2004 Dodge Srt-4 smells a like a bird's nest or something

Tiny
TYLERMAX
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 DODGE SRT-4
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 37,000 MILES
This is a shot in the dark. Before taking my dashboard apart, I thought I would give you guys a try. You have been helpful in the past. I aboutan '04 Dodge Neon SRT-4 with about 17K miles in jan 2009. The interior of my car has always smelled new since I bought it. In April 2009 I had to go out of town for work and I drove my car from Florida to San Antonio, TX. I parked my car at the Marriot in San Antonio and rode with co-workers to work everyday. My car didn't get driven for a week straight. I drove it some that weekend and then for a second week it sat in the parking lot. After that we changed hotels and stayed on the AF base there. When I stayed on the base I started driving my car to work everyday and. Here is where it gets interesting.

Since leaving my car at that Marriot, parked constantly for almost two weeks. Everytime I use the vents, heat, A/C, anything with air coming out of the vents it has this smell. Smells like a bird's nest, or bird's poop, or some kind of animal. It is especially strong when I first turn on the air (in any form). It doesn't matter if I used recirc air or outside air. Last night I pulled apart the outside vent (where the windshield wipers sit) and saw nothing except a few leaves, which I vaccumed out of there. I am confident the smell is coming from inside the dash somewhere, but I don't know what it is or where it's exactly coming from. I do a bunch of work on my car myself and I would have noticed a dead animal or bird's nest inside my motor somewhere.

Also, some of the other guys I was working there with brought there cars, and they had the same smell in there cars from there as well. I have had that smell in my car since that time. Air fresheners mask the smell temporarily but it always returns. Its driving me nuts. I can't stand it! Please help! Anyone have any ideas on what it could be or where to check next? Thanks!

-tyler
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 AT 12:01 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Thank you for the donation,

I would first check that the A/c drain is not blocked and there is standing moisture with in the air box, this will cause mold and mildew to grow in the vent system causing this type of smell, with the system drained, you can get a cleaner to spray into the vents to clean this up.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Thursday, May 20th, 2010 AT 3:46 AM

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