Funny Smell

[Rice_slayer]

Hi, Just bought a 1992 Explorer sport, runs great but the interior smells horrible. I steamed cleaned the entire thing really well and it still smells. Heck, i tried the old baking soda trick and nothing! Its when I store it, not when its running, smells kinda like a stale gas, not sweet like anti-freeze. Any Ideas?

 

[marragtop]

Check for a gas leak on top of the tank. The Gen I Explorers are known for the fittings on the fuel pump rusting out which can cause a vapor or actual leak of fuel. Just a thought.

 

[seth247]

easiest way to get to the top of the tank is to cut out the floor under the rear seat. There are pictures if what I'm talking about some where around here.

Plus it makes it easier to change the fuel pump when it eventually goes out.

 

[Willard]

It's a bad idea if you're leaking gas though...

 

[Rice_slayer]

I could only get to parts of the tank from underneath, but it seems dry. I sprayed the vents down with air freshner and it made the smell die alot, I think its something in the vent from not being used for a long time...

 

[JTX]

COuld have rats, sounds crazy but i've seen it before. lol

 

[Rice_slayer]

Lol true, my mustang had a mouse nest in it when we bought it Where could it be if it has one? heater core?

 

[JTX]

Ya up around the heater core maybe. You may try washing the engine bay real good.

 

[beetlebz]

did you gunk it and not spray it down thoroughly enough? I just gunked yesterday and the smell of diesel made me nauseous all day yesterday lol

seth, thats a brilliant idea. I might consider doing that now just to make fuel pump changes down the road easier!

 

[seth247]

there is a write up on it around here somewhere. I think I read it while I was poking around the second gen forum.

It's not a great idea to do it with the tank in place. Leaking gas or no. But if your gonna drop the tank do the cutout while it's down. Saves time later.

Here's an idea: pull out the vent that is just to the right of the stereo. Through that you can see all the way down the plenum to the aircon evaporator. Look for somethin that could cause the smell.

Those two small dash vents aren't hard to get out just pry gently though it may take patience, my dads came out in two minutes but mine took me a half hour.

They just kinda push back in.

 

[XploreAlaska]

I found a dead squirrell in my bronco heater core area, it made a nest in there. Check to see if there's evidence of rodents they chew the **** out of foam stuff (that's what happened to mine)

 

[mcelwajy]

i agree with the heater core inspection. I found several dead mouse babies in mine and the smell went away after buying a ventilation cleaner at autozone. Its an aerosol that is specifically made to clean and freshen the ventilation system. It could also be mold in the system....good luck