Something died in my car.....

[MamaRBH]

Okay, Mamas...

This morning myself and my three babes get in the car and are BLOWN away by the horrendous smell. I drove directly to the car wash and removed everything from the car...vacumed it all again (I just did it yesterday!) and there was nothing to be found.

Then it occurred to me that the smell got worse as we drove and it was MUCH stronger up front.... the air vents. A-ha.

We searched under the hood with a flash light and can't find the critter. I'm thinking a mouse??!!

Anyone dealt with this before?? Do I have to wait until it literally rots away and stops smelling?


(Oh, and to top it all off, my animal loving vegetarian DD and my middle DD with a sensory disorder are so disturbed that they are refusing to go near the vehicle. )

[llamalluv]

If it is in the vents, you will need to take the dashboard apart.

[ledzepplon]

I'd take it to the mechanic and have them check for a dead mouse. (Unless you're really handy and have a strong stomach.) My mom just had the same problem--some mice had taken up residence in the air filter.

[njsummer01]

Hugs to you, Mama. What a hassle to deal with!

I have no advice, but had to post because the exact same thing happened to me last fall. But when we opened the hood we found a dead rat on the radiator!

[MamaRBH]

Blech...still smells...

We took it in to the dealership/mechanic today and they couldn't find the animal - it must be REALLY inside. They sure could smell it, though.

I'm hoping these next few days of 90+ degree weather help speed up the decomposition process. (I can't believe I'm saying that)

[amnda527]

Originally Posted by MamaRBH

Blech...still smells...

We took it in to the dealership/mechanic today and they couldn't find the animal - it must be REALLY inside. They sure could smell it, though.

I'm hoping these next few days of 90+ degree weather help speed up the decomposition process. (I can't believe I'm saying that)

uhm, ok....:Puke

I would take it to a different mechanic. Dh is a mechanic and he gets this quite often. They should be able to find it! Do you know where this guy looked? Did they just look around with a flashlight?

[MamaRBH]

Good question.... DH took it... and he's friends with the guys so knowing them they were all so busy joking about it, he failed to suggest they be truly thorough.

He just took it to get gas (holy cow, $4.69 a gallon!!) and came in saying he thinks the smell is getting better.

Right..... I'm with you amnda527 - :Puke

I should mention that allthough the powers of Tea Tree Oil are mighty.....they cannot defeat the smell of a dead animal. Found that out the hard way.... no one else should... it's horrid.

[Peony]

I'm laughing, only because I feel your pain! We found our's in the air filter.... and once wedged under a seat way up there.... Ahhh, the joys of living in mice country.

[amnda527]

Originally Posted by MamaRBH

Good question.... DH took it... and he's friends with the guys so knowing them they were all so busy joking about it, he failed to suggest they be truly thorough.

He just took it to get gas (holy cow, $4.69 a gallon!!) and came in saying he thinks the smell is getting better.

Right..... I'm with you amnda527 - :Puke

I should mention that allthough the powers of Tea Tree Oil are mighty.....they cannot defeat the smell of a dead animal. Found that out the hard way.... no one else should... it's horrid.

lol oh the mighty powers of tea tree oil! I wish you luck with getting rid of the thing.

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by MamaRBH

Blech...still smells...

We took it in to the dealership/mechanic today and they couldn't find the animal - it must be REALLY inside. They sure could smell it, though.

I'm hoping these next few days of 90+ degree weather help speed up the decomposition process. (I can't believe I'm saying that)

Have you checked in the cabin air filter? In my Corolla you have to remove the glove box (easy to do, it's just one screw)