Stupid Mice! How to clean trunk carpet?
 

Alright then. The good news is my furry friends from last fall didn't get into the heater system or engine fan.

The bad news is that last fall's cleaning/vacuuming didn't get all the smell out of the front trunk carpets, and when the top is off, somehow that smell comes into the passenger cabin. (But, curiously, not through the heating or A/C or when the top is on).

I've tried various sprays and pet smell removers. Any ideas?

Can I wash the carpets in a washing machine? I don't really care if they fade from black to grey or something.

I'll top that: left a full bag of chicken breasts from Costco in the front trunk over the weekend. The rotten stench continues to pervade the trunk and the cabin. Failing a foolproof method of cleaning that trunk carpet, I am going to need a fresh trunk carpet: does anyone have one in good nick for a '78SC.

John

Rick, If you cleaned everything you can get too, you might now try the heat duct that runs from back to front. If you chassis is the same basic design as mine, the air is route from the heat exchanger to just under the dash behind the front wheel wells. If you peel the carpet back you'll see the paper duct/hose. I would remove the heater hose from the heat exchangers and then open the flapper valves (closed for heat..so not the bypass mode), then blast some compressed air in at the front to blow anything out the back through the flapper valve. Have you checked the center tunnel?

(the above was inspired by your comment about the top off when you get the odor, with the top off, the cabin may be at a lower pressure at speeds, thus air is pulled into it from every which way, one way is through the heat duct, agree?))


This may be a bit troublesome, but it sounds like you've tried all others. Good luck.

Souk:

Thanks. Yea, I was thinking some sort of vacuum effect was drawing air in from somewhere. I'll check down there tomorrow!