Moldy Smell In My F-Body

**CamaroCrazyChris** · 11-02-2005, 09:15 PM

Well to sum it up I have a horrable moldy smell in my Camaro that I get everytime after a good 2-3 day rain. I dont need anyone to tell me why its there or how its getting there because I am already double checking all my body seems and screws going through the sheetmetal.
What I really need is some good advise on how to get rid of the smell. I dont want to take out my carpet for a day or two to let it dry either. I was looking for a simple fix. Is there anything I could spray??? I am not wanting something like an air freshner either. I want something that actually removes the mold and moldy smell and doesnt just cover it up.
Thanks for all replies!!!

**Redphoenix1998** · 11-03-2005, 02:35 AM

There's not much to do but the option you stated above which is removing the carpet. Check your underbody, there are at least 6 or so rubber plugs on your floorpan, maybe one popped out or tore off. That could be it

**TommySS** · 11-03-2005, 04:27 PM

If you have a moldy smell, you have mold. You have to remove (i.e., kill) the mold for the smell to go away. Even if you fully dry the car out, the smell will return as soon as moisture reappears.

If Lysol kills mold, use that. The sure fire mold killer is bleach, but it'll ruin your interior.

Once upon a time, I had left the hatch up (long story) and it rained like a sonuvagun. Whole rear area was soaked. After I got out as much standing water as I could, I got a dehumidifier and ran it inside the closed car for a couple days. Dried it out and no tell-tale smell.

No matter what, you must find the source or this will be a routine.

**rhinojohn** · 11-04-2005, 08:22 AM

i found water under my rear seats. lifted carpet sprayed light bleach solution then dried with hair drier

**noblesramair** · 11-04-2005, 08:52 AM

ive had a problem with the window rubber on the driver side door of my 99 WS6. When it rained hard and when i was driving it would leak. Plus it usually only happened when it was raining hard or a certain direction. Basically you got a leak!!! Check all your rubber trim especially on the side windows. There is only glass on rubber there and if it doesnt close just right it will leak.

Kinda getting off the topic one day i went out for a ride with the t tops off and came back home, thinking i was going to go back out I left the t tops off well i forgot about them and that night it POURED!!! I woke up in the middle of the night like O SHIT!! Went outside (the rain breifly stopped) and there was like 2 inches of water in the rear section on the floor!!! But i spent like an hour drying it as best as i could thankfully the dash didnt get any water on it because of how far the windshield goes back, then right after i went back inside after cleaning up the water and putting the
t tops back on it started pouring again! It smelled for few days afterward, i got some airfresheners and about a week or so later it was gone. So you just have to get all the water out or it will smell!

**CamaroCrazyChris** · 11-08-2005, 01:22 AM

Thanks for the reply's guys!!! I appreciate it much..... Turns out the moldy smell was mainly concentrated in the rear hatch area. I looked at it from undernieth and sure enough one of the rubber plugs was pushed all the way into the vehicle. I was able to pull it back through. That day I left the hatch open and put in a 500 watt halogen light and I havnt had the smell since.
Thanks again!!

**noblesramair** · 11-08-2005, 07:23 AM

glad you figured it out!

**TommySS** · 11-08-2005, 04:25 PM

Congrats !

**BobbyGFirebird** · 08-16-2015, 06:58 AM

Can someone post pic of where the rubber plugs are, and how "should look" ? I've only had my '99 Firebird a few weeks.... And does that air freshener spray down the cowl intake vents work? I see it at AutoParts stores....?

QUOTE=CamaroCrazyChris;62464]Thanks for the reply's guys!!! I appreciate it much..... Turns out the moldy smell was mainly concentrated in the rear hatch area. I looked at it from undernieth and sure enough one of the rubber plugs was pushed all the way into the vehicle. I was able to pull it back through. That day I left the hatch open and put in a 500 watt halogen light and I havnt had the smell since.
Thanks again!![/QUOTE]

***SMWS6TA*** · 08-16-2015, 03:00 PM

It is located along the firewall on the passenger side. You'll might have to move the starter out of the way to see it. You will also need to raise the car and look up from the bottom.

**BobbyGFirebird** · 08-16-2015, 04:52 PM

Thanks much. That's where rubber plug is, but wherw is the drain hose from A/c evaporator? Or, does it come out same rubber plug on Firewall/Pass. side?

***SMWS6TA*** · 08-16-2015, 04:55 PM

should come out. use a coat hanger like Orion said.

**67CamaroRSSS** · 08-18-2015, 11:10 AM

Is this one a winner for the Zombie thread award???

**BobbyGFirebird** · 08-20-2015, 12:01 PM

Found a really good product at AutoZone today, spray down the air intake cowling vents near outside hood, into the vents themselves on dash, and up into the re-circ. airbox under dash. I only had time to spray into the outside vents but it smells much better a day later. has started to kill the mold.

Question: where is the re-circ. intake on the '99 Firebird transAm? Is it under Pass. dash?