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Posted by: JRust May 1 2014, 09:30 AM

Okay so the saturday of Route 66. I woke up for the drive to find a new smell in my car. Wasn't to bad that day but has gotten progressively worse. I can't find the son of bitch anywhere. Try following my nose & that doesn't work. I cannot pinpoint where the smell is coming from. I've left the top off my car & the windows down in my garage. Figured eventually the decomp would be done. Trying to air it out & it does not seem to be getting any better. I've even had my kids come out to smell & try to find the source. I've taken a mini camera deal to get into all the places I can't see. I've found nothing I've looked under the seats, behind the backpad, in my vents, in the tubes in the long, under the dash, in both trunks, all around the gas tank. I'm at a loss . When the smell is obvious & when driving it circulates the air making it worse. Looking for ideas to find it. I'm not going to smell that going to WCR & back

Posted by: 76-914 May 1 2014, 09:35 AM

throw your dog in there and watch him sniff it out. sounds like you got pranked at Rt66.

Posted by: Eric_Shea May 1 2014, 09:45 AM

Jack tubes?

I'd pull the tank. There's some areas there that are hard to see or, yank the fresh air box and dismantle.

Posted by: boxsterfan May 1 2014, 09:45 AM

Mouse died in the longs?

Posted by: MoveQik May 1 2014, 10:25 AM

I would agree, put the dog on the job. If it was a prank, I would like my name cleared. I only did some "minor" disassembly. No dead animals. That's a bit low.

Posted by: 76-914 May 1 2014, 10:27 AM

On second thought; did you allow Ron in your car then? Some of his farts require scrubbing off.

Posted by: JRust May 1 2014, 10:39 AM

I looked in the longs with my mini camera deal. I also looked all around the gas tank & under. Camera was on of those on the end of like a 3 foot bending tube. So I could get to a lot of places. The dog is a good idea I haven't tried that

Posted by: JRust May 1 2014, 10:44 AM

If I find it was a prank I'm going to somebodies 914 up! Thats been driving me nuts for a month & a half

Posted by: SLITS May 1 2014, 10:44 AM

What does it smell like?

Oh, I didn't get near your car.

It's Wills fault for breaking your jack tube cover.

Did something get spilled on your seat(s)?

Did you do a carry-out you forgot from Jemez Springs?

It's a Subie ... they smell bad anyway!

Posted by: boxsterfan May 1 2014, 10:44 AM

Try pulling of the heater tube hoses that go from the heat exchangers to the longs. Then stick your camera in there...maybe something died inside the heater tubes/mufflers themselves.

Have you looked under the engine tin also? Mouse laying dead on top of the heads...

Pull the rubber plug at the doors and look into the sail panels?

Posted by: JRust May 1 2014, 10:51 AM

My heater tubes are open. I've got a suby & have looked in there. One place I haven't is up by the steering rack. I suppose it could be up in there

Posted by: effutuo101 May 1 2014, 10:56 AM

A long time ago I hit a deer that had already been hit. I had to put my car on a lift and wash the underside. I cannot describe how ripe that car smelled without a little bit of bile coming back up.

Good Luck!

Posted by: SirAndy May 1 2014, 11:11 AM

I had a rodent crawl into the heater tubes and die in there. Smelled for weeks...


That reminds me, i need to cap off those tubes in the engine compartment, they're still open since i'm running headers.

Posted by: 914_teener May 1 2014, 11:12 AM

Pack Rat in the heater tube.....imo

Posted by: Kansas 914 May 1 2014, 11:21 AM

I hit a bird once in my truck - it got stuck behind the grille. I had to take the front grille off to get to it - maggots everywhere - disgusting.

Posted by: Larmo63 May 1 2014, 11:28 AM

Years ago we spilled whole milk inside my dad's old Ford Ranchero. We could never get that smell out of it and he finally sold it.

Posted by: stugray May 1 2014, 11:55 AM

Under the gas tank is an access hole (from beneath the car) big enough for a small animal to crawl inside and die.

Look in there with your camera.

Posted by: ConeDodger May 1 2014, 11:57 AM

Has anyone checked to see if Slits got home

Posted by: bulitt May 1 2014, 12:42 PM

Pull your carpets and see if the smell goes away.

Posted by: ClayPerrine May 1 2014, 01:08 PM

Rattle can paint caps fit perfectly.

Posted by: Elliot Cannon May 1 2014, 02:40 PM

Your car is a victim of the "SUBI CURSE". It will smell bad forever. I just hope it doesn't have an Italian steering wheel.

Posted by: r_towle May 1 2014, 02:46 PM

What is your "curse"?

Posted by: Jeffs9146 May 1 2014, 03:22 PM

I had a rat climb up into the area of the stearing rack and then under the tank! It took me a while to find it!

