All carpets and headliner is dry but whenever it rains lately the car is getting a bit of a musty smell. Goes away after a few days, but still rather unsettling. Today it started raining while i was driving and the scent appeared after just a few minutes. any idea where to look? Would it have anything to do with the front apron/cowls having most of their seal against the windshield lost to dry rot at all?

 

My experience has been that some part of the drainage system on your vehicle is plugged up with leaves or other muck. It has started to mold and rain water amplifies the smell by getting it wet all over again. You might want to figure out (through this board or other sources) where the hoses for drainage terminates and inspect those areas for standing water. It varies with the car. Water stuck inside the rear hatch, door panels or headliner may not obviously show moisture but there may be standing water in there.

 

just weird that it goes away after a few dry days as if it weren't there.

 

Have you checked your cabin air filter?

 

i thought of that earlier actually. I need to check in the morning.

 

Most likely the cabin filter and if it isn't that check your drain plugs to make sure they are clear. I will look for the can that I have that is a HVAC system deodorizer and you could look for that to help clean out the system.

 

Filter is fine. And after a dry night of o rain, and leaving a damprid bucket in smell is gone till next rainy day or maybe car wash. Will continue to investigate.