Oh the stink!!

I have a 2020 OPR which I don't drive as much as I might like and it *really* stinks inside. It is a musty smell and I just can't seem to find the source of and wanted to get some thoughts here of things I should be looking at.

The particulars of the case which could be in play here:

- Sherpa Crestone Rack
- C4 Widdle Wadder
- Sunroof
- WeatherTec floormats
- Carpets don't appear to be wet

Things I have tried:

- Reading the forums here to see what others have had success with
- Pulled the headliner down thinking it was leaking around the rack mounting bolts. Hosed it down very well and no leaks that I saw
- Hosed the area around the widdle wadder and no leaks that I could see around the rear hatch seal
- Opened the sunroof and poured water into the track area. Drain(s) open and drained fine
- Did the AC condenser flush service with the Toyota kit and changed the cabin air filter (several times)
- Hosed off the seals around all the windows and doors thinking maybe it was leaking there. No water intrusion that I saw.

What I have not done yet:

- Checked the drain channel around the windshield (other than just with a hose)

Anyone have any thoughts on what else I should be trying?

Thanks in advance for your time

 

any chance you have moisture due to temp change causing mold/mildew in your actual vents? Stupid idea, but have you run the system vents on super hot for like an hour to see if that helps? There are vent cleaners you can buy, ive used a few they last about as long as an air freshener would. See if heat will help to clean it, if not manually clean it. If its the vents.

 

Run over a skunk?
That stink don't wash of with water.

 

Is your 4R garaged? If so, do you ever allow it to bake in the sun for extended periods?

 

Did you check the rear cargo area for moisture?

 

There’s some conversation here somewhere about the sunroof drains getting clogged and dripping into the cabin. I’ve not had that issue but you might do a search and check it out. Good luck.

 

I’ve seen different things come through our shop….

Found a squash under one of the seats decomposing.

A dead rodent in the A/c vents that died when caught between the mode doors.

Hope you get it figured out

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

Grug556
I have not tried the vents yet, good idea and will give that a whirl.

Grandpawmoses
No skunk. I know what that smells like. Had a dog get skunked once and took months for that to go away.

Daddykool
Not garaged and bakes in the sun all day.

whippersnapper02
Cargo area doesn't feel wet but I will give it another look. Going to really dig into it this weekend if I have time and weather holds up.

Beachguy
Sunroof vents open. My son and I verified that a few days ago

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Febreze...p-Air-Freshener-2-Pack-003077201052/319225324

 

Did you buy it new or did it have a stink when you bought it?

 

I had a Ford Explorer one time that I thought reeked. Other people with me thought it wasn't as bad. Turned out the Steering wheel was filthy and since I was sitting in front of it I thought the car reeked. Cleaned the steering wheel and presto, no more smell.

 

I have struggled with similar issues. Mine is 2020 and I'm the second owner. I have figured that the vinyl material on the seats is what seems to be the culprit. However, I wonder if in my case something was spill before me and hasn't been cleaned properly on the seats. I decided to pull the entire seat covers and clean up properly and upgrade to "new" leather and see if the smell goes away. Yes, expensive and frustrating as heck.

 

Bought my 4Runner used, it had a slight smokers smell to it, these worked great. One you spray into vents. The other you close all windows with car running and a/c on recycle. You place it on center console and it goes off like a smoke bomb. Let it go for about 15-20 minutes, and it gets sucked through the vents. Open windows after and let car air out.

$18 Armor All Car Air Freshener and Cleaner, Vent and Duct Cleaner, Odor Eliminator Spray for Cars, Trucks, Freshfx Tranquil Skies, 1.5 oz, 3 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/Armor-All-Fr...car+vent+air+freshener+meguire,aps,82&sr=8-13

$7 Armor All Smoke X Car Purifier and Air Freshener, 2 Oz

https://www.amazon.com/Armor-All-Fogger-Eliminator-Smoke-X/dp/B07N8K6JQQ?crid=6CVCJWK9199K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AaIzaqlYGtg_PVNAf8dV1N6TWNg0N2PiUWbq20geUwmxUsp52ZrSJQpWjt-kW6pZHjB9jxH1ku4t1oW8Ii_g9L_BLQx-vBavvw32J_Bm3N_gg8fiaoC6Xwv9bWMofzoyEjKI55s2IFmM6SBKLrt3CiZeSqokkEWKS9PBPyUUN08BFgrdj2XjZNNA7hz6gQg7TNextjVMKPd0bHB4oyVCLYyvcpKLTogpsIYDcUYXD0x7OOnGU14n66ZfIYmYcnZ514gYrhiN4yBShPKLIgQeb8qVVKby2i7G_ibtoNF5pCk.bxW4JhY2bph1kMlF6sIWhpg8wF6p4bbkFj4KF9i7kvw&dib_tag=se&keywords=car+vent+air+freshener+meguiars&qid=1721323357&sprefix=car+vent+air+freshener+meguire%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-9&th=1

 

There is an OEM A/C refresh kit you might try

 

I can't offer any ideas to help with the cause, but I can offer a cure for the symptom - the smell.

My Land Cruiser had 39,000 miles when I bought it. Apparently, the previous owner smoked for 38,000 of those miles. The dealership ran their big fancy ozone machine and that got a lot of it. But every time I got in the truck on a hot day, it smelled like an ashtray.

