My new ride...

[dhud64]

<br />Always been a Chevy guy, but until they can make a vehicle that compares to the Toyota....Sorry! I traded my daughters car in on this. She was very upside down in her Camaro, so I gave her my old truck and the wife and I get this 1998 4-wheel drive Rav 4, and of course the payment!. 30 mpg on the highway, even with all wheel drive.<br /><br />The previous owner must have been a HEAVY smoker and the venting stinks to high heaven. Anybody know how to get rid of the stinch?<br /><br />I wont be changing my signature either, we (the wife), still has another CHEVY to pull the boat with !

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: My new ride...

There are a few products that will help (realy don't eliminate) the smoke smell.<br /><br />Most car dealers and car detailing shops use an ionizer and let it run overnight in the vehicle.<br /><br />There are "odor absorb" products that you can leave in the vehicle on the floor... the majority of the odor can be cleaned with fabreze sprayed into all the vents. You MUST run the AC on the recirculate setting for best effect. Do this a few times and it will trduce the smell.

 

[Mark42]

Re: My new ride...

Look in the yellow pages for the companies that elimintate the smoke odors from fires in houses. They have a few products that will clear that up quick.<br /><br />Also try cleaning all the surfaces in the vehicle with soap and water. You will see the rags turn yellow from smoke buildup. Do this twice over. Don't skip the headliner or carpet. <br /><br />Then see the smokey places about the smell in the A/C. It is hard to get rid of by yourself.

 

[fixin]

Re: My new ride...

Start smoking,,,,and you wont notice it any more J.K.

 

[EZLoader]

Re: My new ride...

Go to a local janitorial supply store and get them to recommend an ozone spray for smoke smell removal. It comes in a spray can but I can't remember any brand names. These products neutralize the smoke smell and should take care of your vents and the interior.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: My new ride...

First set the AC to recir. then with the AC on and fan on high spray a whole bunch of lysol on the front passenger floor board area. This will kill the mold and mildew in your vents as well as most of the smoke stink.<br />Then go to Walmart and get the biggest bottle/can of a product called OZIUM.<br />You will find it in the car care area. <br />This is what alot of detailers use. <br />Just do a quick spray of the inside of the car every time you get out of the car.<br />Within a couple of weeks you will have no smoke smell.<br />Goodluck.

 

[EZLoader]

Re: My new ride...

Bluewater is right. Ozium is the name I couldn't remember of one of the products that should work.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: My new ride...

Find someone with an ozone generator. It burns the smoke smell out and leaves the car smelling like a fresh thunderstorm. <br /><br />All these other products just try to unsuccessfully mask the smell and when the perfume dissapates, the acrid smoke smell returns.

 

[Realgun]

Re: My new ride...

Get a steam cleaner and do all the upholstry including the headliner. Clean the windows inside and clean the Vinyl too not with armour all however. The duct work is the hardest but the other suggestions help. A detailer can help too!!!

 

[mrbscott19]

Re: My new ride...

Boomyal is correct. But if you do find an ozone generator and use it in your car, make sure you have a way to shut it off without getting into the vehicle since ozone in large doses is very harmful(use an extension cord). Make sure you unplug the ozone generator AT LEAST 30 minutes, should wait an hour, before you plan on getting into the vehicle. Ozone, though very harmful, turns into harmless oxygen in about 30 minutes.

 

[dhud64]

Re: My new ride...

WoW, I think the AC on recirc with Lysol may have pretty much cured it. I haven't even used Ozium yet. Maybe I overdosed on Lysol.

 

[JC1933]

Re: My new ride...

Good luck.<br /><br /> I had the same problem in a used car,<br /> the only way to get rid of the stench<br /> is to get rid of the car.<br /> We tried everything even steam clean.<br /><br /> have fun...Claude...

 

[Boomyal]

Re: My new ride...

Originally posted by jc1933:<br /> Good luck.<br /><br /> I had the same problem in a used car,<br /> the only way to get rid of the stench<br /> is to get rid of the car.<br /> We tried everything even steam clean.<br /><br /> have fun...Claude...

Ya didn't try ozone jc. You'd a been still driving it today if you had. You can even run your ventilation system while applying the ozone and it will clean it out as well.

 

[KRS]

Re: My new ride...

The AC condensor can be sprayed out with a special cleaner also, it requires you drill a small hole in the top and insert the spray tube... I read about it once but I haven't tried it.