
  #9  
breakthecycle128's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 150
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From: Marion, IN
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Haha yea there was. George sold the car.
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Old May 3, 2010 | 07:24 PM
  #10  
Flying Jester's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 61
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From: Alaska
Year: 1984
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Chevy 2.8L V6
Default

No, he left the car in a back alley hoping someone would steal it...and they refused to steal it. I had a car like that, with fire-smell...
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Old May 3, 2010 | 07:36 PM
  #11  
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From: Parrish
Year: 1989
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0
Default

Pull the interior, pressure wash it, Dry it using a shopvac and the sun, put some new car smell stuff on the inside, buy one of those little green trees, and replace the interior.
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Old May 4, 2010 | 03:50 AM
  #12  
glundblad's Avatar
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14
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From: Larwill, In
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

If you have the old XJ bucket seats, those covers can come off. You need to take your time though. Remove the metal braces from the covers and throw them in the washing machine on gentle cycle. Dry them in the sun. Be sure to use unscented detergent. Otherwise the smell will last forever (I mean 2 years literly). I have a set of older XJ buckets in my MJ. I ran them through twice. They came out looking new.

We have a front load washing machine with a glass front. You cannot believe the color of that water in the first washing (hence the second try).

But I need to repeat, dont think you are doing yourself a favor by using scented detergent. I will take the smell of old car + junkyard seat cat smell over sour Tide detergent any day.

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Old May 4, 2010 | 04:59 AM
  #13  
96tudor's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 153
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From: Greenville, SC
Year: 1996 two-door SE
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default Find the source

First, you have to find the source and eradicate it. Is it cigarette smoke? Stop smoking in it. Is it an old spare pair of sneakers? Get 'em out. Is it a minute windshield leak allowing water to drip down the firewall into the carpet padding and growing mold? Fix the leak. Is it mold in the ducts? Clean out the drain.

Second, clean or replace as needed. Wash the glass, plastic, and vinyl. Shampoo the carpets and cloth upholstery. Remove or replace the moldy padding.

I had a locker room smell in mine ten years ago. I traced it to rain water coming under the hood between the right fender and cowl, running along the pinch seam, dropping onto the blower motor, seeping past the seal, and then running down the firewall under the carpet padding. I never saw the water or mold until I lifted the carpet from the right floorboard. I fixed the leaked, thoroughly cleaned the affected area, and killed the mold. No more smell.
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