R60/R61 Stock Problems/Issues Discussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for R60 AND R61 MINI Cooper and Cooper S MINIs.

"something died inside" smell - cabin air

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 19, 2012 | 12:55 PM
  #1  
dmegeath's Avatar
dmegeath
Thread Starter
|
Neutral
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
"something died inside" smell - cabin air

2011 MC-Countryman S - smell reminiscent of a rotting mouse carcass (had this problem in our house years ago after I poisoned but could not find a mouse in the attic) floated up in the interior air. Wife will run this to the dealer for their evaluation. Searched forums here and didn't find an old thread so I'm asking for input on this one.

Had a similar problem on my MBZ E-350, ran it down to some rotten windshield washer fluid (tank sits under the air intake).

Any ideas/comments welcome - thanks in advance.
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 06:48 AM
  #2  
shark715's Avatar
shark715
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 5
From: north/central New Jersey
If you A/C hs not been used in more than a week, the first (and easiest) thing I would try is to run your A/C for 15- 20 minutes and see if that resolves it. It might or might not, but it's so easy to do it could be worth trying.
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 07:12 AM
  #3  
buzzsaw's Avatar
buzzsaw
6th Gear
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 46
It was mentioned here not to run the a/c in the recirc mode for a while and see what happens. Also might want to check your cabin air filter. Dirty ones are noted to foul the air.
 

Last edited by buzzsaw; Aug 21, 2012 at 10:48 AM.
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 07:28 AM
  #4  
Dozuki01's Avatar
Dozuki01
4th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I took my car into the dealer for the rotten smell when turn on AC. They perform an AC Quickfresh which is some type of deodorizer and it worked out great. It has been three months now and the smell did not come back.

They have a special part number on my invoice but I will have to look.
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 10:10 AM
  #5  
Fly'n Brick's Avatar
Fly'n Brick
6th Gear
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 393
From: In the here and now, for now.
Do a search for 'mouse nest'. Several threads will show up some with pictures. You well could have a rodent problem. A little spearmint will go a long way towards keeping any more out. Got mice in the Bonanza once and had to go thru a whole airworthiness process after they were flushed out and hunted down. Li'l beggars like to chew so check your systems.
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2012 | 01:01 PM
  #6  
bbruins1's Avatar
bbruins1
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Certified M@sshole
Mine had a the dead animal smell last year, 3 weeks, $2000 and a completely disassembled CM later they found a dead rat behind the rear bumper. I swear I can still smell it sometimes.
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2012 | 05:50 PM
  #7  
KidLuck's Avatar
KidLuck
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
had the same problem. brought to the dealer and they dug out the dead mice that built a nice little nest behind the glovebox... $120
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2012 | 07:01 PM
  #8  
aleclee's Avatar
aleclee
3rd Gear
10 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Originally Posted by bbruins1
Mine had a the dead animal smell last year, 3 weeks, $2000 and a completely disassembled CM later they found a dead rat behind the rear bumper.
Ewwwww
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2012 | 06:00 AM
  #9  
puravida's Avatar
puravida
Neutral
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by KidLuck
had the same problem. brought to the dealer and they dug out the dead mice that built a nice little nest behind the glovebox... $120
were they factory mice or aftermarket?
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2012 | 06:15 AM
  #10  
Fly'n Brick's Avatar
Fly'n Brick
6th Gear
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 393
From: In the here and now, for now.
Originally Posted by puravida
were they factory mice or aftermarket?
For your very first post...
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2012 | 08:14 PM
  #11  
Koopah's Avatar
Koopah
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 3
From: Over there -->
Mice.

Please refer to THIS thread.
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2013 | 11:30 PM
  #12  
oldvintageiron's Avatar
oldvintageiron
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: CS, Colorado
Originally Posted by bbruins1
Mine had a the dead animal smell last year, 3 weeks, $2000 and a completely disassembled CM later they found a dead rat behind the rear bumper. I swear I can still smell it sometimes.
That smell never goes away. I had a dead fat in my 36' chevy and I can still smell it 8 years later.
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2013 | 10:58 AM
  #13  
k2at11's Avatar
k2at11
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Florida
If it is a dead rodent and u don't want to spend many bucks finding it and removing it, then just live with it for a limited period of time and ur problem will be solved. It will become fertilizer and ur car will return to its original state. I had that smell with my Chevy, took it to the dealer and $350 later they found and removed it. I swore that was the last time.

Ur choice.
 
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2013 | 01:05 PM
  #14  
Fly'n Brick's Avatar
Fly'n Brick
6th Gear
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 393
From: In the here and now, for now.
One of the guys at morning had just such a story and solution yesterday:
They had bought groceries for a trip including several pounds of meat for the freezer to be used later. They went on the trip in a different car. When they returned they could hardly get into the garage. They'd forgotten to put the meat in the freezer and left it in the car. The garage temp was over 100º. They couldn't get rid of the stink until someone told them to use coffee.

They put two cookie sheets covered with ground coffee under the car seats and rolled up the windows. Within a few days all the odor was completely gone.

If you can dig out the carcass, put a tray of coffee in there for a spell.
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2013 | 06:02 AM
  #15  
wzabrouski's Avatar
wzabrouski
5th Gear
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: Keller, TX
I have used rat sorb before in situations like this. If you google it, you will find exterminating websites that sell it.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
molala
MINIs & Minis for Sale
1
Oct 2, 2015 01:53 PM
M7Speed
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
0
Sep 3, 2015 07:48 AM
Ntety
MINIs & Minis for Sale
0
Sep 2, 2015 08:39 PM
Mini Mania
Drivetrain Products
0
Sep 2, 2015 11:15 AM
Mini Mania
Drivetrain Products
0
Sep 2, 2015 09:05 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:09 PM.