After perusing all of the threads that I could find on odiferous interiors I have collected some of the antidotes...

1. A lot of folks find their interiors have a foul odor.
2. Many say they notice no odor.
3. And some even enjoy the odor.

Causes include...

1. The adhesives and material used in the manufacture of European vehicles.
2. Odor build-up in the AC evaporator/ducts.
3. Moisture leaking onto the carpet.

Solutions include...

1. Car bombs.
2. Leaving the windows open.
3. Leaving the fan switch on the first detente.
4. Shampooing the carpet.
5. Changing the cabin air filter, preferably to an activated charcoal version.
6. Cleaning the drains under the plastic cowl under the wiper arms.
7. Clean and deodorize the AC system.
8. Turning off the recirculate on the AC before switching off the car.
9. Shut off the A/C and fan about 5 minutes before switching off the car.
10. Spray Lysol in the recirc vents.
11. Turn off the AC compressor(middle button), but leave the FAN running until the car is turned off.
12. turn off the engine and then press the "REST" button (lower center on a/c control) The fan will come back on at a low speed and help dry the extra condensation that helps feed the bacterias and molds.
13. pulling back the trunk liner and using fabric spray.
14. use a neutralizer like Bissell
15. oxy clean the carpets
16. coffee grinds in an open bowl under the seats
17. fabric softener sheets in the floor boards and trunk
18. ozone

I purchased my '05 with 18K back in June. It stunk then and it stinks now. I am the third, over 50 owner and it has lived it life in the dry climates of Colorado and New Mexico.
Crayons seems to be the most often used description of the odor. It has been a while since I have smelled a crayon and have only a vague memory of their scent. I have been driving for 38 years and cannot describe what I smell. It is not dog, vomit, coffee or anything else that I have smelled in vehicles. My '77 BMW 630 csi has a fairly typical old car scent. I prefer not to mask odors and would like to neutralize the odor.


-Leaving the windows open on a breezy day dis not work.
-It is winter so I assume that I can rule out the AC.
-The filter smells like the rest of the interior. I just purchased a charcoal version but hesitate to install it until I remove the odor.
-I removed the floor mats and the undersides stink.
-I have used the biological pet oder neutralizers/bio-enzymes purchased at PetSmart on a house subfloor with 0% results.
-I hesitate to go to the trouble of removing the seats in order to clean the carpet and still have the seats stink which leaves me with...

Ozone. Has anyone had any success? I called a local detail shop and they do not perform an ozone treatment. I saw a suggestion tho use the Uvonair 1000 Junior on a detailers website. The $185 price seems reasonable especially considering I could also use it in the future.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31NBH7MSXZL.jpg

 

I used to work for a dealership that sold RVs. Back in the late 70's and 80's the formaldehyde odors were so strong in new units that it would burn your eyes and literally take your breath away. This was in Phoenix and if they were left closed up during the summer you could not go inside until they were left open for a while. A company used to come in and run deionizer machines in the coaches. The machines ran for several hours and you could not go inside for several more hours. They completely eliminated all odors, in fact it was odd to go into one and experience no odors, even plastic shower curtains were odorless. The company who did this claimed none of the odors would return but over time new odors would occur. I don't recall odors returning. Don't know if those machines would even be legal today, and the use of formaldehyde in adhesives is not allowed at such high levels today. So maybe the process you can have done would be effective.

 

I got my 04 in July with 5,xxx miles on it. When I first took the test drive I commented on how bad it stunk. When I brought it home, everyone agreed. After a couple months of daily use, either it is gone, or I don't notice it any longer, at all. Probably a combination of both, but if it is still there it is very faint. My wife doesn't comment on it when she rides in it with me either.

 

Congratulations on your odor disappearing! I can only hope...

So far, I have done nothing but remove the filter and floor mats. How necessary are they. I seldom drive in dusty conditions.

Speaking of cabin filters, I have owned Fords, Oldsmobile, Chevy, Dodge, Plymouth and even and AMC and had never heard of them. The crossfire is the newest vehicle that I have purchased and did not expect it to have an odor.

 

I removed my filter, said "eh, it ain't that bad", sniffed it, and put it back in. I'm sure it is original.

 

For those who say it smells like crayons.....

Do this procedure on every other vehicle you own.

1) Drop a few crayons into the defroster duct.
2) Run vehicle with the defroster on full blast and the windows up. Usually 3-4 hours. (In warm climates you can substitute a box of crayons left on the dash on sunny days for 3-4 hours.)
3) Every time you drive the car for the next two weeks leave the defroster on high. (Warm climates keep the box of crayons on the dash.)
4) Wait several weeks for the full effect.

When you get back in the Crossfire to drive it you won't even notice the difference in smell.

 

Nice, worth a chuckle.

 

You have to shampoo the carpets, odor bomb then replace the cabin filter.
I pulled the seats in mine to shampoo the carpets.

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...een-stink.html

 

Always use an activated charcoal filter, they cost more and the can absorb doors as that is what they are for. The other filters just collect dust and pollen. Use the charcoal filter on recirculate for the best use. Especially if you tend to be flatulent.

 

The last person that flatulated in my roadster got put out on the curb and had to walk home ......

 

The odor is only in the carpet and not the seats?

 

The slight odor that I had in the car when we first purchased it was cured by fixing the minor leaks in the valve covers/breather covers, and changing to the charcoal cabin filter. Still have the slight crayon aroma on a real hot day; but not terribly bad.

 

Personally, I like it.
It reminds me that this car speaks English but with a distinct German accent.

 

So, basically, you are saying that Germans stink ?

I am of German descent and I try to take a shower at least once a week ......

 

No, you did.

I said I liked the smell.

 

Bangers and kraut? Hmm, maybe that is the smell!

 

Top ten funniest things I've read on a forum. LOL

 

A 3rd owner car with 18k miles on it? I will honestly never understand my fellow Crossfire drivers....lol. I bought my SRT-6 with 42k on it (thinking THAT was low mileage) back in March '14 and it's up to 57k now with it being my 2nd car + working from home full time! Anywho, this is irrelivant to the topic at hand.

Like most, my Crossfire has the beloved "melted crayon" smell too. To be honest, it doesn't particularly bother me that much. I have pretty much to terms with the fact that this is just how Crossfire's smell. I have tried a few of the solutions you mentioned above, however I can confidently state that all of those solutions will be temporary. The car bombs I have done mask the scent for maybe 24 to 48 hours tops. I usually use Febreze Auto spray on my carpets, seats & rear hatch area every time I wash my car. It's not that I mind the melted crayon smell, I just prefer a "fresher" smell if possible. Again, the Febreze doesn't rid the car of the smell, but it does well in hiding the smell for a small period of time.

 

A friend suggested charcoal so I will open a bag and place inside tomorrow. I have been curious what a melted crayon smells like...perhaps I should light them first?

 

That would certainly qualify as activated charcoal.