Smelly car (mold?) - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Camaro RS · 02-06-2014, 10:01 PM

My 2007 Buick Lucerne (winter car) smells very strongly like mold when I get in the car first thing and then every time after I have left the car for awhile. My mechanic searched for dead animals but found nothing. I never eat or drink in my cars so that's not the issue. My mechanic replaced the cabin air filter and deodorized the car but it still smells. Does anyone have any advice? I have looked all over the car and I can't see any mold or the source of the smell.

ssrs2lt · 02-07-2014, 02:21 AM

its probably wet carpet, check wheel wells, trunk, or fishing bait under a seat.. hahaha

John E · 02-07-2014, 07:24 AM

Or it could be caused by debris clogging drain for a/c. There is a product, forgive me I cannot remember, that you can spray into the incoming feed. I just Googled and found it. Good luck.

Scalded Dog · 02-07-2014, 10:24 AM

Had this a couple of times in other vehicles: Cured it every time:

Set the AC/ Heat blower on high, and spray Lysol into the air intakes. Turn the air off, shoot it straight down into the vents. Get Lysol everywhere that you can, thoughout the system. Once MIGHT do it, but doing it every day for a week will pretty much assure that anything smelling moldy/ musty in there will die a horrible death.

But, yeah, if it isn't that, I'd go with the wet carpet theory. I see that you live in "USA," so it's hard to guess if you experience humidity, heat, lots of precipitation, or none at all... but if you have the opportunity, a day or two of running a big blower through the interior might correct a wet carpet issue.

And... if anybody ever spills milk, or beer, or pond water in there, well... that'll take a lot of drying.

Finally... buy the little pine tree air fresheners in bulk!

oklapike · 02-13-2014, 07:36 PM

Hmm, I had a similar recurring problem with my 2008 Impala. I think it was actually fairly common with the later w-bodies (Impala, Grand Prix, LaCrosse). Maybe the Lucerne used the same HVAC system? By the way, I found a TSB for your problem: 99-01-39-004D AUG 11, also issued for the 2007 LaCrosse and Impala. IIRC, it had to do with condensation on (in?) the cabin air filter.

Camaro RS · 02-14-2014, 08:55 PM

Thanks for the advice. Smell seems to be gone. Hopefully it won't come back. I had a body shop clean heating unit and then detailed.

ssrs2lt · 02-17-2014, 07:25 AM

glad u got it fixed..

02-06-2014, 10:01 PM	#1
Camaro RS Drives: 2014 Chevy Camaro 1LT RS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: CT Posts: 24 View My Garage	Smelly car (mold?) My 2007 Buick Lucerne (winter car) smells very strongly like mold when I get in the car first thing and then every time after I have left the car for awhile. My mechanic searched for dead animals but found nothing. I never eat or drink in my cars so that's not the issue. My mechanic replaced the cabin air filter and deodorized the car but it still smells. Does anyone have any advice? I have looked all over the car and I can't see any mold or the source of the smell.

02-07-2014, 02:21 AM	#2
ssrs2lt Drives: too many Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: oh va pa ma tx Posts: 3,046	its probably wet carpet, check wheel wells, trunk, or fishing bait under a seat.. hahaha

02-07-2014, 07:24 AM	#3
John E Drives: 2014 2SS rs 6M Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Palm Beach Posts: 168	Or it could be caused by debris clogging drain for a/c. There is a product, forgive me I cannot remember, that you can spray into the incoming feed. I just Googled and found it. Good luck.

02-07-2014, 10:24 AM	#4
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Had this a couple of times in other vehicles: Cured it every time: Set the AC/ Heat blower on high, and spray Lysol into the air intakes. Turn the air off, shoot it straight down into the vents. Get Lysol everywhere that you can, thoughout the system. Once MIGHT do it, but doing it every day for a week will pretty much assure that anything smelling moldy/ musty in there will die a horrible death. But, yeah, if it isn't that, I'd go with the wet carpet theory. I see that you live in "USA," so it's hard to guess if you experience humidity, heat, lots of precipitation, or none at all... but if you have the opportunity, a day or two of running a big blower through the interior might correct a wet carpet issue. And... if anybody ever spills milk, or beer, or pond water in there, well... that'll take a lot of drying. Finally... buy the little pine tree air fresheners in bulk!

02-13-2014, 07:36 PM	#5
oklapike Drives: 2012 45th Anniversary SS Coupe Join Date: May 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 522	Hmm, I had a similar recurring problem with my 2008 Impala. I think it was actually fairly common with the later w-bodies (Impala, Grand Prix, LaCrosse). Maybe the Lucerne used the same HVAC system? By the way, I found a TSB for your problem: 99-01-39-004D AUG 11, also issued for the 2007 LaCrosse and Impala. IIRC, it had to do with condensation on (in?) the cabin air filter.

02-14-2014, 08:55 PM	#6
Camaro RS Drives: 2014 Chevy Camaro 1LT RS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: CT Posts: 24 View My Garage	Thanks for the advice. Smell seems to be gone. Hopefully it won't come back. I had a body shop clean heating unit and then detailed.

02-17-2014, 07:25 AM	#7
ssrs2lt Drives: too many Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: oh va pa ma tx Posts: 3,046	glad u got it fixed..