Moldy Smell

[Toy4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toy4x4]

Hi All,

I have a really annoying problem i have been trying to solve for around a month now, i think i might have found the cause but just wanted to see if others have had a similar problem, apologies for the long post I'm just trying to cover off potential things I've already tried.

When we picked up the car earlier this year i noticed it had a wet/damp smell throughout the cabin when i spoke to the dealer he said he'd look into it etc anyway we picked up the car and it was smelling OK heavily masked by air fresheners anyway the smell has never gone away.

*I've checked the in cabin filter and cleaned out the compartment of any debris I've also cleaned the filter by blowing it out with compressed air no smell and not the cause

* I've put glen 20 throughout the aircon system and run the car on recycled air and sprayed the christ out of it - so far has been the best fix to date and it has reduced the smell significantly but not enough!!!

* I've checked engine bay and under the car for any signs where water may possibly enter from - I couldn't see anything obvious

* I had the interior of the car fully steam cleaned - confirmed what i already knew, smell is not in the carpets or upholstery

* I've checked behind the door skins in case the previous owner went for a swim - nothing to find

this weekend i swapped the car with the missus and had another good look at it and i have noticed that on the roof lining on the drivers side there is a white powdery residue and faint water marking which i think might be mold and the cause of the issue? i also noticed the over head light on the drivers side has what looks like water residue inside.

I do not have roof racks installed i have checked the roof gutters and ensured the black removable covers are firmly in place i have also checked the rubber seals along the A pillars all seems to be as it should, i did notice on the top of the windscreen the black sealer they use to fix the glass that there is some wavy bits and im wondering if water is some how getting in there?? i went to investigate further but realized i don't know how to take the roof lining off safely without damaging it.

Can someone please point me in the right direction here on how to do this safely or know of a previous post where this was covered i tried searching but came up with nothing.

Or does anyone know of a way i can test if this might be the cause without having to remove the roof lining - preferable!!!

Also how can i access the light to clean the inside without damaging?

Thanks for reading

Cheers

Michael

[Guest Close Guest]

I'd be heading back to the dealer as it is beginning to sound expensive.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Sounds like you have narrowed the problem. Not sure many will ahve experience your chasing though. If you don't get any replies I would suggest popping in to a dealer with a service department.

Failing that you could start making blue vein cheese...

Good luck

[Guest Close Guest]

Can someone please point me in the right direction here on how to do this safely or know of a previous post where this was covered i tried searching but came up with nothing.

Or does anyone know of a way i can test if this might be the cause without having to remove the roof lining - preferable!!!

Also how can i access the light to clean the inside without damaging?

Thanks for reading

Cheers

Michael

Here's a link to photos of how to remove the map light assembly. Hopefully, from there you can see more of where the leak is
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...Stewy-s-08-D4D

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I presume the overhead light you mention is the one in the panel with the sunglasses holder. To remove that light assembly you just pull it out, grab it at the front and get the fingers of both hands under the edge and pull. There is a tread with pictures somewhere, I'll see if I can find it. Once you have that out you may be able to see a bit more.

When I was just a lad, 35ish years ago my Old man used to repair windscreens, he had an electronic device for checking for leaks, put a receiver on the dash and then run a wand around the outside and it wold detect leaks. It was state of the art back in the day but I imagine any good windscreen place would have similar or better technology nowadays.

Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Got interrupted in the middle of typing that post, looks like amts found the thread I mentioned.

Cheers Andrew

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Ok so I'm a little bit hosed right now but check the area below the windscreen wipers with the bonnet up . There's usually a couple of plastic grills with a big space for water and debris to accumulate , and it does , despite the plastic grills , where the wiper motors are located . get the vacuum cleaner in there and the blower if you have a compressor
And then you need to wash out the area to get rid of the moss or mould that may have accumulated on the metal surfaces . It will also help stop rusting .

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

But if it is on the roof driver's side, I'm thinking that the windshield may have been replaced and isn't properly sealed.

I'll bet $1 that the dealer yard jockey took a high pressure washer to it, and forced a whole bunch of water in there.

Just a guess....

[Toy4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toy4x4]

Thanks for the replies, I won't have a chance too look at the car until the weekend when I have enough light, the man she'd is full of crap so I can't get it in.
Thanks for the link I'll check it out now

[Waipuna Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Waipuna]

I had exactly the same problem.
Took me months to find the smell and eventually the cause of the leak.

Mine turned out to be a poorly sealed replacement windscreen that was installed incorrectly and leaking water down inside the right hand pillar and behind the kick panel into the underlay in the drivers footwell.
The carpet above was dry to touch but the underlay beneath was soaked.

Another windscreen and lift and dry all the carpets and all is good now.

Brett

[Toy4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toy4x4]

UPDATE

I removed the front overhead light assembly as per the link, really had to pull down on it to get it out thought i was going to break it at one stage....anyway poked the camera in between the headliner and roof to have a look around but honestly I wasn't able to see a great deal as i couldn't get enough light in.

I'm getting a new windscreen installed as we get 1 free each year with our insurance so we may as well use it, in the meantime i have straightened the wavy bits mostly at the top of the screen with a sharp blade - On the plus side the smell isn't getting any worse maybe slightly better (optimistic) the downside is i need to eliminate it but how if my other methods i have tried above don't work? suggestions please!!!

I'm 99.95% sure the smell has come from a leak from faulty fitment of the screen for what its worth i will peel back the carpet and have a look and dry any wet spots if affected on the weekend.

Cheers

Michael

[raydes Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close raydes]

You say... I do not have roof racks installed i have checked the roof gutters and ensured the black removable covers are firmly in place. Have you checked the bolts that go through the roof, they have rubber washers on them. Take them out fill the holes with silastic and put the bolts back in .

[Greenie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Greenie]

You say... I do not have roof racks installed i have checked the roof gutters and ensured the black removable covers are firmly in place. Have you checked the bolts that go through the roof, they have rubber washers on them. Take them out fill the holes with silastic and put the bolts back in .

I think raydes is on the money here.

[Toy4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toy4x4]

Honestly I've not checked the washer nor have I checked the bolts, if I fill the holes with silastic will it stop me from installing racks in future as down the track I would like to put on a rooftop tent when the budget allows - sorry not sure how theses are installed as I haven't researched or spoken to anyone about it.

Can I replace the washers perhaps?

I don't want to do something now that will stuff me up later

Cheers

[Guest Close Guest]

If the water is coming through the roof rack bolt holes, then the seatbelts would be wet.

Checking the roof rack bolts is easy. You should see 6 rectangular pieces. Unclip these and then remove the 2 bolt holding the bracket down. Inspect the underside of the bracket for the washer, and check that the tube in the hole is in good shape. If you wish add sikaflex on the outside of the tube. Let the sikaflex set and then bolt the bracket back on. This way you are not bonding the bracket to the roof and it will be easy to install roof racks later.