Very bad smell when car sits... Anyone else?

[Matty2Hotty]

In my 01 lgt, started to get this smell when my car sits and not running. Once I get the car running and blower on the smell seams to go away. Seriously almost straight smells like fish. I check under seats, trunk... Nothing. Anyone ever have this?

[httrdd]

Check to see if you have debris in the vents. I remember a thread about a guy who had leaves and needles in his vent. You might have a dead critter in there too or the leaves are rotting.

[Matty2Hotty]

Pretty easy to get to the vents? I did pull my cabin filter, never had a filter in there dang it all. But the smell started like 2 months after I checked that.

[AWD_FTW!]

+1 on checkin the inside of the vents. Also just below the wipers there in the cowl.

[Huffer]

Pick up some antibacterial spray and hit the vents, run the system on full heat and recirc...sometimes humidity during the winter builds up and causes funky smells (and mold!)

[Matty2Hotty]

Thanks guys! I'm betting that's the problem cause I had alot of needles and crap in my cabin filter area with no air filtet for who knows how long before I bought the car.

[ouch1011]

Common cause (around here) for bad smells in the heater system on cars that sit is rodents making a nest in or around the blower fan. Gets ugly sometimes if the fan turns on while they are in it. Not to be too graphic, but I've seen some that literally spun apart in the fan. Is the blower fan noisy at all by chance?

[Legacy89]

Seriously almost straight smells like fish.

You should wash your crotch every day or so

Only smell i got in my car is burnt power steering fluid.

[B's Legacy Wagon]

any one else have access to your car?? i rember reading about some lady getting a divorce and she had sown shrimp into the bottom seem of the living room drapes and it smelled alot for her ex-husband till he figured it out. just makes me wonder if some one(any enemy's) stuck somthing under a seat or somewhere lol.

[Matty2Hotty]

Sorry guys i didnt update! I found like 3 hand fulls of rotten dog food in the rear trunk under the carpet in each corner of the wheel wells all wet, nasty, and molding. Smell was gone after i cleaned out the nasty pretty much sludge.

[ouch1011]

Thinking of the smell that would come from old, wet dog food makes my stomach turn. :smt078

[Matty2Hotty]

Well am a plumber so i can deal with alot of crap! But wow... it was nasty! Once i stired the top layer up and grabs the 1st handfull out the smell sure came out. It smelt like straight death. So helpful reminder for people with food and parisable items in the trunk to make sure it hasnt spilt or hinding in the corners under the carpet.

[immortal1kon]

my bd has this issues in the trunk some how water is always getting in my trunk and then just sits and smells... it sucks and i cant figure it out

[scubydu]

Well am a plumber so i can deal with alot of crap! But wow... it was nasty!

Cheers from a fellow Wa plumber.
Glad you found the smell.