Bad smell in cabin

BIRMINGHAMS1

MEMBER
2003 LEXUS IS 200
118,000 MILES

I have a 2003 lexus IS200 which has developed a really bad smell in the cabin. It smells like something has died in there but I have vacuumed the whole car out and found nothing rotting. I haved replaced the cabin filter behind the glove box and the smell seems worse than before. Any ideas as to what may be causing it? I heard cleaning out a blocked pipe on the aircon could resolve it but I didnt note down what pipe or where it was. The aircon is not running as I had a pulley problem (pulley bracket snapped) so the pulley and belt are removed. Any ideas as to what the problem may be? Any suggestions will be gratefully received as the other half is giving me ear ache about it.

5 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

There is a possibility a rodent or small animal has gotten to the air vents died there leaving the smell.

Check the blower motor compartment. Remove the blower motor to check.

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Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 AT 12:48 PM

BIRMINGHAMS1

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3 POSTS

Thanks for your suggestion, I will have a look at the blower this weekend and report my findings following that.

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Friday, May 24th, 2013 AT 12:12 AM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

You're welcome.

Good luck

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Sunday, May 26th, 2013 AT 6:12 PM

BIRMINGHAMS1

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thank you for your suggetsions but I have found the problem. It was water in the void, right hand side of the boot. It must have been there a long time! Removed the water, disinfected the void, job done. Thank you for your help, even if none of it was the cause of the. Smell.

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Friday, May 31st, 2013 AT 6:47 AM

KHLOW2008