I shampooed the carpets and cleaned every surface like I was trying to hide a homicide. Except the headliner. Don't clean that - the glue will later separate and it'll sag. And that sucks, 'cause that's where lots of the smoke goes.

I tried EVERY off-the-shelf odor product out there - Zep, Febeeze, etc. In retrospect, I should've done a YouTube vid "Top 10 Odor Products... That Do Nothing." The whole time, my wife was suggesting white vinegar (spoiler, that's the remedy). And yeah, the jokes came quickly "Dude, you didn't listen to a woman on the effectiveness of vinegar on odors?"

Here's what I did:
- Large, wide bowl - like a mixing bowl - 2/3 full (so you don't spill) of white vinegar
- Place in the truck - I put it up front; floor on the passenger side
- Mix a diluted vinegar and water (insert joke) spray bottle; lightly (!) mist the headliner... LIGHTLY.
- Parked outside, windows closed, 90+ degree day for a few hours
- Started the engine, let the heat run full blast; recirculating interior air - 30 min.
- Still running; ran the front and rear AC; fans on max, recirculating air - 30 min.
- Shut it off, left it closed up 'til the next day.

Note: in the 100 Series Land Cruiser, it's next to impossible to access the cabin air filter. If you haven't yet, swap that out. I actually have no idea where that is in a 4Runner.

The next day the smoke smell was gone... and the truck smelled like vinegar. But that went away in a day or so. The smoke smell was either 100% gone or 95% gone. That last 5% was hard to tell. Some hot days I swear I could smell it just barely... but it could've been the memory... like PTSD (S is for smell).

 

When we took delivery of our new '16, my Wife was the first to fart in it. I told her that should have been let loose in the 'rape room'.
That's the name that I gave to the finance office.

 

You could try something like this.

https://www.griotsgarage.com/stinky-be-gone-bag/

This reusable bamboo activated charcoal is an all-natural, non-toxic way to absorb and neutralize unwanted odors from your car or home. The breathability of the bag make is easy to use anywhere. You can reuse this bag for up to two years. Simply put your charcoal bag in the sunlight for a couple of hours each month which will help release all the odors it has absorbed. For best results, keep one bag in your interior cabin and one in the trunk.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am the original owner of this truck and it has happened slowly over time. I really have to think it is water intrusion somewhere because it is that musty smell that comes with a leak somewhere so would love to find the source and treat the cause. Have replaced the cabin air filter (it is in the glovebox in the 4Runner btw), tried the OEM AC Refresh Kit and did what I thought was a pretty thorough leak check and came up with no smoking gun. I like the idea Manhattan laid out in his post and will give that a whirl once I identify and fix the cause.

 

I used this on another car...worked well and not too expensive: Meguiar's Whole car Refresher:

$8 Meguiar's Whole Car Air Re-Fresher Odor Eliminator Mist - New Car Scent, Aerosol - Car Odor Remover & Car Freshener That Leaves a New Car Smell - 2 Oz

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Who...2949&sprefix=car+freshner+bomb,aps,157&sr=8-5

 

OP, by chance have you checked the A/C condenser drain tube to confirm that it drains to the outside of the cab?

 

Cat pee? Mine was trapped inside overnight and peed, maybe two years ago, on driver's floor area. I thought I got it, but just this week that same area got wet (forgot to drain my shoes after the river) and smell re-emerged. Grossola. So maybe some old smell that got wet again?

 

Need to do something for smoke
Probably start with a defogger or put some red cedar chips in cheese cloth again to absorb

if not
Ozone machine

any personal use with that defogger meguairs bomb thingamajig?

 

$25 Car Air Purifier Ionizer - 12V Plug-in Ionic Anti-Microbial Car Deodorizer with Dual USB Charger - Smoke Smell, Pet and Food Odors, Allergens, Viruses Eliminator for Car (Matte Black)

https://www.amazon.com/TwinkleBirds...&sr=8-19-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY

 

Update on this. After tearing out most of the interior parts in the back of my truck I found the source of the leak. It was around one of the mounts for the Sherpa rack. This is not Toyota's fault and this is not Sherpas fault - it was just one of those things. Took the leaking mount off, cleaned all around it and re-installed and squirted water around it and it looks to be holding. I will let it sit for a week or so while hosing it down every day to make sure it holds before putting back together. I have to replace the carpet pad on the back cargo area carpet but that is no big deal. Thanks everyone for the help here

If you ever wondered what the back of your 4Runner looks like with the interior parts removed here you go.

 

for your dedication to find the source/resolve rather than cover up the offending odor........especially seeing the extent of the commitment.

 

I had a similar musty odor problem with my 2018. Turned out rain water was getting in the rear passenger side door seal. While the floor mat and carpet felt dry, the insulation under the carpet was damp. Ozum air freshener and peeling back the carpet on a warm, sunny, day dried things out.

 

Common issue on Toyotas. Change the cabin air filter ans ALWAYS turn off the AC compressor a few minutes before you shut the vehicle down. If you don't the cold air condenses when it stops moving and moisture sitting there starts to mildew.

 

Do not use these. I had a Tundra that has must/mildew smell and these made it worse.