How do you get rid of dead rat smell?

[W7NNS]

Yes it's that common question again

Just bought a car from auction, obviously been sat around for a while beforehand and upon driving home I set the climate to 18 and was met by a horrible smell. Upon closer inspection under the bonnet I found rat droppings and the rotten corpse of a rat.

I've now removed said items from the engine compartment but was just wondering if there are any products available to cleanse the aircon system. I'm sure I remember there being some kind of canister that you open in the car, close doors and put aircon on then leave for a few mins?

Any ideas gratefully received

[Valetco]

Replace the filters in the ac first.

[Sneaky Schnell]

With a dead fish

You'll never know a rat was there.

[y2blade]

rub a dead badger into it

[SR06]

1. Locate dead rat.
2. Remove dead rat.

Also you could try running the system on hot with a bowl of vinegar on the back seat. I did this to remove a similar smell and it worked.

Edited by SR06 on Wednesday 24th November 13:06

[Monkeylegend]

Failing all that, try a clothes peg.

[y2blade]

[Porkie]

This is gonna be an awesome thread!

Edited by Porkie on Wednesday 24th November 13:15

[giw12]

Turn the aircon up to max for 10mins. It'll get pretty hot in there and kill the bacteria.

Remove the rat as well, obviously.......

[alfa pint]

Check your wiring / hoses / filters just in case it's been eating something while it's been in there.

[Monkeylegend]

giw12 said:

Turn the aircon up to max for 10mins. It'll get pretty hot in there and kill the bacteria.

Remove the rat as well, obviously.......

It won't get hot enough to do that.

[Doofus]

Presmably there's a battery in your engine compartment?

Run wires off each of the terminals, and re-animate the rat. Then chase him away.

[Mr Roper]

Empty some hole punch clippings into the air vents. The little pieces of paper absorb the odours and carry them away.

[y2blade]

Mr Roper said:

Empty some hole punch clippings into the air vents. The little pieces of paper absorb the odours and carry them away.

best yet

[EDLT]

Fire, lots and lots of fire.

If fire is unavailable then a small quantity of explosives will do.

[zakelwe]

Stuff soiled ladies panties in the air vents.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm

Just off for a drive, back soon.

Andy

[STW2010]

Replace filters, and then use about 10 of these-

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Gwagon111]

You can buy stuff from motor accessory stores which comes in canisters. Open the canister with the air con system running, and it gets sucked through the system and deodorizes it. If you put some charcoal and baking powder spread on newspapers in the back of the car, that will take the smell away from the interior of the car. Don't use barbecue charcoal, as this is often impregnated with fuel, which will replace one smell with another.

[A911DOM]

Valet and steam clean?

[W7NNS]

Thanks for such a wide variety of suggestions

Anyway an update, as per the original post I located the rat corpse and removed it as well as all visible droppings - nice!

I then dropped the glovebox door, behind which is the aircon filter cover. Took the cover off and couldn't believe my eyes. The filters had been half eaten and were crammed full of more droppings! The smell was atrocious Lucky the little bugger hadn't chewed the wiring loom or anything else.

I've ordered 2 new pollen filters (thanks for the tip PHers) and a a can of comma a/c cleaner and as the car hasn't got much service history I ordered some plugs, oil & filter. They arrive in stock on Friday so hopefully by the weekend the car will be driving & smelling much better