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Stinky van
#743561 December 07th 2018 2:12 pm
Joined: Aug 2017
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old hand
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old hand
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So it's finally 'rainy' season and my interior has got a leak somewhere, damp carpets in the front.....I think the missing wheel well liner might be the culprit....

ANYWAY, it was already slightly smelly inside, but now it's truly funky. I've been trying to drive/park it in the sun on nice days just to get it to dry out, but that's slow going, first thing in the morning is pretty PHEW

I've hung an air freshener tree in the meantime. What's a good method to eliminate the funk? Carpet sprinkle stuff? Or do I need to go nuclear and remove the carpets?

Re: Stinky van
cornfarmer #743562 December 07th 2018 2:37 pm
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carpal tunnel
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carpal tunnel
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Ohhhhh
I feel your pain.
Having dealt with this a few times in the past; the only real solution I've found is to remove the carpet, pad, etc. FIX the leak. And start over.

Re: Stinky van
cornfarmer #743565 December 07th 2018 3:49 pm
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old hand
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Did you try any kind of suck-out-the-wet super vac, shampoo-poo, extreme interior detail methods first? Trying to avoid ripping up carpet.

Re: Stinky van
cornfarmer #743566 December 07th 2018 4:14 pm
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Fa breeze will do the smell but not the mold N mildew. Pull the carpet.


SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO
ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN
ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS
'93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB
'92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
Re: Stinky van
cornfarmer #743577 December 07th 2018 8:36 pm
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carpal tunnel
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carpal tunnel
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Originally Posted by cornfarmer
Did you try any kind of suck-out-the-wet super vac, shampoo-poo, extreme interior detail methods first? Trying to avoid ripping up carpet.


We tried stuff but we could still smell it.
About four or five years ago, on our GMC, we had a rear side marker light that leaked rain water. We were on the road in Florida for about a week or so and it rained almost everyday we were there. When we got home we discovered the extent of the dampness and the source. Fixed the lights with new gaskets but the smell was still there on a warm day. Bit the bullet. It was mostly the padding we had used.
It was a major PITA but I used the opportunity to make a few changes so it worked out. I swapped to rubber (inert) strips (made from fatigue mats) instead of woven padding to level the floor and used Reflectix with thin panelling under the carpet.
[Linked Image]2013-09-07_15-45-13_150 by Cat Fish, on Flickr

[Linked Image]2013-09-07_15-44-37_60 by Cat Fish, on Flickr

Last edited by CatFish; December 07th 2018 8:38 pm.
Re: Stinky van
cornfarmer #743581 December 08th 2018 10:18 am
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pooh-bah
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pooh-bah
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Embarrassing admission 101: As a kid, I put my Duster into a river. Long story for another time. I survived...lucky.

Pulled the old Plymouth from the river, towed it home. We were leaving for 2 weeks of vacation shortly after, so Dad and I drained all of the fluids, pulled the seats and carpet, and let it sit and dry while we were gone. Seats, carpet, floors all got flushed/washed with the garden hose to remove the river water and muck. A few drops of a carpet and vacuum deodorizer from Hoover IIRC were placed on the carpet...like 4 drops for the whole carpet from this tiny little 1/2 ounce sized bottle. Let it all sit for 2 weeks while we were on vacation.

Came home, refilled fluids, scrubbed everything interior again (door panels, seats, carpets, etc.), Fired the old slant 6 up and drove it for a few more years. Still have it...a retirement resto project. That old car and I went through a lot together...couldn't give up on her.

So I would definitely recommend carpet and soft materials out for a good cleaning and drying, which will also help you ID and fix the leak.

I will note, there's probably a difference between killing the smell from a few hour soak in a funky river, and a long term leak with some sort of mold growth.

Re: Stinky van
cornfarmer #743604 December 08th 2018 9:43 pm
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old hand
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Well I tore into it today, and it was easy enough to get the front section out. The water only seeped about a foot into the cargo area, so I only pulled up a little part of that carpet to see if it will air dry. The fronts are hanging on a fence. It's probably best to lay down a new kit, the OG plush is pretty dingy and smelled a little eu de doggie anyway. Not decided yet.

The leak was coming from the passenger door weather stripping, which didn't have much life in it, so thankfully that's an easy fix.

Re: Stinky van
cornfarmer #743629 December 09th 2018 9:03 pm
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pooh-bah
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pooh-bah
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Glad you found it!

Oh, I also recall us using a product called Ozium on the old carpet as well.

Last edited by Dyno_Dave; December 09th 2018 9:03 pm.
Re: Stinky van
cornfarmer #743649 December 09th 2018 11:21 pm
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 18,286
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Posts: 18,286
Likes: 559
Ozium oh yeah havent heard r seen that stuff in yrs ...Ozium


SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO
ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN
ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS
'93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB
'92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
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