Really bad smell - Any ideas?

[BVF]

I've got the same sort of problem. Mine smells like rotting meat! It only smells when the car has been standing for a long period, overnight or after work. Any ideas folks? Its really quite revolting!

[beachy]

Mine is still not fixed either. I have totally run out of ideas. Only one left is to strip the car! I definately do not want to start doing that without knowing where to look!

[Road Rocket]

I don't know whether it will cure the smell on a long term basis but if you put a heap of charcoal spread out on a newspaper on any seat and leave it overnight this might cure the smell - at least for a short time. Also scrub clean (and lift up) all your fabric mats, including the boot, with a weak disinfectant and bicarbonate of soda. It's possible something has been spilt in the past. Milk for instance leaves a horrible smell which can last for quite some time.

I doubt whether it has anything to do with the air conditioning as this would only be present when you switch the air-con on. If it's been recharged only a short time ago it should be okay.

By the way, if anybody wants to recharge their air-con, Kwik Fit are doing it during the winter for £25 (almost half price) And don't worry, it's all done by an automated machine so you won't have to depend on the expertise of a Kwik Fit fitter!

[fisheggs]

Have a good look around the engine bay by removing all plastic covers including the scuttle cover.

You are looking for traces of rat poo. I've seen this on at least 3 cars when I was a VAG tech. 2 involved new looms and 1 was a new ribbed belt complete with minced rat. NOT nice!

Have a good sniff around

[Tony2]

Iv had a mk4 with the same problem it turned out that the run off's where the wipers are can get blacked with leaves and things this can cause the water to run into the footwells and trim behind the dash.....

It stunk for ages then i cleaned these out and its fine now


Anthony

[Daz-1982]

is the rear washer workin !!!

Just had the same problem with my car the rear washer was working but it was poor i found out that the water was running down the inside of the car and was not runnin in to any visible areas ??