Smelly When Wet
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 651
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From: So. Cal.
'02 C320 Wagon, '78 308 GTS, '06 Highlander Hybrid
Smelly When Wet
Not what you're thinking...
When it rains the inside of the car stinks. I don't have to drive it in the rain, just letting it sit in the rain will do it. So it is not being splashed from underneath. I have not found any leaks or wet spots inside the car. Anyone have similar problems? My first thought is the moonroof. Are there drains that can become clogged? It'll even smell a bit after I wash it.
TIA
Henry
'02 C320 wagon
When it rains the inside of the car stinks. I don't have to drive it in the rain, just letting it sit in the rain will do it. So it is not being splashed from underneath. I have not found any leaks or wet spots inside the car. Anyone have similar problems? My first thought is the moonroof. Are there drains that can become clogged? It'll even smell a bit after I wash it.
TIA
Henry
'02 C320 wagon
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
Oh, you got me,... I was laughing too hard when I read it. 
"Chow-Hi" (Chinese-Cantonese joke)
Are you using HVAC more after a during or after a rain,... like vents to defog windows,.... could be mildew in vents,.... or that air filter above the car battery in engine bay needs to be changed.
Make sure you clean all the leaves out of your gutters,... and between the panels of the car,... rotting leaves can stink when wet. If you ever cleaned your house rain gutters, you'll know exactly what I mean.
BTW,.... a couple of weeks ago, it stunk to high heaven in Toronto's downtown core,... smelled like sewage! But it was such a large area,.... turns out it was the combination of rotting Fall leaves on the ground and wet weather,.... Yeah, those Maple Leafs really stink,... and I'm not just talking about the ones on the trees,.... ya gotta be a hockey guy to get that one!
"Chow-Hi" (Chinese-Cantonese joke)Are you using HVAC more after a during or after a rain,... like vents to defog windows,.... could be mildew in vents,.... or that air filter above the car battery in engine bay needs to be changed.
Make sure you clean all the leaves out of your gutters,... and between the panels of the car,... rotting leaves can stink when wet. If you ever cleaned your house rain gutters, you'll know exactly what I mean.
BTW,.... a couple of weeks ago, it stunk to high heaven in Toronto's downtown core,... smelled like sewage! But it was such a large area,.... turns out it was the combination of rotting Fall leaves on the ground and wet weather,.... Yeah, those Maple Leafs really stink,... and I'm not just talking about the ones on the trees,.... ya gotta be a hockey guy to get that one!
Last edited by SunnyRayToronto; Dec 4, 2012 at 01:55 AM.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Yes, both in the moonroof and the cowl in front of the windshield. Open your moonroof and see if there's excessive water/puddles beneath the rails. The drain holes are in the corners. Vacuum is best method then air pressure from the bottom up. The last thing you want to do is jam it up even worst.
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: San Francisco Bay area
C63 AMG
I have a similar issue that I just discovered yesterday. It seems like I have a small leek of water getting into my far threw the top liner at the Top of my front windshield. I went threw a drive threw car wash a few weeks back and it made the rubber liner pop out and I just pushed it in after. Once it started raining I noticed the inside of my car was wet even though I hadn't drove it in 2 days
If anyone knows how to fix this or has any insite on how to get a new rubber liner or something please
Sorry OP didn't mean to thread jack but I figured this would help us out because we are having similar issues and all
If anyone knows how to fix this or has any insite on how to get a new rubber liner or something please
Sorry OP didn't mean to thread jack but I figured this would help us out because we are having similar issues and all
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 651
Likes: 5
From: So. Cal.
'02 C320 Wagon, '78 308 GTS, '06 Highlander Hybrid
Oh, you got me,... I was laughing too hard when I read it. "Chow-Hi" (Chinese-Cantonese joke)
Are you using HVAC more after a during or after a rain,... like vents to defog windows,.... could be mildew in vents,.... or that air filter above the car battery in engine bay needs to be changed.
Make sure you clean all the leaves out of your gutters,... and between the panels of the car,... rotting leaves can stink when wet. If you ever cleaned your house rain gutters, you'll know exactly what I mean.
BTW,.... a couple of weeks ago, it stunk to high heaven in Toronto's downtown core,... smelled like sewage! But it was such a large area,.... turns out it was the combination of rotting Fall leaves on the ground and wet weather,.... Yeah, those Maple Leafs really stink,... and I'm not just talking about the ones on the trees,.... ya gotta be a hockey guy to get that one!
"Chow-Hi" (Chinese-Cantonese joke)Are you using HVAC more after a during or after a rain,... like vents to defog windows,.... could be mildew in vents,.... or that air filter above the car battery in engine bay needs to be changed.
Make sure you clean all the leaves out of your gutters,... and between the panels of the car,... rotting leaves can stink when wet. If you ever cleaned your house rain gutters, you'll know exactly what I mean.
BTW,.... a couple of weeks ago, it stunk to high heaven in Toronto's downtown core,... smelled like sewage! But it was such a large area,.... turns out it was the combination of rotting Fall leaves on the ground and wet weather,.... Yeah, those Maple Leafs really stink,... and I'm not just talking about the ones on the trees,.... ya gotta be a hockey guy to get that one!
This happens anytime it rains and smells before I use the car...it could have been sitting for a few days or a week. So, I don't think it is related to the HVAC...that smells a little different anyways.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 651
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From: So. Cal.
'02 C320 Wagon, '78 308 GTS, '06 Highlander Hybrid
Yes, both in the moonroof and the cowl in front of the windshield. Open your moonroof and see if there's excessive water/puddles beneath the rails. The drain holes are in the corners. Vacuum is best method then air pressure from the bottom up. The last thing you want to do is jam it up even worst.
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Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Portland, Oregon
W203 C320, W208 CLK 320, w209 CLK 500
It seems the rain is getting to lots of people as of late. Today my sunroof decided I needed a shower while driving back from school whenever I went down a steep hill, when I got home I opened the sunroof and found puddles next to the tracks, I'll try poking around at the drains tomorrow and see if it does anything.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 1
From: Portland, Oregon
W203 C320, W208 CLK 320, w209 CLK 500
Funnily enough, I realized this as soon as I took a closer look at the actual drain pipes, and saw that both times I got wet, I did indeed park the car facing uphill, I parked it downhill today and it was back to normal.
