Unpleasant suprise

All,

So, I've been searching for a smell in my Gen II Prius for the last several weeks. I'd think I'd found it, then come back after the car would sit in the garage overnight, and it'd be back. Smelled a bit like sour milk or urine (some of you may already know where this is going). Since I have a 5 month old, I figured maybe there was some smelly burp cloth, or something... but I'd pulled all that out.

So, yesterday, I figured "maybe it's in the compartment under the truck". Open it, and WOOF, there we go. So, I pull everything out of there, and figure I got it. This morning, it's back. Son of a! So, I think "maybe it's under the bin". I pull that out to expose the spare, and low and behold, I find yellowish liquid. Hmmm... that looks like uncured epoxy resin. Smells a bit like it too.

Now it all falls into place. I was rear ended about 6 months ago, and they did some repairs. The repairs look a bit like metal "patches"... which I'm guessing are saturated in epoxy, then "patched" over any cracks in the body work. All told, I'd guess there's maybe 1/8th to 1/4 cup of liquid... and it's on the backside of the spare, as well as pooled in the space.

So, questions.

1. Should I just take it back to the collision center (which is owned by the dealer that I bought the car from) and tell them to clean it up? Or should I just clean it up myself and file a complaint?

If 1, do we think it could have damaged the rubber of the spare? Or if 2, what's the best way to clean it up (just lots of shop towels)?

At this point, I'm planning on taking it in tomorrow morning... But I'm curious what people think.

Thanks!

 

I haven't thought of asking for a detailing, but good idea. I did think about calling the insurance company should they refuse.

Attached are pictures. And yeah, sad they don't relay the smell...

 

Fish oil based! That would explain the smell! I just figured it smelled like an Amine (like epoxy hardener). Sorry, I've been saying resin, when I meant hardener.

So, if that's the case, what would you suggest?

 

I also know petroleum oils will break down rubber, but I'm unsure about natural oils, or if the oil has been vulcanized. If that's all it is, I might just ask for them to clean it up, and pay for detailing (to get the smell out of the car).

 

Ah, okay. So, feeling the liquid, it's both watery and oily I'd say. So not sure. If water got in, there is clearly a leak from the repair work done. I've never even exposed the spare before, so dirt in that area should be non-existent. But I guess the tire sitting in liquid would certainly lead to a smell. :/

Still going to the dealer tomorrow about it. :/

 

Off base on pretty much all of them. No mice, car is garaged, always replace cabin filter. And it's not the AC/heat that stinks.

Car was rear ended, but damage was pretty much all to hatch latch and bumper. If it's leaking, it's due to work they did. All seals look good, and nothing in the back Is ever wet. So if water is getting in, it would seem to be up from below (looks like there are two plugs in that spare tire pan that it could be getting past).

 

Think I found it, thanks to the mention of seams. The whole cavity for the spare has some type of caulking or sealant on the seams. Right near the accident site, that caulking has chipped away and there's a space between the seam. Looks like they just have to touch that up. Hopefully a quick fix. Still going to ask for something to compensate me, and have them clean it up. Damn shoddy work.

 

Yeah, I took a look in the 12v compartment (which is quite deep), and didn't see anything. Taking it in today... will post back when I have an answer.

 

Here now. They don't know what it is, or how it got in there. :/

Cleaning it out, and will fix the small break in the sealing, but sati I should just keep an eye on it when it rains. :/

Thoughts?

 

So they cleaned it up. But whatever it was kept slowly seeping out from under those dampening pads. :/ they thought it was oily as well, but no one knew what it was, and had never seen it before. :/

Taking it through a car wash to try to make sure it doesn't come back. We shall see.

 

So, ran it through the carwash, and there was water back there again, but this time obviously soapy smelling and looking.

I pulled the two plugs/bungs out of that area, and noticed there are little bumps around the area... they appear to be paint bubbles, which would keep the plugs from seating fully. Going to take it back and show them. But guessing this is it since I think the smell first showed up right around the last time I took it through a car wash. And soapy water sitting for a long period, exposed to the tire, would probably result in something kind of oily feeling/looking.