why my 99 camry stinks? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

fengleim · 02-10-2009, 01:47 AM

I have a 1999 camry xlev6, and I took care of it.

in the winter, it started smelling. I can not figure out what to change
I do not put food in cabin/trunk, I do not have crap inside except a couple of books, notepad,

can anyone tell me what is wrong ?

ONE_to_HATE · 02-10-2009, 01:53 AM

molds in ur vent.

sr5punk · 02-10-2009, 03:11 AM

check for smell in the trunk too. your seal could have gone bad and leaked rain in. always happened in my corolla. so smelly.

bigbird · 02-10-2009, 04:28 AM

whats the smell? dead animal? mold? eggs?

skuttduck · 02-10-2009, 07:10 AM

Anyone have a suggestion for mildew smell that has happened from water getting under the front floor mats?

I didn't realize after I used my bissel machine that the padding was still a bit damp. I picked up the mats, and ran my fingers through it and yuck.. Mildew.

I didn't think it would do that in the winter, but sure enough it did.

Chris Crash · 02-10-2009, 07:16 AM

Take the carpet out and either let it dry outside, or if it's not gonna dry out, just rip the padding off. You really don't need the padding. I did it on my Camry this summer and the smell has been gone since!

Fruitbat · 02-10-2009, 08:23 AM

I'd say wait for a hot day (might be a while depending on where you live), steam clean with HOT HOT HOT water and leave the windows down and flootmats out for 6-10 hours while the car bakes in the sun - that should be enough to dry it all up. Steamcleaning will probably suck up most of the excess water.

Unless you have any other reason to rip out the carpet, it's a pretty big PITA.

***PhatRoyale*** · 02-10-2009, 10:04 AM

time for a full interior cleaning and detailing.

skuttduck · 02-10-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fruitbat

I'd say wait for a hot day (might be a while depending on where you live), steam clean with HOT HOT HOT water and leave the windows down and flootmats out for 6-10 hours while the car bakes in the sun - that should be enough to dry it all up. Steamcleaning will probably suck up most of the excess water.

Unless you have any other reason to rip out the carpet, it's a pretty big PITA.

I probably shouldn't have used my Bissel cleaner when I got the new floor mats, but the 9 years of dirt on my floor really bothered me. I decided I would try to do that with my simple green and water.

I didn't realize it was still damp when I put the mats back down.

I even made a burn hole on the passenger side, as my halogen work light fell over and burnt through.

I have the all weather floor mats up and it is sitting in the parking garage, with a window cracked. It is supposed to be 60f, or 15c here today.