Posted by: stugray May 1 2014, 04:11 PM

That is exactly the access hole I was talking about.

Posted by: Chris H. May 1 2014, 04:26 PM

It was probably that old SOB Gustafson...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TRUnJ5JlYw

Posted by: 76-914 May 1 2014, 04:49 PM

I think some Movie Star had that same thing happen a few years back. But it wasn't a rat it was a gerbil.

Posted by: Elliot Cannon May 1 2014, 04:55 PM

I am not cursed. I've been blessed.

Posted by: r_towle May 1 2014, 06:04 PM

Healthy digestion and perfect farts.

Posted by: JRust May 1 2014, 06:40 PM

I think it may be in the passenger long. Just weird as I looked int here with my camera & couldn't spot it. I think it is all the way back. Which on the passenger side there is a cap. Which is a little weird as they didn't cap the drivers side. Anyway I am going to open it up & see if that was it. Had a drop of liquid hanging from a drain hole? This hasn't been in the rain. So where could it be coming from. The drop itself didn't stink. When I wiped it with a rag. I did get a smell. So I am pretty sure that is where it is. I will report back when I find out

Posted by: Kansas 914 May 1 2014, 06:42 PM

Posted by: stugray May 1 2014, 06:55 PM

get ready for the scene from Christmas Vacation when Clark is looking in the xmas tree & the squirrel flies out

Posted by: messix May 1 2014, 07:17 PM

up in were the steering rack is ?

I ran over a cat once, was pretty sure I heard it rattle all the through but jacked the car up when I got home just to make sure.

Posted by: Chris H. May 1 2014, 08:06 PM

Aw yeah even better...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muhd05GBjMU


Squirrel!!

Posted by: sixnotfour May 1 2014, 08:20 PM

mice can go from center tunnel to longs...or heater tube to front trunk or interior, down the other side....Mice Stink...........

Posted by: clarkcou May 1 2014, 08:58 PM

When I dismantled my car I found 5 squirrel nests fairly quickly. But I found a 6th on top of the glovebox.

Posted by: Chris H. May 2 2014, 07:27 AM

Just realized I'm probably in for it...played Mr. YouTube funnyman and I'm installing a larger Subie engine, plus/therefore my heater tubes have been WOT all winter. And it's been a really cold one. Better cap those up stat. Or maybe not that might trap a live animal in there... aaaaaahhhhh! SUBIE CURSE!!!!

Posted by: rgalla9146 May 2 2014, 07:38 AM

Have you showered yet this year ?

Posted by: Chris H. May 2 2014, 08:12 AM

I have, yes . Thanks for checking though.

Posted by: r_towle May 2 2014, 04:13 PM

Curious,

Is there a standard bolt in solution for heat in a Subaru conversion?

For the smell....
Hate to say this, but a rodent can crawl in the longs and all the way up to the air box for a nice winter nest....
Can't see that one till you remove it and open it up.....

Rich

Posted by: 914_teener May 2 2014, 04:52 PM

It.s a Facehugger....keep a flamethrower near by......

Posted by: Socalandy May 2 2014, 07:32 PM

The Rat in mine didn't smell at all. Maybe because it was mummified?


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Posted by: 914_teener May 2 2014, 07:40 PM

Kinda even looks like a Facehugger!

Posted by: JRust May 8 2014, 09:59 AM

It was definitely in the passenger long heater tube. Of course that was the one that had a cap welded over it. Pain in the ass to get at. I was able to barely get in there with my drill. Drilled a 3/4" hole as that was the biggest metal bit I had. Pulled the bit out & it was packed with shit. The hole was instantly covered with the sludge. I don't know what the hell it was. The fluid/gunk in there was just so nasty. Had a hard time not puking. The picture below is after I had drilled a couple holes. Then used a pipe to make a big enough hole to get my shop vac hose in there. So this pic is after I had vacuumed what I could. That shit you see in there was completely packed in the tube


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Posted by: Kansas 914 May 8 2014, 10:02 AM

Posted by: 76-914 May 8 2014, 10:03 AM

Posted by: Moneypit May 8 2014, 10:11 AM

So, any bones? You thinking this was a living thing at one point, or food?

Posted by: Mike Bellis May 8 2014, 10:27 AM

Gross!

Posted by: 7TPorsh May 8 2014, 10:37 AM

how does that happen overnight?

Posted by: 914_3.0 May 8 2014, 11:28 AM

Used to mix bands in the Midwest back in the '80s. One night after a show in Kansas, the lighting guy bought some damn anchovies after the gig as we left town for the cross-state drive home. He managed to drop some of them down in the door well of that E-150 van.

That was early in the summer, and we could never find those things. The smell was ridiculous. I'm still chewing his backside out for it today.

