Daewoo Chevrolet Forums and Owners Club

hi there

just recently we noticed a smell coming from the vents inside the car when we have the air coming from the outside (lever pushed to the right) - its a sort of urine / stale smell which does not happen when we have the air set to recirculate just inside the car.

i did some googling and got answers ranging from a cat has pissed down the windscreen into the vent system, to mould forming on the cabin air filter.... has anyone experienced this before and if so how did they fix it?

would a replacement air filter sort it out or is there an easier way?

just want to know whether to blame the local street cat or if its just cos the car is getting on now (2001 matiz 0.8 )

cheers!
david

hmmmmmmm a cat pissing in my vent - thats not so pretty - Yukkk..

anyway, the same way you think the cat pissed in, why not pore some warm water with detergent?

might cure the bad smell

BTW the Matiz ventilation system has no obvious filter to replace.

is this not replaceable in under the bonnet of the matiz?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Chevrolet-Matiz-Da...7181713921

or is that nothing to do with the ventilation system?

think i might open the cover up (think its to the right of the engine as you look into it, near the right light?) and see what state its in....

The air filter you mention is the intake for the engine and does not go into the cabin.
Like most cars there is a catcher in front of the windscreen that goes downwards into a tapered chamber that looks like a flattened funnel. At the bottom is a drain that allows water entering the intake to drain. This drain over time collects all sorts of rubbish and can get partially or totally blocked. This means that it can get very humid in there and builds up algal and fungal growth.
Find the lower outlet and try to clear it with a wire (old wire coat hanger) and I then suggest flushing the intake with a mixture boiling water and thick bleach which will kill the algae and fungi. Be careful not spill this on your clothes because they will turn white and also be careful not to spill on external paint work.
Rob

bleach is too strong and will discolor the paint job.

a mild soap detergent is better.

(08-03-2011 08:14 AM)shankosi Wrote: [ -> ]bleach is too strong and will discolor the paint job.

a mild soap detergent is better.

Only a broad spectrum halogen chemical will kill fungal/algal growth. Most detergent manufacturers use QAC's (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds) which may act against bacteria but have no effect on fungi or algae (note rapid deterioration of rivers and streams due to algae where domestic effluent is allowed to flow in).

Note I warned BE CAREFUL TO AVOID spilling on external paint work.

Note also that a damp/warm environment like this can propagate certain types of fungi and bacteria (Legionella) which if inhaled can be very dangerous to your health.

Rob

(08-03-2011 09:59 AM)Mitzy2 Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-03-2011 08:14 AM)shankosi Wrote: [ -> ]bleach is too strong and will discolor the paint job.

a mild soap detergent is better.

Only a broad spectrum halogen chemical will kill fungal/algal growth. Most detergent manufacturers use QAC's (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds) which may act against bacteria but have no effect on fungi or algae (note rapid deterioration of rivers and streams due to algae where domestic effluent is allowed to flow in).

Note I warned BE CAREFUL TO AVOID spilling on external paint work.

Note also that a damp/warm environment like this can propagate certain types of fungi and bacteria (Legionella) which if inhaled can be very dangerous to your health.

Rob

thank you for enlightening me with a scientific info.

I still would not use bleach though. it emits harmful fumes that might be as harmful to human health.

there are after-market solutions:




I think this is better - huh?

hi,
did you find the source of your smell?
I have the same issue.
Thanks
Chris

(06-03-2011 10:00 PM)klunku_the_caveman Wrote: [ -> ]hi there

just recently we noticed a smell coming from the vents inside the car when we have the air coming from the outside (lever pushed to the right) - its a sort of urine / stale smell which does not happen when we have the air set to recirculate just inside the car.

i did some googling and got answers ranging from a cat has pissed down the windscreen into the vent system, to mould forming on the cabin air filter.... has anyone experienced this before and if so how did they fix it?

would a replacement air filter sort it out or is there an easier way?

just want to know whether to blame the local street cat or if its just cos the car is getting on now (2001 matiz 0.8 )

cheers!
david

(02-10-2011 01:39 PM)shepster Wrote: [ -> ]hi,
did you find the source of your smell?
I have the same issue.
Thanks
Chris

(06-03-2011 10:00 PM)klunku_the_caveman Wrote: [ -> ]hi there

just recently we noticed a smell coming from the vents inside the car when we have the air coming from the outside (lever pushed to the right) - its a sort of urine / stale smell which does not happen when we have the air set to recirculate just inside the car.

i did some googling and got answers ranging from a cat has pissed down the windscreen into the vent system, to mould forming on the cabin air filter.... has anyone experienced this before and if so how did they fix it?

would a replacement air filter sort it out or is there an easier way?

just want to know whether to blame the local street cat or if its just cos the car is getting on now (2001 matiz 0.8 )

cheers!
david

mines doing it too cars getting it mot fixes will have a look when i get it back

Hi all!

I too had this problem, actually more than this. A rat had made nest in the ventilation system, just out side the blower door- which controls the fresh air inlet/air re-circulation. It happened when i parked my car unused for a couple of weeks. The nest (dry leaves and grass) sucked in by the blower, when I switched on the AC and mode switch to fresh air inlet. A grinding noise and the air blocked. Fortunately no baby rats were there. I cleaned the entire system, but the urine smell was there; and it was more whenever i change the mode switch to fresh air intake. So I opened the black plastic piece, above the wiper housing and also the ventilation intake hole. The tunnel like place just under the front wind shield is the mouth of the fresh air intake.The origin of urine smell was there. And the tunnel has a water drainage hole either side, which is about 2 inches wide. It was the way which the rat reached near the blower. I cleaned it thoroughly with detergent and water and plugged the drainage holes partially with a piece of wood. The smell has gone after that. So I strongly believe that your air vent tunnel is being used by some rats!