How to remove urine from the air intake

Tiny
TAMEKATOY
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • V8
  • 230,000 MILES
Wife beating, evicted ex neighbor put urine into air intake. What can I do to remove odor. I have tried flushing with water hose, vinegar, bleach, Lysol, baking soda, and other things. Went out to warm car with baby in lap, went inside and baby was covered with the smell. Help!
Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 AT 10:32 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good evening,

I would try and use a product called brake kleen. It works well for cleaning and should get rid of the odor. You can get it at any parts store.

Roy
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 AT 3:47 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

When you say air intake, exactly what are you referring to? As far as things to rid the smell of urine, there are (and don't laugh) products made for indoor pets. Also, there is a product called odor mute. Let me know exactly where the urine was placed. I'll try my best to guide you.

Let me know.
Joe
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 AT 3:58 PM
Tiny
TAMEKATOY
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Hi Joe, the urine was poured into the vents just below my windshield.
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Friday, February 21st, 2020 AT 4:39 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Wow. That is an issue.

It is now in all the ducts which will require removing the heater box to access all the ducts. They will have to be treated to get rid of the smell.

There is no spray to work externally to get rid of that smell. This will require the removal of the dashboard to access the heater box and the ducts.

Roy
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Friday, February 21st, 2020 AT 4:46 AM
Tiny
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Roy, I appreciate your help. I have tried lots of things. It won't hurt to try something else. The smell is not as bad now but it is definitely noticable. I was hoping I could avoid removing the dashboard.
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Friday, February 21st, 2020 AT 4:48 AM
Tiny
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I agree. There are some sprays for the ducts you can get at a parts store but that smell gets embedded into the plastic and it is tough to get out.

To remove the housing, you are looking at about an 8-hour job at a shop.

Roy
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Friday, February 21st, 2020 AT 4:54 AM
Tiny
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I have Googled. Would I need to clean the condenser coils, cabin filter, and/or throttle body? When I accelerate I get a whiff of stink.
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Friday, February 21st, 2020 AT 4:59 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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When I answered in the beginning, I thought it was under the hood. Now I know it is inside.

Condenser coils and throttle body are outside under the hood.

You need to clean the evaporator, heater core, and all the ducts. You can remove the cabin filter and try spraying some cleaners in that area.

I just attached the TSB for the filter. You do not have one. GM dropped that option in 2003.

Roy
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Friday, February 21st, 2020 AT 5:06 AM
Tiny
TAMEKATOY
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I tried more stuff and the smell was to a minimum. Unfortunately, the loser came back and poured more urine. I did try going under the hood and and removing the four clamps that hold the vents/screen that covers the area under the windshield. I used a soapy dryer lint brush to scrub around in there, sprayed pet urine cleaner, then stuck my hose in to flush it. It didn't work. Guess I will figure out how to get into the dashboard.
Thanks everyone for your help.
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Thursday, March 19th, 2020 AT 8:36 AM
Tiny
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You are welcome.

Roy
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Thursday, March 19th, 2020 AT 8:42 AM

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