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Odd interior smell

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by luvmy2papillons, Mar 5, 2006.

  1. luvmy2papillons

    luvmy2papillons New Member

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    I know this is kind of a strange post but has anyone else noticed the weird smell of the Prius? :unsure: I have always been hypersensitive to smells though. We have two Prius's and both are the same. If so, has anyone fixed it? I think it's a Toyota thing too though because my dad had a regular Toyota years ago and it had an odd smell too.
     
  2. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    What does the odd smell remind you of? Taliking about odor is even more difficult than talking about color.
     
  3. luvmy2papillons

    luvmy2papillons New Member

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    It's just a weird chemical smell. I am pretty sure it's in the seats so I suspect it is whatever filling they use in the seats.
     
  4. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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  5. luvmy2papillons

    luvmy2papillons New Member

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    Probably so but my dads Toyota years ago (not a Prius) had a chemical smell too. A car buff just yesterday said it is the seat materials and the smell does seep into my clothes so maybe that's it too. I wonder if anyone else has noticed that?
     
  6. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    If this is normal NiMH battery smell, then it would be insignificant in my garage because of the huge pack in the Rav parked right next to the Prius. But the Rav never smelled like this, and the Prius smell has saturated the entire garage.
     
  7. hycamguy07

    hycamguy07 New Member

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    I have only noticed a lingering smell if I eat taco bell and roast the seat after the refried beans take over...
    Ooops to much info sorry, Nope have not noticed any smells other than the new car smell..

    Maybe your smelling your seat cushion.. seriously get down there and sniff that seat cushion.... If it smells, a little frebreeze may take care of it.. ;)
     
  8. briantompo

    briantompo Junior Member

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    I found this thread while searching for "interior odor". The gray, fabric interior of our 2005 Prius smells like seat foam and is strong enough to flavor our clothing. I shoot the seats with Febreeze all the time to mask the odor.
     
  9. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    :blink: Some Prius owners have complained about the plastic 'outgassing' smell... There's a lot of plastic in the Prius interior finish. I noticed this for about the first 3 months of owning my Prius. After that, there has been no distinct odor.
     
  10. silentak1

    silentak1 Since 2005

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    It could be your body odor staying in your seat or something to do with the interior carpet (not the floor mats). I can't seem to kill the odor with air refreshners, fabreeze (?), or even shampoo'ing. I have also changed the air filters and tried running the A/C on fresh and recirc. None have helped...

    It's almost like the problems that I have with window rattles; nothing has helped so I just turn up the radio. What a shame.
     
  11. pinball

    pinball New Member

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    Re the window rattles - could it be this ? http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=2...amp;st=20&#

    Re the smell - if its like 'wet socks' it could be mould in the A/C.
    If it really is chemical then vent the car as much as you can - overtime it will lessen and go away
     
  12. tranders

    tranders Junior Member

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    It's not mold, it is chemical. And my '05 that was recently bought used has it. Venting it does not help. And it is not a matter of waiting for it to go away...as my used '05 proves.
     
  13. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tranders @ Jun 30 2007, 12:29 PM) [snapback]470685[/snapback]</div>
    You keep posting the same message all over the boards. Many of us own '05s which we bought new and they smell just like any other car on the road. Do you have any idea how the previous owner abused the car you now own? Have you ever had the cabin air filter checked or replaced?
     
  14. tranders

    tranders Junior Member

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    Okay, am going to replace the Air Conditioning filter just to do something. Is this different than the cabin filter? If so, where can I check that?

    The smell doesn't seem to be in the seats as of now.

    Definitely a smell near the battery vent. Seems different than the smell I am describing, though. But I could be smelling a diffused version of that vent smell.

    Unfortunately, I don't know the history of the vehicle. Others seem to have described this same smell but there has been no real diagnosis on this particular problem. Will post back with any results.
     
  15. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tranders @ Jun 30 2007, 02:04 PM) [snapback]470714[/snapback]</div>
    It is one and the same. Directions for inspection/replacement are on pages 187 and 188 of the '05 owners manual.
     
  16. desmondlee

    desmondlee Member

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    I have only had my card a little over 5 months and have noticed the smell.

    I finally figured it out and it is coming in from the vent near the back seat where the battery is.

    It has been driving me crazy and I can smell it on my clothes. At first it reminded me of the dry cleaning solvent but only stronger. The other morning when I got to work, I said maybe I should stick my nose in
    that vent and sure enough it was that smell.

    The car get checked out tomorrow.

    If I leave my windows opened, it is not as strong.
     
  17. desmondlee

    desmondlee Member

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    I have only had my card a little over 5 months and have noticed the smell.

    I finally figured it out and it is coming in from the vent near the back seat where the battery is.

    It has been driving me crazy and I can smell it on my clothes. At first it reminded me of the dry cleaning solvent but only stronger. The other morning when I got to work, I said maybe I should stick my nose in
    that vent and sure enough it was that smell.

    The car get checked out tomorrow.

    If I leave my windows opened, it is not as strong.
     
  18. desmondlee

    desmondlee Member

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    I have only had my card a little over 5 months and have noticed the smell.

    I finally figured it out and it is coming in from the vent near the back seat where the battery is.

    It has been driving me crazy and I can smell it on my clothes. At first it reminded me of the dry cleaning solvent but only stronger. The other morning when I got to work, I said maybe I should stick my nose in
    that vent and sure enough it was that smell.

    The car get checked out tomorrow.

    If I leave my windows opened, it is not as strong.
     
  19. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Nov 9 2006, 05:31 PM) [snapback]346524[/snapback]</div>
    ...after your olfactory system saturated and just gave up. :p

    Tom
     
  20. acumi

    acumi New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(luvmy2papillons @ Mar 5 2006, 08:58 PM) [snapback]220839[/snapback]</div>
    Hmm... I thought I was the only one. Unfortunately, it sounds like nobody is taking this too serious. That chemical odor that is suppose to be normal saturates my clothes. After getting out of the car, i can still detect the odor for hours afterwards. Is their any known cases of NiMh being linked to cancer or any other diseases?

    Prolonged exposure to any chemical is a bad thing and after driving my Prius for more than a year, I'm starting to get concerned. The odor has not decreased over time. I'm going to bring my Prius for a second look.