Posted by: bandjoey May 8 2014, 12:53 PM

Captain Kirk stand alone in the transporter room, communicator in hand. "Spock? Spock? Are you on the planet yet?"

Posted by: JRust May 8 2014, 01:51 PM

It wasn't overnight. The smell did just start one day. Then has gotten progressively worse. Route 66 was over a month ago. I don't know it is but had to have been bigger than just a mouse. For all the guey shit in there it had to be bigger. Unless it was just packing shit in there. Then it died mixed with all the shit he put in there? Thats what makes the most sense anyway. Still need to buy some PVC & step down to a smaller tube to really get all that crap out of there. I think my shop vac may just need recycled after

Then I'll need to spray some por15 or something in there. It's no wonder I couldn't find it. I can't believe how nasty that shit is. I can literally still smell it & I am an hour away from my house

Posted by: relentless May 8 2014, 01:59 PM

Once you get all you can out of the long, you might pick up some Fabreze products. They work pretty well at eliminating smells, not just adding a perfume to cover up smells.

Posted by: Kansas 914 May 8 2014, 02:02 PM

I think you just need to sell the car..........

I will start the bidding at $100 because I like you!

Posted by: Ferg May 8 2014, 02:05 PM

U have any pets? (cats or dogs?)

Wondering if something was storing stolen pet food there, it didn't stink until it got "wet" on your road trip to Rt 66

Posted by: sixnotfour May 8 2014, 05:30 PM

flush it with water hose...then some simple green , then think about removing the heater tube... people say you can smash and pull em through the two inner access openings..

Posted by: Kirmizi May 8 2014, 07:57 PM

I don't think you want any hint of that aroma left in there.

Posted by: jim_hoyland May 8 2014, 08:08 PM

Be sure to save a sample in a jar.

Posted by: JRust May 9 2014, 11:43 AM

Made a little attachment from my shop vac to make a smaller tube. With the smaller tube I was able to get in there better. Although a lot of it had already dissipated. Vacuumed out what was left. Sprayed a little cleaner in there & left it open to air out. Tomorrow I plan to jack up the front end. Run water from the front down through to hopefully get it completely flushed. Then get some heat in there to dry it out. After that I'll get some por 15 or something along those lines to make sure I kill any rust that may have started. It is already so much better smell wise. My trip to WCR should be without the horrible stench

Posted by: effutuo101 May 9 2014, 11:51 AM

They make a spray to coat the inside of tubes. You can also get about a 4 foot extension for the can. Check with your local paint shop. It is supposed to be "a spray on PoR" product.

Posted by: r_towle May 9 2014, 11:52 AM

have you looked in from the front of that tube behind the speaker?

That is nasty...

Posted by: Kansas 914 May 9 2014, 12:03 PM

I think the varmint is living in the fresh air box and making the "long" trip down the tubes to the end and using that as the bathroom... So you have just uncovered the toilet not the bedroom.

Posted by: Moneypit May 9 2014, 12:09 PM

Peanut butter sandwich, anyone?

Posted by: sixnotfour May 9 2014, 01:22 PM

DAPO

Posted by: JRust May 9 2014, 01:31 PM

I did actually. I used a small camera on an adjustable end to see in the tube.I couldn't see it from that end

Posted by: r_towle May 9 2014, 04:51 PM

Are you using the heater tubes?

If not, I might suggest you use a drill bit, on an extension, possibly a custom rig that would totally shred that paper tube and shred it.
Then vacuum it out of there...

Posted by: Mike Bellis May 10 2014, 11:39 AM

You could get a water jet fitting on a garden hose that aims backwards. Stuff it in the hole and turn on the water. Then slowly drag the hose out. It will clean it out...

Posted by: tomeric914 May 10 2014, 08:03 PM

POR15 is a rust encapsulator that needs proper surface preparation to adhere well. Probably shouldn't use that there.

Eastwood makes an undercoating gun with various spray heads that works well. Undercoating from the inside may help but you may be further ahead to carefully cut a window in the long and pull everything out.

Posted by: Katmanken May 10 2014, 09:26 PM

And now we know what happened to Jimmy Hoffa....

Posted by: JRust May 12 2014, 10:20 AM

So saturday I did this. Put a high pressure nossle on my hose. Fed it down the long from behind the passenger side speaker. Turned it on & let it run a bit. The slowly pulled it back out. It is much better. I no longer smell it in the car. I also fed some oil stuff my wife makes called Purify. It kills bacteria & has a nice smell to it. I can still smell a bit outside but could be from gunk that got sprayed back on the motor & engine bay. Shouldn't be to much there but I'll jack it up & spray the area out good. I drove it to work today & just being out in the open air. I think I have it basically gone. So my trip to WCR should be a pleasant stench free ride

Posted by: Kansas 914 May 12 2014, 10:27 AM

That is great news - enjoy the ride to the event!